“What are you doing?” Mom’s eyes looked sad, worried.
Diesel trotted through the back door and we headed toward the front of the house. “I gotta go. I need to think.”
“Brody, wait!” Mom hurried after me. “It’s so late. Why don’t you just stay here tonight?”
I opened the front door and turned to face my mom. Dad had followed her out of the kitchen and had his hand resting on her shoulder, rubbing her arm lovingly. I stared at his hand for a second longer than I should have, wondering what the hell happened and where everything had gone wrong. I looked her straight in the eye. “Not a chance,” I said coolly and slammed the door.
By the time I’d started my truck, Mom had looked out the living room window three times. Knowing her, I’m sure she was hoping I would turn the truck off and head back inside. I probably should have. She and Dad didn’t deserve the way I’d treated them, but I was beyond pissed.
I felt duped. I felt betrayed.
Flooring the gas and spitting up gravel as I sped off, I fishtailed out of the driveway onto the road, but I wasn’t heading home.
After the week I’d had, I felt out of control. I’d played like shit the last two games, and now my parents dropped the bomb that they were getting divorced. Tonight, I needed the one constant in my life.
My compass.
My anchor.
My more.
I headed straight for Kacie’s house.
Lucy and Piper wrapped their tiny arms around my neck and squeezed as hard as they could. I groaned playfully as they cut off my air supply.
“I’m going to hug you so hard your guts are going to spill out!” Piper giggled.
“Noooo!” cried Lucy, pulling back. “Leave Mama’s guts alone. She needs those.”
I laughed heartily. “My guts are okay, Lucy. I promise. Now, how much do I love you guys?”
“More than all the stars in the sky and all the waves in the sea,” they recited in unison.
“You got that right!” I kissed each of their foreheads and tucked them into bed. “See you in the morning. Love you both!”
“Love you, Mama!” they called out as I flipped on their night-light and pulled the door shut.
After my miserable meeting with Alexa and Lauren, I was mentally exhausted. I should have been ready to crash, but for some reason I wasn’t ready to sleep yet. Normally, once the girls went to bed at night my life was a bore. Now that Brody’s season had started and he was traveling more and more, I would sometimes go a whole week without seeing him. I missed him so much, sometimes it physically hurt. We hadn’t talked all day, and it was unlike him not to call me as soon as the girls were tucked into bed, so I shot him a quick text.
HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD DAY TODAY. CALL ME LATER! :)
Tucking my phone in my back pocket, I snuck off to the kitchen to pour myself a bowl of cereal. Fred and my mom were snuggled up on the couch watching TV. I took my bowl into the living room and plopped down next to them.
“Whatcha watching?” I shoveled a bite of Lucky Charms into my mouth.
“Chopped.” Mom sighed. “Though I’m fading fast.”
Fred looked down at her. “Me too. I have to get up early in the morning and change the oil on your truck.”
“Awww!” I grinned at them. “Cooking shows and oil changes. You two are so romantic.”
“Someone is feisty tonight,” Fred joked as he picked up a small throw pillow and tossed it at me, narrowly missing my cereal bowl.
“I know! I had coffee at work today, way later than I usually do. I’m wired.” I threw the pillow back at them. “And now you two losers are going to go to bed and I’m stuck here all alone with the Chopped contestants.”
My mom giggled as she leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Sorry, baby girl. See you in the morning.”
Fred stood up and my mom followed, walking him to the back door.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a tight squeeze. She lifted her chin, angling her mouth to line up with his. He tilted his head to the side and looked her straight in the eyes. “I love you.”
Her cheeks puffed out as she smiled. “I love you too.”
He pressed his mouth against hers passionately and I started making fake gagging noises.
They pulled apart and grinned at me like a couple of proud teenagers as I brought my hands to my throat and pretended to pass out.
Slightly dramatic, yes, but I was having fun teasing them tonight. Fred delivered one more peck and disappeared out the back door. Mom turned and rolled her eyes at me. “You’re a pill.”
“I know.” I giggled. “But you know I really love you two. And I love you together.”
A sweet smile slid across my mom’s face. “Want me to hang with you tonight?”
“Nah, I’m good. I’m just waiting for Brody to text me back and then I’ll hit the sack.” I returned her smile. “Thank you, though.”