Wednesday by Clare James Read Free Book Online Page A

doubt that you like boring,”
I say to Aria before turning my attention on the kid again. “Look at all the
choices. What about bubble gum? It’s like two treats in one.” Without thinking,
I lift him up to show him.
    The little dude hasn’t picked up
any of his mother’s prickly tendencies. He practically jumps into my arms.
    “I can’t get bubble gum,” the kid
says.
    “Why not?”
    “It’s pink.” He looks at me like
I’m a complete moron.
    “So?” I say.
    “So, that’s a girl’s color.”
    “Says who?” I continue.
    “Everyone,” he replies.
    “Well, that’s a load of crap,” I
say.
    Aria clears her throat, and Serena
shoots another stink eye in my direction.
    “I mean, that’s not so. Colors
aren’t for boys or girls, they’re for everyone. Plus, some of the best flavors
are pink. Raspberry, strawberry, cherry nut. On Saturdays they even have cotton
candy. Come down and I’ll buy you a cone.”
    “Don’t make promises you can’t
keep, Tristan,” Aria scolds.  “He’s very literal and gets attached easily.”
    “If you recall,” I fight back, “I’m
not the one who breaks promises.”
    And then, as if to prove my point,
I touch her. Two fingers take the same path from her shoulder to her wrist as
they had our one night together. I squeeze her small shaking hand in mine.
    “I’ll see you again, little man,” I
tell Cade, appreciating his distraction from the ladies. He might not be so bad
after all. And to his mother, I whisper in her ear, “I’ll definitely be seeing
you.”
    She stumbles away from me so
quickly it’s comical.
    “And that’s a promise,” I say as I
head for the door with my scoop of rocky road. I have the feeling it’s going to
be a rocky one indeed.
     
     
     
     

 
ARIA
     
    For the next few
days, I’m able to avoid Tristan. Still, I feel him every night I go to sleep.
The way his hands make my skin sing. The way his eyes rake over my body,
bringing every nerve ending to the surface with a buzz. The way his anger seems
to melt when he’s close.
    My body’s in constant battle with
my brain, which distinctly remembers that I’m supposed to hate him.
    Thankfully, the daytime is easier.
Working at the restaurant, taking care of Caden, and preparing for school keeps
my mind busy and it doesn’t take long to settle into a routine. Most importantly,
my son is at home here.
    It’s made me think about what my
little guy was missing by being away from his family. We followed Alex thousands
of miles and saw him so little. Part of me wishes he’d served those divorce
papers sooner. Maybe then I could’ve pulled my head out of my ass.
    Still, I’ll never be free. Alex
will always be Cade’s father, shitty one that he is.  
    “Aria,” Mom calls, snapping me out
of my reverie. “Hurry up there. The lunch rush will be starting soon.”
    I’m a little rusty working at the
diner – particularly apparent as I try to help Jimmy prep in the kitchen. I
chop veggies while the big hulk of a man gently and cautiously prepares his
famous soups. It’s quite adorable. Today, he’s whipping up gazpacho. My
absolute favorite.
    “You haven’t changed a bit, Ari.”
Jimmy takes my knife from me, showing me the proper way to hold it. “Your
chopping technique still stinks.”
    Jimmy’s taught me most everything
back here. Other than Mom, of course. When we were little and Mom was off doing
the books and serving out front, it was Jimmy who would entertain us back here.
It was just him and his wife, Kate. They never had children, so he kind of
adopted us. His wife died of breast cancer two years ago. It hurts I wasn’t
here for him during that time.
    So even though I hate – absolutely
detest – being told what to do, I let him show me the proper way to wield a
knife. Though if I haven’t mastered it yet, I think it’s a lost cause.
    “Grasp the blade firmly between your
thumb and the knuckle of your index finger, curling your other fingers around
the