Page 57

Fifty-Seven

Jade

So far, we’ve made it two nights without any issues, and I’m proud of myself. Bodhi has had nutritious snacks and dinners. I packed him a lunch today that would challenge any moms on social media. Sure, I didn’t cut the fruit into shapes, but I did cut off his crust.

I’m settling into this mom thing, and honestly, I think I’m kind of rocking it. I finish washing the dishes while Bodhi gets dressed.

“Ready.”

I turn to see him all dressed and ready. “Almost. Let me finish the dishes. I made you some protein banana pancakes.”

His smile falls. “Oh.”

“What?” The moms online said their kids love them.

“Okay.”

I wash the mixing bowl I used and dry it, turning around to see him chewing with his mouth open and a disgusted look on his face. Maybe I missed an ingredient because the videos all showed their kids asking for seconds.

“Are they bad?”

He nods. “They taste like cardboard. Can I have some milk?”

“Oh yeah.” I never gave him a drink. Crap. Where was my mind? I know where it was. Trying to follow the recipe and mixing ingredients. Waylon and Owen are right, I’m not a cook in any sense of the word.

I pour him a glass of milk and set it in front of him. He downs half the glass and stares at the plate.

“You don’t have to eat them,” I say, reaching to take the plate.

“No, I like them.”

“You don’t. You already said they taste like cardboard.”

He pierces his fork into one. “I was wrong.”

“Nope.” I shake my head and take the plate. “But let’s go now so I can pick you up a muffin or something on the way.”

“Chocolate chip?” he asks, eyes wide.

“Sure.” I mean, I’m already failing at the breakfast thing anyway. Might as well fail spectacularly.

We leave the condo, and our Uber is waiting for us. Jackpot.

I ask our driver nicely if he can drive through the doughnut place and get Bodhi a chocolate muffin, and we still make it to the school early.

“You’re gonna rock that spelling test today.” I hug him goodbye. “And we’ll celebrate tonight.”

“Daddy comes home tonight?”

“He does.” I run my hand down his arm. “You miss him?”

He shrugs. I’m sure he does. Bodhi likes organization and routine while I pretty much go off whatever happens and roll with it.

“When you wake up tomorrow, he’ll be home. And tonight, we’ll play that hot lava game you love.”

His eyes widen, and he hugs me. “Bye.” He lets go and starts for the doors to the school.

“Bye, sweetie,” I say.

He stops and turns around.

“What?”

“You called me sweetie,” he says.

I cover my mouth with my hand. “Oh, I’m sorry. Is that babyish?” I whisper.

“No, I like it.” He smiles, and my heart melts, watching him walk into the school.

“So, you’re playing mommy now?” Trina asks, coming over with her three mom gang members.

“You’re lucky with Bodhi. He’s a cutie and polite,” the red-haired one says.

“But that won’t last forever. Think you’ll be able to handle it when he throws himself on the ground in a fit of rage?” The curly-haired one slurps her fancy coffee drink.

“I think that was chocolate on Bodhi’s cheek,” Trina says before sucking on the straw of what’s probably some green protein shake concoction.

Shit, I didn’t check his cheeks or mouth for food. Did he brush his teeth before we left?

“Relax, I’m sure you’re really good in bed. And you have that whole past with Henry going for you.” The red-haired one reaches forward to touch my arm, but I move it.

Mean girls at this age? Seriously?

I don’t say anything.

“She hasn’t had kids, of course she’s good in bed. Let’s see how desirable she is with no sleep because she was up with a sick kid all night. Or when he comes home to a messy house and no dinner.” The curly-haired one shrugs with a laugh as if her point is made.

“Yeah, I gotta go.” I walk back to my Uber.

“Don’t worry, Jade, the chocolate thing is our little secret,” Trina says, and all of them laugh.

I slide into my Uber, shaking my head, but mean girls know exactly where to shoot their arrows. I can’t deny they just hit a bull’s-eye on every one of my fears.

Later that night, we have Bodhi’s spelling test up on the fridge with a hundred percent sticker and have pizza for dinner. I didn’t have it in me to prepare another meal that he’d probably hate. Here I am after only a few days, and I’m giving up on everything I told myself I needed to do.

Dinner is finished, and we’re in the living room playing the hot lava game where you can’t touch the floor at all, otherwise you’re dead.

“The crocodile is coming, Bodhi, jump!”

He laughs and hops onto the next pillow.

I pretend to be following him through a swamp.

“Jade, a hippo!” He points.

I feign being scared, placing my hand over my chest and pretending to teeter on the edge of a pillow as if I might fall in the pretend lava. He jumps to my pillow and tugs me back so I’m standing up straight.

“I saved you,” he says, and the pride on his little face fills my heart.

“You sure did. We gotta scale the wall before that…” I’m at a loss for animals and where we are.

“Elephant,” he says.

Sure, we just got to the Sahara. Cool.

“It’s an entire herd, you better hurry.” I push him.

He hangs from the back of the couch, pretending he can’t climb up. “I need your help, I’m… not… strong… enough.”

This kid needs to go into acting.

I hop to the pillow and push him over the “wall.” He rolls over on the couch.

“Phew.” I run my hand over my forehead. “That was close.”

He pops up on his feet. “The momma is coming. She’s mad.”

I look over my shoulder and jump over the edge of the couch.

“Wow,” Bodhi says. “I want to do that.”

“I’m kind of surprised I managed it.” I’m not the athletic type.

He laughs but sobers quick. “The shark!”

And we move from the Sahara Desert to the ocean.

“The boat is rocking.” I use my feet to move my body back and forth as though waves are moving a ship. He does the same. “I don’t know if we’ll make it. Bodhi, a killer whale!” I place my hand on the edge of the couch. “It’s going to hit the boat, hold on.”

He clings to the edge, but I pretend to be thrown from the “boat,” falling off the back of the couch and onto my back, the pillows not really helping as much as I thought they would.

“Ouch.” I put my hand on my now-sore back. Shit, that hurt, but I don’t want Bodhi to think anything is wrong.

“I’ll save you!”

I look up to see Bodhi standing on the top of the back of the couch.

“No, Bodhi,” I say, shaking my head, but he crouches and propels himself off the edge.

I swivel on the floor, and it all happens in slow motion. Him flying through the air, me scrambling to catch him but not getting there fast enough. He crashes down on the floor.

Oh shit.

I slide over to him. “Bodhi, are you okay?”

He’s crying, and I really hope this is a bruise or a little cut, but he rolls over holding his arm. His clearly broken arm.

Oh my god, I broke Henry’s son.