She puts her glass of water down and takes a deep breath. “My cell phone got cut off yesterday,” she says and doesn’t stop talking. “To top it all off, my scumbag of an ex stole my kid’s hockey stuff and pawned it, and now they want two hundred dollars.”

I don’t think I can hear anything more without wanting to flip the table over and go hunt down her ex. “Tonight, you take my phone,” I say, and she shakes her head.

“I’m not taking your phone,” she huffs. “I’m just pointing out how different our lives are.”

“What if you need to call 911?” I ask, and then I play dirty. “What if something happens to Dylan, and you can’t call for help?” I take my own glass of water, and I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter in my hand. I’m so angry about what she just told me. I take a sip of the ice-cold water, but it’s hard to swallow. “And fuck the equipment. We got him a spare bag.”

“But you shouldn’t have to pay for that,” she says.

“Neither should you,” I say. She’s about to argue with me when the door opens, and Dylan comes skipping back into the room.

“Mom, there is a guy, and he tosses the pizza into the sky.” He mimics tossing a pizza in the air with his arms. “Then he catches it.”

“Really?” she says, and he climbs into the chair next to me.

“And Lara let me make my own pizza,” he says. “I did a meat lover’s because I need some meat on these bones.” He slaps his stomach, and we both laugh. I look over at her and see her eyes glistening with tears, but for once, I don’t think they’re sad tears.

Chapter Sixteen

Caroline

My head is spinning for a couple of reasons. I’m sure the wine is playing a part in it, but his words are making it spin more. Dylan is going on and on about something with Justin, and the only thing I can hear in my head is I want to kiss you. It doesn’t help that his smell is all around me because of his ginormous sweater. I had to roll the sleeves just to get them over my hands.

I pick up my wine by accident and take a sip, putting it down and then looking over at Justin who just smirks. “If you really want to sleep over, sweetheart …”

“It was an accident,” I say and then pick up the glass of water and finish the whole thing. “I need more water.”

“Do you now?” He smiles, and Lara comes in with a tray and places it in the middle of the table.