Page 62 of Thorns and Ashes
“Right. Y’all two are sharing custody and playin’ house, is more like it,” Ainsley teases. “The only thing y’all aren’t doing is each other.”
“Oh my God,” I gasp, mortified as heat floods my cheeks. “We can barely have a conversation without it turning into a pissing match. Please, it’s not like that.”
“I’m taking the credit,” Rory says, completely ignoring my protests. “Ever since you started ourtwelve-step practice to become a better person, your life has become way more interesting. Or maybe it’s just since you became besties with me. Either way, you’re welcome.”
“Trust me, my life is plenty interesting,” I grumble, remembering how my mom called earlier last week and told me there may be more to my father’s case than anyone told us.
A part of me has started to worry that he may never get out of jail. I thought I didn’t care, but when the reality of it starts to setin... I don’t know. I’m conflicted, and it probablyisRory’s fault for helping me on my‘empathetic-journey-twelve-step’bullshit.
“If only there was something we could do about her face,” Ainsley chimes in with a laugh, pulling me back from my thoughts.
“Listen! You two are lucky I’m willing to control my mouth.”
“That’s true. It would take an act of God to get her to control that side eye,” Rory says in agreement.
Naturally, I glare at her with that side eye she’s mentioned. “We should talk more aboutyourlife and why you decided to take a nose dive behind the counter today and hide until Chief Mason left with his order.”
Rory blanches and starts choking on a chocolate-covered pretzel. “Nope,” she finally manages to blurt out before hitting play on the remote.
“Mhm.” I toss Ainsley a wink and Rory purses her lips. This is one mystery the two of us are invested in getting to the bottom of.
For the rest of the night, between movies, snacks, and conversation, I can’t help but replay the last two weeks in my mind, searching for a clue that there could be any truth to what Rory and Ainsley believe. Every time I think I might see it, see where something Levi has said to me could mean something more than just a friendly gesture, my brain scrambles for a logical excuse.
When the girls leave, I tuck myself and Ellie into bed. Pulling at my light pink comforter, she snuggles in close, and I methodically pet her while my thoughts run rampant. As she starts to snore, I check the time, seeing that it’s going to be another long, late night. I’m no closer to an answer and more confused about my own feelings than I was before.
Have to lovegirls’ night.
“Happy Birthday, Princess!” my mother and father’s voices both chime through the phone. I look out at the rising sun past the full green trees from my porch, inhaling slowly, keeping my temper at bay as I clutch my coffee in my hands like it’s a lifeline.
Leave it to my parents to figure out a loophole that stomps all over my boundaries and gets me on the phone with my father. My mother can’t figure out how to find the weather app on her phone, yet somehow she’s figured out three-way calls... that’s just great.
Levi’s screen door creaks open. Noticing I’m on the phone, he quietly steps out and leads Ellie to the front lawn. I’ve learned he’s not particularly a morning person, so usually we sit together in a comfortable shared silence on mornings when he’s not working. But I’ve been doing my best to keep a safe distance from him since girls’ night two weeks ago, after they happily opened that lovely can of worms in my head. I’m not sure he’s noticed, but if he has, he’s not saying anything.
“My birthday is tomorrow,” I sigh. “Not today.”
“We know that,” my mother quickly says with a lilt in her voice, which makes me positive that she, in fact, had no idea. “We just didn’t want to miss you in case you have plans with your friends.”
Right.
My mother is great at being quick on her feet when it comes to saving appearances, but there hasn’t been a single birthday that either of them has remembered or celebrated with me since I was about eleven. There’s always been some reason or excuse as to why they can’t be here. A trip they had to take that left me with the nanny, or more often than not, by myself. It wasn’t until I turned sixteen that I started making plans of my own. Now at almost twenty-eight years old, I couldn’t care less. I’m not going to start now.
“Of course,” I mutter, feeling them drain my battery like the energy vampires they are. “Well, I need to get ready for work soon, so...” I let my voice trail off. Hoping they’ll take the hint.
“Soon, Princess, you can quit that job, and we will celebrate your birthday together,” My father’s voice booms through the phone. Confident in a way that makes me wonder what he’s up to.
“Oh, really?” I ask, forcing down the skepticism. “How do you figure that?”
“I have a plan, don’t you worry.”
“That’s great,” I reply with forced optimism. “I’d love to hear it.”
I push back in my chair and meet Levi’s eyes as he walks up the steps and stares at me incredulously. Clearly, he’s not buying a word I’m saying. Lucky for me, he’s not who I’m trying to convince.
“I have a few more calls I need to make this morning, but it means the world to hear your voice. Let’s chat soon.”
“Great,” I respond as the line clicks off.
Unbelievable.
