Page 97 of Rome
Abby gave me a puzzled look. “Why thirty?”
“Because she’s not dating until then,” I said with a scowl. She laughed, and Diego tried to hide his amusement by shoveling another breadstick in his mouth.
He left to finish up with his client, and I groaned when I heard the front door buzzer go off a few minutes later.
“Shit, that’s probably my next client.” I stood up and walked out into the hallway. “I’ll be right with you,” I yelled, and heard a man’s voice respond, “OK.”
“Go,” Abby urged, as I stepped back into the break room. “I’ll clean this up and stick the leftovers in the refrigerator for you.”
I swooped in to give her a hug and a quick kiss, then dropped a kiss on Ethan’s head and Everly’s cheek.
“Love you guys. You made me night by coming to see me and bringing dinner for us.”
“Bye, daddy. Love you.”
“I love you, stud. Hopefully, we’ll see you tomorrow night for dinner.”
They left a few minutes later, as I listened to my client explain why he wanted his ex-wife’s name covered up with a picture of an ugly witch on a broomstick. I gave him the tat he wanted, even adding a big, hairy wart to the end of her nose. His ex sounded like a colossal bitch.
Luckily, Friday went much more smoothly.
Lacey was back at work, hobbling around gingerly with an ace-bandage wrapped around her ankle. Dax and Saint had recovered from their bout with food poisoning, both swearing never to eat shrimp tacos again. Diego scored a great online review from a new client who promised to refer his friends, no ink was spilled, no clients fainted, no assholes hassled their girlfriends, and I didn’t have to try to talk anyone out of getting tattoos that referenced penis size.
The only downside was that we were so busy trying to recover from yesterday’s debacle, that Saint didn’t have time to lay down my new ink. He assured me that we could do it first thing Monday morning.
The day got even better though when I received a text from Abby shortly before three o’clock.
Abby: My results are back. All negative.
Me: I’ll be home by six.
Abby: My parents are taking Ethan for a sleepover.
Me: I’ll be home by five, then, and I’m bringing my suitcases.
Chapter 32
Abby
I heard Caleb’s Tahoe pull in the driveway ten minutes early, and giggled to myself as I supervised Ethan as he packed the last of his things. I had just gotten off the phone with my mom, who told me that she and Dad would be here in about twenty minutes to pick up Ethan.
“I think that’s your Dad, E, so you’ll get to see him for a few minutes before you go.” He dropped his bag on the bed and ran downstairs to greet him, as I followed more slowly behind him with Everly perched on my hip.
She made a gurgling sound as she tried to chew on her fist. She was teething again, and I expected another tooth to pop through her poor, swollen little gums any day now. She’d done really well with her first tooth, and luckily wasn’t very fussy with this one either. She was, however, drooling everywhere, and I sighed as I looked down at the wet patch on the front of my shirt.
“So much for trying to look sexy for your daddy, sweet pea,” I said ruefully.
I heard Caleb’s boots clomping across the kitchen floor, and Ethan’s excited chatter as he told his daddy all about the plans to build a LEGO village with his Papa, and that his Nana had promised to make him her special blueberry pancakes for breakfast in the morning.
“She puts whipped cream on ‘em, Daddy, and it turns purple when she pours blueberry syrup on top.”
“That sounds delicious, bud. I’m sure you’ll have a good time.”
I rounded the corner to see them settling down on the couch together.
Ev squealed when she saw Caleb, and he grinned up at her as he held his arms out. I passed her to him, and he kissed her cheek.
“Hey there, sweet pea. You’re really working on those teeth, aren’t you?” She just waved her soggy fist in the air and smiled, with drool dripping down her chin. I handed him one of the washcloths I kept handy for just such things, and he wiped her face, laughing as she tried to squirm away from him.
