146. Luther
Luther
Me: Good night, Beautiful.
Baby Doll: Night, Handsome.
Setting my phone on the nightstand, I close my eyes and picture my Kendra wearing my flannel.
And the last thought I have before sleep takes me is, I should’ve taken a photo .
Baby Doll: Morning.
Baby Doll: *sends a video of Buddy bouncing around on three legs, scarfing pieces of chicken as Joe tosses them*
Me: He seems in good spirits.
Baby Doll: I’ll say. He greeted us this morning with his scratchy shouts.
Me: Maybe Joe will sleep in his room tonight…?
Baby Doll: The man has already told Buddy he’ll sleep on the couch all weekend.
Me: What an asshole.
Baby Doll: Knock it off. Dad just asked me what’s so funny, and I had to lie.
I grin to myself.
Me: What did you tell him?
Baby Doll: I said it was a funny video of a duck.
Me: Why a duck?
Baby Doll: I don’t know! I panicked.
Baby Doll: Then he wanted to see it, so I had to sneakily pull up Instagram and then pretend I lost the video.
Me: He’s so nosy.
Baby Doll: You’re telling me. Now he’s asking me who I’m texting.
Me: And what did you say?
I know she won’t tell him it’s me. But a part of me still hopes she does.
Baby Doll: Ashley.
I choke and slosh the coffee out of my mug.
Me: Dammit, woman. I just inhaled my coffee.
Baby Doll: Sorry!
Baby Doll: Promise I’m not laughing.
Baby Doll: Hope it wasn’t too hot.
Me: I’ll survive.
Me: Why Ashley?
Baby Doll: I. Don’t. Know. I. Panicked.
Baby Doll: I really don’t text with her. I’d tell you if I did.
Baby Doll: I don’t even have her number.
I think about my last conversation with Ashley.
I think about her knowing about me and Kendra.
I think about Kendra admitting that she loved me.
I close my eyes and beg the universe for that to still be true.
Baby Doll: Sorry. I didn’t mean to be weird.
Me: Don’t apologize. You didn’t make anything weird.
Me: I’d be fine with you two talking.
Me: She likes you.
I worry for a moment if I shouldn’t have said that.
Baby Doll: Aww, that makes me feel cool.
I hesitate. Then I hit send.
Me: I like you too.
I hold my breath.
Baby Doll: That makes me feel less cool.
I grin.