Page 125 of All the Ugly Things
And since it wasn’t, I needed to work on not having my shitty mood affect her, too.
“Just distracted with work I guess and making sure Dad doesn’t screw up the meal tomorrow.” It was Thanksgiving. Where we’d all gather around the table and spread lies as thick and rich as the pumpkin pie would be.
“Is it possible for David to do that?”
“Once or twice it’s happened.” In reality, it never happened. I think the last time turkey was ruined was when my mom tried to cook one. She had talents for days but cooking wasn’t one of them. Thank God for Dad. We would have survived on macaroni and cheese and cut up hot dogs if Mom had been in charge of meals.
“I’m sure it’ll be perfect. Are you still heading over there tonight?”
“Yeah. I’ll be there late, probably.” Not because of the dinner though, although we’d probably make pies while we tried to keep our emotions in check.
“Are you sure I can’t come? I only served Judith’s pies and didn’t bake them but maybe some of her talent rubbed off by osmosis or something.”
She grinned at me, so bright and playful, and yet there was a lingering sadness in her eyes. She wasn’t dumb.
It was nearly impossible to hide the way I’d pulled back over the last few days. I gave her an orgasm with my fingers a week ago and since then we haven’t done more than kiss. My fault, my issue. It was obvious it was causing her to doubt what was between us.
“I’m sure he’ll have lots for you to do tomorrow. I think he just wanted a guys’ night tonight.”
“All right.” She pushed her lips to one side, pouting.
Unable to help myself, I bent down and kissed it away.
Once we reached the building, she grinned as Samaya was also ushering her kids inside.
“Hey girls!” Lilly exclaimed, peeling off her scarf and gloves. “Are you on break this week?”
“We get a whole week off!” one of them cried out.
“I miss school,” the other one pouted.
“Oh. That’s okay. You’ll be back soon enough. Have any fun plans for the weekend?” Lilly asked them.
Samaya replied, “We have family in Omaha. We’ll be leaving first thing in the morning.”
“I hate car rides,” the girl who was still pouting said.
Samaya settled her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “It will be fine. And you love Nana and Papa, right?”
The little girl’s pout vanished and she all but shouted at both Lilly and me. “They have horses!”
“That’s lovely,” Lilly said. Her grin stretched the span of the Mississippi River, it was so wide.
The elevator stopped at their floor and Samaya shuffled her girls off, wishing us a Happy Thanksgiving.
“You too,” Lilly and I both said at the same time.
“Those girls are a riot,” I told her once the doors closed and we were alone again.
“A handful for sure. I don’t know them really well, but it’s not hard to figure out they’re complete opposites in everything.”
“What are their names again?”
“Yasmine is the one who hates school. Amala the one who hates car rides.”
The elevator stopped on Lilly’s floor, doors opening as she stepped out. “You don’t have to walk me to my door if you need to get going.”
“I have a few minutes.” Dad wasn’t expecting me until after dinner anyway. Another white lie I told Lilly. She thought I was rushing right over. Mostly, I just needed that time to myself, to think of Melissa before I had to face Dad.
