Page 71 of Beautiful Small Things

“It’s my business!” she shouts.

“Woah, woah, woah,” I say, holding my hand up. “Why are you yelling at me?”

“It’s my decision, Marcus. It’s my life.”

I’m shocked by her reaction to this situation. I’m trying to maintain a clear head, but now I’m pissed off. This argument is about to go down in my kitchen.

“Oh, forgive me. Here I thought this was our life,” I say sarcastically.

“I’m not going,” she says. “It’s a moot point.”

Now is not the time to have this discussion, but we are both emotional and seem to have completely forgotten about the party occurring around us.

“It’s hardly a moot point, James. You are twenty-four years old. You have goals and dreams outside of being a nanny.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being a nanny,” she says.

“Of course not,” I say with a shake of my head. “You mean the world to Iris.”

“But not to you, huh?” she spits.

Not understanding what she is saying, I can only reply with, “What does that mean?”

“I’m good enough to fuck, but not keep around long-term, right?”

“James, what the fuck are you talking about? You’re not making sense. I love you. I—“

Our argument is halted by the sound of my best friend behind me.

“What did you just say?” I turn to find Callan standing in the entryway to the kitchen, his face tense, fists clenched at his sides.

As I face him, I see the anger in his eyes.

“Callan,” I saw calmly, “You don’t understand what we’re talking about. Just go outside and we’ll be right out.”

“Yeah, I think I’ll stay until someone explains to me what is going on,” he exclaims, the anger in his voice apparent.

“Callan, this is between me and Marcus. Please just go,” James pleads, tears now leaking from the corners of her eyes.

Callan turns to me. “What the fuck did you do now?”

“This is none of your damned business, but if you really want to know, I will tell you,” I face him with my arms crossed over my chest.

“I suggest you start talking,” he demands.

“James and I have been a couple for almost six months now.”

He shakes his head as he speaks his next words.

“You piece of shit. You just couldn’t stay away, could you? Your dick is always causing problems.”

I take a step back as I recoil from his words as if he slapped me across the face.

“I understand you’re confused and feeling protective, so I’m going to let that go,” I say sternly, “but if you ever refer to my daughter as a ‘problem’ again, I’ll beat your fucking ass.”

He stares at me for a moment and I can see the second he registers his mistake.

“You know I don’t think that. But James is young, and she has plans for the future.”