“Oh,” he said, a few seconds later, presumably watching the video.
“I’m not sure what to do right now,” I said.
“You made a good start calling me,” Mike said.
“Glad to hear it,” I said.
“You seem calm and that’s a good start. What I suggest you do is focus on something you love. It can take your mind of the negative until time has the chance to do its work.”
“Good idea, thanks,” I said.
I hung up and then turned it off before going over to lock the door and close the automatic blinds. The heavy one’s that blocked out all light. Completely cut off from the outside world I did what I hadn’t done in over a year. At my work station, Cradle of Filth blasting in my wireless headphones I started writing a new program scratch.
I didn’t know how long I had been there before the knocking started. I tended to go into a sort of pocket dimension when I was working, which why it made it such a good distraction. I had assumed it was Sally at the door, which was the entire reason I didn’t just ignore the knocking and keep going. I stormed over to the door, preparing things to shout at her. All of which disappeared from my mind when I opened the door to find Jessa standing there.
“I’m so glad we’re back together!” Jessa said, literally throwing herself at me and kissing me forcefully. I pushed her away hard. A bit too hard it turned out, going by the way she feel to the floor.
“We are not back together. If you think I’m taking you back just because Sally was exposed as your plant you have another thing coming. I never want to see you again.”
“That’s fine,” she said getting back to her feet, “I’m just glad I’ve ruined you for anyone else.”
It was a relief when he fucked off. I felt stupid for falling for Sally. She seemed so perfect. I guess that should have been a red flag. I seemed to keep getting with women who repeated the mistakes of my past. I went back to work on the new app programming.
Chapter Eleven
Sally
I had heard about dedicated baby stores but had yet to experience the full, surreal splendor of one. The fact I was there with Gia made me feel better. Just being with someone I knew I loved and could trust made me feel better about what was happening with Mike. I wasn’t sure what was going on with him and the uncertainty was really getting me down. Gia had Amber with her in an adorable bunny themed onesie Amanda had given her at the baby shower. Maya had gone for a literal silver spoon, apparently unaware of the symbolism.
From what I could tell there were some amused looks among the attendees but no one actually said anything. At least partly because she was Reece’s cousin. Catharine had been more practical going for a beautifully restored late 19th century mobile to hang over the crib.
We searched the aisles, the neon lighting and soft ambient nursery rhymes creating a sort of meditative state. Apparently it worked because Amber was fast asleep as we shopped, finding the best and cutest of ethically sourced baby products. Gia was a bit intense about things and most people got pulled into her orbit when around her. I’d known people who had gone vegetarian, if not vegan, after fifteen minutes with her.
“This is cute,” Gia said, taking a ladybug onsie from the rack.
“It’s all cute, its supposed to be cute,” I pointed out, sounding a bit meaner than I meant.
“Fair point,” Gia conceded, ignoring my outburst.
“Sorry, I’m just a bit on edge,” I said.
“It’s okay,” Gia said, always understanding.
“Didn’t you get baby clothes at the shower?” I asked, looking for a change of subject.
“Yeah, but not enough. I guess I should have told people whether Amber was a boy or a girl before the shower. I guess most people didn’t want to take the risk.”
“Lesson learned,” I joked.
“Definitely, I’ll know for next time,” Gia said.
“Are you planning on any more?” I asked.
“Baby showers?”
“Babies,” I said.
“Not right now, we hadn’t really planned Amber.”
“I remember,” I said.
“Right, though I’m not who knows what the future will hold.”
“Sometimes you do,” I said, “or at least have a good guess.”
“Everything will be alright in the end and if it’s not alright, it is not yet the end.”
“I hope you’re right.”
I heard my phone bing from the depth of my pocket.
“Oh!”
“Go ahead,” Gia said absently, continuing to shift through the rack of onesies.
The message was from On the Go. I had signed up when I first launched because I knew a few people on it but hadn’t really used it since. I’d recently been thinking about deleting it after I got more info about what had happened with Mike and Jessa.