“Hi, London!” She waved at me, eyes fixed on the TV. “Wow, this show is so good.”
“I told you.” Laughing, I shrugged off my coat. “Is Leo in bed?”
“He sure is. He was asleep when I checked on him ten minutes ago.”
“Goddamn it, you’re good. If you ever need to run away from home, you can come and stay with me.”
Felicity laughed, and her beautiful curly hair bounced when she shook. “Do you mind if I finish this episode before I go home? There’s only ten minutes left.”
“You carry on. I promised Piper I’d be home early, and I am. Oh, before I forget.” I reached into my purse and pulled out thirty dollars for her. We’d agreed on twenty—she hadn’t been here even two hours—but she’d gotten my kid to sleep.
That was a bonus right there.
“Are you sure?” she asked as she took the money.
“Is my child asleep?” I winked at her. “Would you like a drink or anything before you go?”
She shook her head. “No, thanks. I’m fine. I’ll just finish this episode and get out of your hair.”
“I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.” I smiled and bowed out, leaving her to finish the fourth episode of season one.
I hesitated in the kitchen. It was too late for coffee, I didn’t want tea, and I couldn’t decide if it was too late to open a bottle of wine or not. I hadn’t been drinking all night—and I didn’t drink a lot unless I didn’t have to wake up for Leo, which was rare.
Hmm.
I opened the fridge and looked at the bottle. That was a lot of effort to find the corkscrew and pop the bottle.
I’d just get some juice.
My phone pinged from inside my purse, and I walked to the dining table where I’d put it. I retrieved it from the depths of the abyss that was the contents of my purse and checked the notifications.
Christopher.
Ugh.
What did he want?
I opened the text from my ex and my son’s father and read it.
CHRIS: Work just told me they’re sending me to Idaho and North Dakota for two weeks.
ME: Congratulations?
CHRIS: Sorry, hit send before I was done.
CHRIS: I talked my boss into letting me have the weekends off. Do you have any plans with Leo for the next two weekends?
ME: I think he has a soccer game in two weeks, but otherwise, no.
CHRIS: If I get an Air BnB can I have him for the weekends?
ME: He’s your son. Of course you can.
CHRIS: Thanks. I know it’s hard since we moved.
ME: You moved. I came home after you did.
CHRIS: I don’t want to fight with you, London.
ME: I’m not fighting, I’m just pointing it out. Don’t make it out like this is on me when you’re the one who moved to Florida.
CHRIS: Work made me, you know that.
ME: I do, but it’s still your decision.
ME: The point stands that Leo is your son and I will never keep him from you. All I ask is that you don’t take him too far out of town because he has basketball practice on Sunday mornings, soccer on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and I’m pretty sure there’s a mini soccer tournament next Saturday.
CHRIS: He tells me about it every time we speak. I’ll get a place within twenty miles of White Peak.
ME: Thank you. Will you do practice and the tournament with him?
CHRIS: I’d love to. Will you be there?
ME: Not at the practices if you are, but yes to the tournament. He’s worked hard and his coach already said he’s in goal.
CHRIS: I’m sure we can be nice to each other for one day.
ME: As long as you don’t say anything stupid.
“London? I’m going to head home now.”
I jerked my head up and it took me a moment to register Felicity’s words. “Oh, of course. Sorry, my ex is texting me and he gives me a headache.” I put down my phone and walked her to the door. “Thank you so much for tonight. I really appreciate it.”
She smiled. “It’s my pleasure. He’s a good kid, even if he made me sit through twenty minutes of watching some Spanish dude save goals on YouTube.”
I grimaced. “David de Gea. His favorite goalkeeper in the English Premier League. Sorry.”
“It’s fine. It kept him busy until bedtime.” She shrugged. “If you ever need me again, just let me know.”
“I will. Thank you so much, Felicity. Let me know when you get home.”
“I will do, thanks!”
I waited at the door until she was safely in her car, had waved goodbye once more, and her car was no longer in my view, then I went back inside where I hunted down the corkscrew and rescued some wine from a bottle.
I had another message from Chris, but I saved that until I’d checked on Leo who was, mercifully, fast asleep, and I was nestled on the sofa with my wine and Schitt’s Creek.