The Fling

19

Bert and I sat in the surgical center waiting area, one seat separating us as a buffer since I was still angry. Mia took Hannah for the day, so we were alone. I felt like complete shit because Bertie slept with me, and his fitful moans and whimpers kept me up the entire night. Several times he'd called out for his dad in his sleep, which broke my heart.

To occupy myself, I played a mindless game on my phone. A text appeared from Shawn.

How's it going? You need anything today?

My heart wrenched in my chest at his sweetness. He'd brought me a coffee when he dropped off my car at six and let Han show him her doll collection while he waited for his Uber.

He's in surgery now.

We'll be home this afternoon.

What I need is sleep, but I don't think you can help with that 🤣

A second later he messaged me again.

What if I drop off dinner? Do your kids like pizza?

"He's a little young for you, don't you think?" Bert sneered after clearly spying on my text exchange with Shawn.

"Don't be a hypocrite."

"It's different when the woman is older."

I got up and moved to another part of the room, refusing to engage with him about this. A few seconds later, he sat directly next to me.

"Are you doing this to get back at me? Trying to prove that you can find someone younger and hotter?" he whispered.

"This has nothing to do with you." I moved again, and this time he left me alone. In moments like this, I couldn't understand how I had once been so happy with him. I'd loved Bert so much, and a tiny part of me still did. We had history and he was the father of my children, but my god, he could be an asshole.

An hour later, a nurse came to get us so we could see Bertie in the recovery room. He was groggy, but seemed pleased with his huge purple cast. After a while, he was sitting up and drinking ginger ale, chattering away about how he closed his eyes and then woke up a second after they put him under. Just like the night before, it took forever to get discharged, but finally he was and I took him home, Bert following us in his car because he insisted on making sure Bertie was settled in. Our son fell asleep minutes after being tucked into bed, and my ex left without so much as a goodbye. I called Mia and told her that she could bring Hannah home, and we chatted a bit when she walked her to my house.

After my friend left, I realized I'd never replied to Shawn, so I texted him. As much as I appreciated his kindness, I knew what I had to do to make the inevitable easier for both of us.

Thank you for the offer, but we can get pizza delivered.

Three dots appeared and were there for a long time before vanishing without a message.

"Lizzie is going to be so excited that you know Shawn!" Hannah said as she plopped next to me on the couch.

"She already knows that I met him at the spa last month."

"Why didn't you tell me? He's so cool! You're lucky to have him as a friend."

I pulled her close to me. "I didn't think you'd care."

"Other kids are always talking about famous people they've met. Now I can say I did, too!"

I laughed at how she sounded like a true LA native. "You've met some celebrities," I reminded her.

"No one my friends know."

Bert worked for a talent agency, though most of his clients were over forty and none of them were big names. What he lacked in star power, he made up for in volume, since he represented dozens of people. He was always on the lookout for someone with potential to make it huge, but they typically went with an agency with greater name recognition.