My mother pulled me into her arms and rocked me back and forth. Shit. This whole crying thing was starting to piss me off! We sat there for a good fifteen minutes. We didn’t talk as my mom just held me, letting me get it all out. I cried so much that I was sure we were both going to need to change our shirts from my water-works.
Just then, I heard a car coming up the driveway. I felt my mother tense up. I looked up and saw Jeff pulling up. I jumped up and ran into the house, leaving my mother alone to fend for herself.
I went into the bathroom and splashed my face with cold water. Then, I heard a knock on the door. Shit! Why would she let him come in? I slowly opened the door and peeked out to see my father looking at me. Fuck me. I can’t handle any more today.
“You okay, princess? Do I need to kick his ass? I’ll do it, baby girl. Just give me the word, and I’ll hire a really big guy to kick his ass. ”
I started laughing uncontrollably. I laughed so hard that I had to lean my hands on my knees as I tried onto catch my breath. Just then, Jeff and my mom walked up.
“What did you say to her Mark?” my mom asked.
“Ah…nothing. I um, just offered to, um…take care of something for her. She just lost it. ”
Jeff started to laugh and then both my parents did.
“Well, whatever you said, thank you. I’ve been missing that laugh,” Jeff said as he smiled at me.
***
After my laughter episode, I said good-bye to Matthew and my parents. Jeff walked out with me to my Jeep. He grabbed my arm and pulled me into a hug.
“Hey, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I figured you were here, so I took a chance at coming over,” he said.
I tried to breathe in the smell of him, but all I could smell was perfume…and not my perfume.
I pushed away from him and covered my mouth. I instantly felt sick.
“Ari, what’s wrong? Is your stomach still upset?”
“All I smell is her perfume on you! Why do I smell her perfume on you?”
Jeff looked confused, and then he shook his head. “Um…well um…maybe because she broke down when we finished up painting. She started crying, I just gave her a hug, to um. . . well I don’t know…make her feel better, I guess. ”
Son of a bitch. “I’m heading back out to the ranch. Are you done?”
“No, I just had to run out and buy a screwdriver, I didn’t have the right one in my truck, and Rebecca doesn’t have any. I needed it to put the crib together. ”
I just stood there and looked at him. I didn’t even know how I should be feeling right now.
“I have to go. ”
“Ari, wait! The hug didn’t mean a damn thing. How do you think I felt when I walked in to see you having lunch with an old boyfriend?”
I spun around, narrowing my eyes at him.
“What? Are you fucking kidding me, Jeff? I ran into him while I was having lunch with my brother. What’s your excuse for your little lunch date with your baby mama? You two looked awfully cozy together. I can see how painful it is for you to be with her. I’m heading back to Mason. I guess I’ll see you when you’re done playing house. ”
“Jesus Christ, Ari can we just stop doing this?” Jeff shouted.
I jumped back for a second shocked that he raised his voice so loud.
Without another word, I walked to the driver side of my Jeep and got in.
***
The two-and-a-half hour drive back to Mason was the longest drive of my life. I did nothing but cry, think, and cry some more.
I pulled up to Garrett and Emma’s house to see Ellie and Heather sitting on the porch. I smiled at the sight of my two best friends. I was so glad that Ellie was back. She looked so happy with huge smile on her face. I did my best to act normal, but it was so hard when all I was doing was dying inside.