“She hates you more than Elizabeth does. It’s kind of sad.”
“It happens—a lot,” I said.
“I’ll bet it does.”
It was meant to be a simple, offhand remark, but I couldn’t help but think about what Andrew said.
“Are you having fun?” I asked Maria.
“I am.” Haylie was ducked down with her face behind a clump of grass just a few feet away. Maria waved at her, and she pounced with a growl. Maria picked her up, swung her around, then set her down.
“Up,” Haylie demanded.
Maria happily obliged her. “You’re so sweet,” she said in a playful voice.
“You’re the main attraction,” I said.
“No, she will always be the center of attention.”
I moved closer and whispered, “I disagree.”
She tensed up until Haylie smacked her in the face. “Haylie, no,” Elizabeth shrieked and ran over to get her. Just before she grabbed her, she gave me a sour look.
“Don’t worry,” I called after her. “You won’t have to deal with me forever.”
She pretended not to hear me and retreated to the kitchen. “She does hate you,” Maria said. “You wanna know the first thing she said to me?”
“I have been wondering.”
“She wanted to know what’s wrong with me.”
I laughed. “Really?”
“She calls me the one-nighter.”
“She just hates me cause she can’t have none.” We watched as Andrew used a pile of newspapers, twigs, and a log to build a fire in his fire pit. Elizabeth collected chairs, staying as far away as she could, and set them up in a circle around the pit.
“Did your brother sneak in any liquor?” Maria asked.
“He took me aside and asked me how I pulled a girl out of my ass, so I threw it into the neighbor’s yard.”
“Oh,” she chuckled. “I bet he was pissed.”
“I’m top dog,” I told her and looked her over with a seductive grin. “He wouldn’t do anything.”
“Do you think they know?” Maria whispered.
“Andrew doesn’t. What about the girls?”
“No, Elizabeth suspected something at first, I think, but I told her I didn’t need anyone to validate my relationship, and she shut right up. I think she likes me.”
“Seamless.” I nodded with satisfaction.
Elizabeth started taking chicken off the grill. Haylie ran outside and rushed up to Maria. “Up, up,” she demanded. Maria swept her up into her arms. Haylie took a seat on her knee and reached up to grab her hair. Maria let her swipe her tiny fingers through. Haylie laughed. “Soft.”
Maria and I both smiled. “You must really love kids,” I said.
“It’s her.”