Page 70 of Mile High Salvation

Asshole.

Eric recaps his water bottle and throws it to the ground before grabbing the proffered bat. He winds it up and does a few practice swings before he slams it into the pinata. It sways aggressively, but doesn’t break.

Carter stops its momentum and steps back. “One more try, bro. Make it count.”

I peer around to see Taryn and a bunch of other people I don’t recognize, probably coworkers and acquaintances of Taryn and Carter. They all look on with smiles while I’m literally dying inside.

Smack!

The pinata explodes, blue candy flying everywhere, and I smile and clap with everyone else.

“Oh, my God! It’s a boy!” Taryn squeals, hugging her husband.

I’m happy for them, even if I do think this whole thing is a bit cheesy and over-the-top, but I rush up to hug her.

“Congratulations. I’m so happy for you!” I tell her honestly.

I pull back from the hug to see Eric watching us closely, a look of what can only be described as longing in his eyes, and he’s not looking at his sister or best friend. His gaze is narrowed in on me.

I offer him a small smile then look at my friend again.

“C’mon, y’all, food and cake inside!” Taryn calls.

I load up a plate with all the food offered and sit on the sofa while I eat.

“Hey,” Taryn says, coming to sit next to me holding a sparkling water and cake.

“Hi. How stoked is Carter getting a son?” I ask with a smile.

I’m acutely aware that Eric is in the kitchen talking with someone, but I refuse to look his way.

“He’s very stoked. Now the fight over names begins,” she says with a laugh.

I cross my legs and grab a handful of cheese cubes from my plate. “Really? Why?”

She shrugs. “He hinted at wanting a junior. Not sure I want to deal with that confusion.”

“Carter’s a nice name,” I comment.

“It is,” she agrees, bringing a piece of blue cake to her lips and taking a bite. “This is so good. Did you get any?”

I look down at my food. “No, I’ll try some later.”

We chat some more, and when someone calls her over, I get up and throw my plate away in the kitchen trash. My eyes—more like my heart—scans the room, but there’s no sign of Eric.

Whatever.

I head to the restroom to use it for real this time.

No more crying, Christa,I tell myself as I lock the door and handle my business.

After washing my hands, I exit the bathroom and hear voices down the hall. I freeze when I hear my name.

“You don’t get it, dude. Christa was in the Mile High Rooms. We fucked.” Eric’s voice.

I gasp, slapping my hand over my mouth, and my eyes fill with tears.Oh. My. God.

“What? How did she not know it was you, man?” Carter’s voice.