A Broken Fate by Cat Mann

  ****

  I untangled my fingers from Ari’s hair. I was covered in a sweaty sheen and my hair was a half-dry, uncombed mess.

  “Better?” Ari smiled.

  My cheeks flushed with heat and I nodded shyly.

  “Me too.”

  Ari joined me for my second shower since he wasn’t much better off and after, I redid my makeup and stood in front of the closet trying to figure out something to wear. We were already over an hour late.

  Ari was in a hurry and threw on a shirt and a pair of jeans. His attire, I was sure, would make his mother mad. I dressed a little more nicely since I already knew I was going to make her really mad by causing us both to be late. We grabbed the rest of the gifts and we were the last couple to leave the house.

  Aggie started griping at us from the moment we walked through the door. She shot me a nasty look, muttering under her breath about responsibility and respect for others. The fact that August and Collin, neither of them family, had arrived at Aggie’s before us, made matters worse. I instantly tuned her out and Ari smoothed Aggie over by giving her a huge hug and secretly passing her one of her Christmas gifts from him early. She immediately backed off and tore into the paper. Inside was a new bottle of perfume. I stole a glance at the label. It was “baio for Women.” Great. Now every time I’m near Aggie, I’ll want to puke.

  I started in on making the half dozen or so pies I wouldn’t be eating and was thankful for Collin’s help. August and Ari played with Max at the table. Max had the table top covered with Legos and they were making all kinds of little castles and moats. They talked excitedly about a Lego joust with their knights.

  When they tired of Legos, they built a tent with blankets, and when they grew bored with the tent, Ari read Max a few of his storybooks, while I continued to bake. Ari’s warm, soothing voice put Max to sleep in the middle of the afternoon and once he was asleep, August and Collin left for Gianna’s. I snuck away from Aggie and her kitchen and found Ari on the back deck. He had his legs propped up on the rail and was staring off at sea.

  “Hey.”

  Ari moved his feet off the rail, turned and smiled.

  “Hey, Baby. Come sit with me.”

  I looked back at the house and then looked down at Ari’s watch. I had fifteen minutes before I needed to take the last pie out of the oven.

  “Okay.”

  Ari pulled me down onto his lap and I leaned my head back on his chest and enjoyed the view with him until my eyes grew heavy and I let them shut.

  Ari must have fallen asleep, too, because when Aggie started yelling from the back door, we both jumped. I grabbed Ari’s wrist and looked down at his watch.

  “Crap! The pie!” I yelled. “Sorry, Aggie! Here I come!”

  I tried an apology while I was running up the deck steps but Aggie kept yelling about responsibility and respect until Ari stepped in to save me. I did feel sincerely remorseful about the pie, though.

  “Ma, it was just a rhubarb pie. No one likes that kind anyway. You end up throwing it away every year. Ava just saved you a step.”

  Aggie looked away from me and softened at Ari’s words.

  “People do too eat it,” she pouted.

  “No. No one does, Ma. Sometimes I cut a piece and toss it just so you don’t feel bad.” He walked up the deck and kissed her cheek. “Calm down, it was an accident.”

  They walked into the house together, leaving me behind and speechless.