Aimee always tried to be polite to her, and it usually worked. “Yes, I am, thanks. I’m sorry for stealing your boyfriend away last night. I didn’t mean to mess up your evening.”
“Well, I guess that’s all right. Just try not to let it happen again,” she ordered.
Aimee had to force herself not to roll her eyes and come up with a smart comeback. And Nick really had the nerve to ask her why the two of them didn’t get along? “I’ll try, Steph.”
Steph looked at Aimee’s fitted skirt and jacket with disdain. “How can you wear those icky business suit things?”
“I kind of have to. I work at a law office, and I have to dress appropriately for that.” She forced a fake smile and then turned. “I’m going upstairs to take a quick shower.”
“Are you working at Pete’s tonight?” Steph asked.
“No, I’m not. I’m off.” Aimee smirked as she heard Steph curse under her breath. Happy that she had ruined Nick’s girlfriend’s plans to be alone in the house with Nick, she went upstairs. She was really glad Nick respected her values and would not do anything more than making out when Caitlin was in the house and wouldn’t even go that far when both she and Caitlin were in the house or when Caitlin was awake. After her mistake, she did not want Caitlin raised to think of sex as a minor, unimportant thing.
On her way up to the bathroom, she nearly ran into her best friend, who had Caitlin in his arms. “Hey, baby.” She kissed her daughter on the forehead and tried to take her from Nick, but he insisted on holding her. Then she greeted him. “Hi.”
He gave her a quick, friendly hug and smiled. “Hey, beautiful. How was work?”
“It was all right. Not very busy today.”
“Okay, that’s good. Did your day off make you feel any better?” he inquired.
“Yeah, it did. I’m actually kind of glad you made me call in sick. I don’t have a headache like I usually do after work, and I wasn’t almost in tears when I couldn’t find the file for the Miller case. I just calmly searched my desk for it and eventually found it.”
“Good for you. See, you need more time off.”
“Yeah, right. I think that was my last sick day for a long time. I told you, I can’t get fired.”
“Okay, fine, whatever. You wanna hang out with me and Steph tonight?” he offered.
“No thanks. I ruined your night last night – “
“You did not ruin anyone’s night.”
“Steph didn’t seem to happy with me for it.”
“That’s my girlfriend. I love her, but I wish she would understand that I have to make time for you, too.”
“Well, go make it up to her now. She’s waiting for you in the kitchen,” she ordered. “I’m going to take a shower now. Can you please watch Caitlin until I’m finished?”
He shrugged. “Sure, no problem.” She started to turn away, but he stopped her. “I’m still your ‘date’ for Sarah’s wedding tomorrow night, right?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“I love that dress on you,” he stated, referring to the bridesmaid’s dress she had.
“Thanks.”
“Oh, and you’re taking Caitlin to your sister’s tomorrow night, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m going to shower now.”
Her best female friend, Sarah, was getting married tomorrow, and she was the maid of honor. She was really looking forward to it, and definitely looking forward to going with Nick. She could steal him away from his girlfriend for one more night. It wasn’t that she wanted him for herself or anything, but she couldn’t stand Steph, and the more time Nick spent away from her, the better.
Pulling herself out of thought, she walked into the bathroom. After closing and locking the door, she stripped down and stepped under the hot water. Work really had been no problem, for once. Every other day it was basically hell. Maybe Nick was right. She was working too much and too hard… Oh, well. There was no point in thinking about it because there was nothing she could do. She just had to deal with it.