Page 15 of Husband to Go

Damn, I’m going to hell. I shift in my seat uncomfortably. Now is not the time.

“Kylie, are you okay? You haven’t eaten any of your food,” Jane asks with concern. She puts her fork down and turns with an apologetic smile.

“I’m fine. I’m feeling a little sick is all.”

“Oh?” Jane rubs her back. “Well, I hope you feel better soon.”

Veronica interrupts.

“Did I hear my baby say she’s feeling sick?” she coos across the table. Kylie looks uncomfortable when her mom comments.

“It’s not that big of a deal, really. I’ll be fine in a couple of hours, I’m sure.”

“Oh, I can make you my chicken soup once we get home. I’ll take care of you, baby,” Veronica says in a sugary sweet voice, continuing her act. Kylie narrows her eyes.

“Um, okay thanks,” she responds suspiciously. She turns her attention back to Jane, and the two of them talk with each other, making sure to keep their voices low.

I just keep my mouth shut. There’s no reason for me to get involved in any of the conversations circling around the table. Plus, soon I’ll be able to go back to work, where I’m in my element. Hopefully, these uncomfortable feelings won’t follow me there.

“Excuse me, excuse me!” Veronica is standing up, clinking her glass with her knife. The din dies down as the guests focus on her. “Hi everyone. I just wanted to say thank you for coming to our engagement lunch. It means a lot to me that all of you wanted to celebrate my upcoming marriage to this guy,” she points to me. I offer a tight-lipped smile. Kylie finally looks at me again, but her expression is neutral.

“I’m so excited to see you guys at all of our upcoming festivities. This wedding is going to be epic!” Veronica lifts her glass, and everyone follows suit, toasting the bride and groom.

The rest of the party follows in a similar fashion. I talk whenever someone wants to make conversation, but I mainly watch Kylie as she moves smoothly among the guests. She’s polite, charming, and gracious, which is a feat given what just happened in the restroom. In fact, the woman has my respect. If I were her age, I’d probably depart as soon as the meal ended.

But Kylie stays. She talks and laughs, acting the part of the perfect daughter. Finally, the party finally ends, and I say goodbye to the relevant people.

“Goodbye Tanner,” replies Kylie with a genuine smile at me, as she shakes my hand. “I’m looking forward to the wedding.”

And then, she’s off to her apartment, and I’m off to mine. This day went far from how I expected, and as a result, I’m totally confused. What now? What’s next? I wonder if Kylie will be thinking of me tonight because there’s a strong chance I’ll be thinking of her.

5

Kylie

Icannotbelievethat my mom is marrying the guy I happened to sleep with at the club. I mean, how? How did the pieces of my life come together to make this mess of circumstance happen?

And more importantlywhy? Is this some kind of karma? Did I do something wrong to deserve this punishment?

I mean, I can dismiss the first time we slept together because I didn’t know who he was. But at the engagement party, I was fully aware he was my soon-to-be stepfather. And yet, I still let him own my body in the bathroom.

Oh god.I cover my face, kicking my feet on my bed. Why did he have to feel so good? He knew every button to push. How to make my toes curl. How to turn me inside out.

I’m afraid to think I might do it again.

But I can’t. It’s unthinkable. Inconceivable.

Tanner is marrying mymom. He’s going to be my stepdad. I feel icky thinking about it. I must be a special kind of evil to want to keep this up.

I sit up in my bed. I need to talk to someone. Anyone. Maybe Andrea will have some advice. I pick up my phone and dial my friend, who thankfully, answers on the first ring.

“Hey Kylie. How did your mom’s thing go?” I haven’t spoken to my friend since Friday night. It’s time to fill her in on all the details.

“It was fine, but …” I trail off. I’m not sure how to tell Andrea everything that’s happened. On one hand, I am worried she might judge the hell out of me. On the other hand, I just need talk to someone about all of this craziness.

“What is it, Ky?” she asks, smacking her gum.

“So, remember that guy I met at the club?”