Thirty-five and Single

“Joel, this better be good,” she says after five rings.

“I’m checking on Aaron.”

“As if I thought you were calling for me,” she says snarkily. “Is my daughter there?”

“Is Aaron safe?”

“Of course he is. He’s my grandson.”

I don’t comment about how she hasn’t been a very good mother.

“I want to come get him.”

“Not going to happen.”

“He’s not safe. Calli told me what happened between her and your husband.”

“Ex-husband and he won’t do anything to Aaron.”

“How do I know that?” I ask, getting impatient.

“You’re just going to have to trust me.”

I squeeze the phone, wanting to break something.

“He’s better off with me,” I say.

“I’m better off with him. Hank leaves me alone when the kid’s around.”

I hate for the millionth time my name isn’t on Aaron’s birth certificate.

“He didn’t leave Calli alone.”

“She asked for it.”

I grit my teeth. Her attitude is part of the reason why Calli’s so messed up. But if I say too much, she’ll just hang up on me.

“I think it’s best—”

“Joel, don’t go there. You have no right to Aaron. You come around here and I’ll call the cops.”

I’m not given time to answer as she disconnects.

Calli steps out of the room, pulling off her shirt. “You don’t mind if I take a shower first.”

She isn’t wearing a bra. I turn away. “Yeah, there’s soap and a towel in there. Maybe when you’re done, we should go get Aaron.”

She shakes her head. “Mama won’t let me have him. Besides, he’ll be watching for me.” The he being her stepfather. “Aaron’s better off where he is without me.”

I don’t agree. But there’s little I can do.

She disappears into the bathroom but fails to close the door. I know what she’s offering. The problem for her is who I want isn’t in my apartment.

Chapter Seventeen

Olivia

It’s disappointing Joel isn’t here when I wake the next morning. Then again, he has work too. It’s possible I just missed him leaving even though the sheets are cold where he’d lain.

The warmth next to me is Sable. She barely stirs when I get off the bed. My head pounds but duty calls. Drinking had been a very bad idea, and today I’ll pay the consequences.

It’s casual Friday, so jeans and my umpire shirt with the dentist’s logo across the front is my usual fare. I check the automatic cat feeder for both food and water, refilling them both before I leave.

When I walk into the office, Cara is waiting for me.

“Have you spoken with Joel?”

I fish mouth for a few seconds, trying to decide how to answer that. Telling her that he screwed my brains out just past midnight doesn’t seem quite right.

“Why?” I ask instead.

“He hasn’t asked me out again.”

She looks at me like I should see the travesty it is.

Janet shows up to double team me. “How about you guys do a double date? My uncle is in town and he’s old—er,” she says, catching herself.

Cara jumps in. “Oh, that’s a great idea. You can convince Joel to come, right?”

There is no way I can do what she’s asking. I may not think I’m right for Joel, but I can’t watch him be with someone else.

“That’s not going to work,” I say.

“Why?” they ask in unison.

“Because I’m totally done with dating.”

Janet looks aghast. “You haven’t seen my uncle. He’s a total hottie. Inked up like Joel.”

She stares at me like I should be convinced by that statement.

“Thanks, but I’m really not up for another date.”

They’re both talking at the same time, I can barely keep up. Until I notice Janet’s texting on her phone. It’s too late to stop her when she lifts it and the sound of a snapping camera rings in my ear.

“Please don’t,” I ask.

She holds up her phone and flashes me the picture she sent.

“It’s too late. He’s interested,” she says.

I want to yell, but remember I have to work with these people.

“Janet, I’m really not up for it,” I say, searching for calm.

“Just meet him for lunch. If you hit it off, you can set up a double date with Cara,” Janet says.

I stand up, reaching the end of my patience. “Really, I’m not interested.”

“Olivia, that’s rude. He’s already coming for lunch,” Janet claims.

Dr. T comes over and it only gets worse. “Did I hear you guys correctly? Olivia’s looking for a date, because my son—”

“No,” I practically yell and they all stop.

The door opens and our next patient walks in. Everyone smiles, but quickly darts away, getting back to work. That leaves me to do my job and hand the guy the intake form.

By lunch, I’ve forgotten all about the blind lunch date until just before I lock the front door because we close early on Fridays. A large man has his hands on the door as he pushes it open.

“Olivia.”

I nod because I’m flabbergasted. He’s handsome with salt and pepper hair and a light growth of beard as if he hadn’t had a chance to shave this morning.