Unofficial First Girlfriend

CHAPTER 20

I scrubbed the countertop of the diner spotless as the pot of rice boiled inside the kitchen. I pretended like I was a modern-day Cinderella. I grabbed the broom and dustpan from the utility closet and began sweeping the tiled floor. I ticked a box from my mental list of the things I needed to accomplish for the day before I fetch Naiah.

A few hours from now, our house would be back to its usual chaotic mess with Naiah's toys. Clark would be back home too, and we would be opening the diner the next day.

My mind wandered to Nick as I was about to finish sweeping. He hadn't reached out to me after our mall incident. There wasn't any message or call. There wasn't anything at all.

I don't care, I reminded myself. That line had become a chant for me since I got home from the mall yesterday. It was a reminder that I shouldn't meddle too much with his life because I was just a best friend who makes out with him. My opinion didn't matter when it came to stuff that involved a diamond ring.

But I did hope he hit his head somewhere and that he would come to a realization that I was right all along. That he really wasn't ready for marriage. And that proposing to Sunshine was a stupid idea. It was even more stupid than the time he sneaked into our house in junior year, and my grandparents came home earlier than I expected, so he ended up staying the night hiding in my room because there was no other way out. My window wasn't even an option at that time.

When I was done sweeping, I put back the broom and dustpan inside the closet. Then I walked outside to our small backyard to collect the clothes hanging from the clothesline. Just two more tasks left, and I would be out and about.

I walked back inside the house with the laundry basket in tow. But I had a weird feeling that someone was inside. I heard a muffled sound, like a burst of tiny laughter that was easily drowned out by covering of hand.

"Who's there?" I asked, holding the basket tightly.

I strained my ears for any sound of movement or whispers. Maybe I was being paranoid. But then a thud resounded from upstairs like something accidentally dropped on the floor.

That's it.

I put down the basket, reached for the ladle on the table, and climbed up the stairs with a little bit of caution.

"Mama!" Naiah's high-pitched squeal boomed as she jumped in front of me. She was wearing her favorite sundress and holding a string bag in her hands.

I heaved a sigh of relief and kneeled down on the floor to give her a tight hug.

"You missed me?"

"Not so much," she replied like a snob. "These are for you."

I reached for the string bag and opened it. It was an assortment of candies and biscuits.

"I saved one pack of each snack I had when I was away."

"That's really sweet of you."

Clark came into view, and I stood up to give him a brief hug and quick peck. "We were supposed to surprise you, but she couldn't stop giggling."

"I was surprised."

"Mama, why do you have a big spoon?"

Clark glanced at the ladle in my hand before looking at me funny.

"I was in the kitchen," I replied to Naiah.

"You weren't."

"I was before I came up here."

"I'm going to check up on my toys because I missed them too," she mumbled before skipping away and into her bedroom.

"You missed me?" Clark asked.

"Not so much," I teased. "Want to help me prepare our dinner?"

"Sure."

***

It was almost 5 in the afternoon. Clark and I closed the diner early. We had decided that the two of us could not run it for a day. He was in the bathroom, and I decided to unpack his bag, so I could do the laundry later before dinner. I had already unpacked his shirts when I noticed that there was something inside the zipped compartment of his bag. I unzipped it and found his phone.

I didn't realize that his phone was still in his bag. But why? I had a gut feeling that something wasn't right, so I did the most logical thing to do. I unlocked his phone, pressing the numbers of Naiah's birthday as his passcode.

There was an unread message in his inbox.

From Sara.

My breath got caught in my throat at the sight of the name. I pressed the message and expected the worst, but it still managed to shock me.

Sara: When are you coming over?

WHAT ON EARTH IS SHE TALKING ABOUT?

My blood boiled in an instant, and I started to hyperventilate as well.

"What are you doing?" Clark asked.

I looked up at him with his phone in my trembling hands. My heart pumped quickly as I tried catching my breath.

"What the hell, Clark?"

"What?" he asked, snatching the phone from my hands.

I watched him as his expression changed from curious to surprised to nervous. His face paled at the sight of the text message, and it confirmed my assumption.

Something was going on.

"What are you doing Clark? I thought it was over. You told me it was over."

"It was."

"It was," I sneered. "So, this is new? What is going on?"

"There's nothing—"

"Cut the crap," I interrupted him and pushed myself up on my feet. "Stop making a fool out of me. Tell me what is going on."

"Nothing is going on, and why are you going through my phone?"

I scoffed at him. "I'm sorry for invading your phone, but I demand an explanation for you."

"There's nothing to explain here. Get your head straight, Mace."

"Dammit, Clark. I just want to hear from you. That message..." I pointed an accusing finger at his phone, which he already kept in his pocket. "That means something, so tell me what the hell is going on."

"I have nothing to explain. You know what? I can't deal with this right now."

He grabbed the jacket from behind the bedroom door and walked out. I followed him out of the bedroom and yelled, "Don't you dare walk out on me."

He just slammed the door shut.

I groaned and cursed under my breath.

"Mama, what's going on?" I heard Naiah's tiny voice.

I glanced at her bedroom door, where she was peeking. She was twisting the neckline of her dress. It was a habit whenever she was scared.

I sighed heavily and tried to pull myself together. I couldn't break down in front of my daughter. Not today.

Not ever.