She approached the table, where Lucille’s head was resting against Noah’s big shoulder. “Come on, kids. Mom’s going to drive your day-drunk asses home.” She helped Lucille up, and Lucille grabbed Noah by the hand, pulling him up as well. Even while drunk and with Lucille’s erratic yanking of his arm, Noah was completely steady on his feet.
“Here, Mom, take this.” Lucille pushed a brown paper to-go bag into Perdie’s chest. “It’s the second round of banana pudding. It defeated us.” Lucille’s words slurred.
“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Perdie said soothingly, as they trampled their way out to the gravel parking lot and into Perdie’s vehicle.
Noah settled into the passenger seat, his long legs still cramped even though the seat had been moved all the way back.
“I’ll bring you to yours, Noah. You were great today.”
He rubbed his eyes a little, a drunken laugh escaping his mouth.
Lucille called out. “Noah’s not going to his place. He’s coming to ours to watch cult documentaries with me.”
Perdie lifted her brows, but Noah was nodding along. “S’true. I’ve got insider knowledge.”
Perdie shrugged. “Great, sounds like a plan.”
The drive home was quick, and Perdie’s adrenaline was pumping. She’d be happy to get the two drunks settled into the house so she could get ready for Carter. She found herself nibbling on the edge of her thumbnail as she pulled into her private parking spot next to Lucille’s thirteen-year-old Prius.
“Hurray. We made it,” Lucille cheered from the backseat. “Hey, I changed my mind about that banana pudding, can you pass it to me.”
Perdie laughed. “Yes, as soon as you get out of this vehicle and safely into the kitchen, consider the banana pudding all yours.”
“And Noah’s,” Lucille said.
“And mine” came Noah’s deep, serious voice.
Maybe Perdie was still riding high from her video call with Carter, but she laughed again, feeling giddy and excited.
But when they all tumbled out of the car, Perdie heard a familiar voice. It was a scream really. An annoying, desperate yell. The voice of the last person she ever wanted to hear from again.
“Lucille Renee Knox, I fucking love you so fucking much!”
Perdie’s heart dropped into her stomach as she spun around. Lucille’s mouth was agape. Noah’s eyes tracked the figure coming towards them in the distance.
Fuck.
Hampton had returned.
Chapter Fourteen
“Hey, so now might be a bad time to tell you something...” Perdie muttered, wringing her hands.
“Lucille.” The voice cut through the empty parking lot.
“Is that Hampton, or am I drunk?” Lucille asked, rubbing her eyes.
“Unfortunately—” Perdie gritted her teeth “—both.”
Perdie futilely clutched the banana pudding close to her, irritation pricking at her skin at the sight of Hampton’s messy blond hair, long beard, and black beanie coming into clear view. He beelined it to Lucille, pulling on the strings of his striped wool hoodie, silver rings glinting from his fingers.
“Babe.” He dropped to his knees in front of her and wrapped his arms around her legs, causing her to wobble off balance.
“Hampton? What’s going on?” She wiggled, but he held fast, squishing the side of his face against her shins. “What are you doing? It’s freaking me out.”
“Baby, I’ve come to apologize, I’ve learned my lesson.”
“What lesson—”
“Um...” Perdie cut in. “I really have to tell—”
“Where have you been?” Lucille’s eyes were wide. “Oh god, I’m too drunk for this shit.”
“I’m here for you now, I’ll never leave again.” Hampton kissed her knee, looking up to her pleadingly.
Lucille reached below and fisted the back of his shirt, prying his leeching body off her. “Am I in opposite land? Here for me? You bailed on Bananas’s appointment and then you ghosted me, like you always do.”
“It’s torture without you. I can’t eat, can’t sleep. I can barely drink my own microbrew creations.” Hampton straightened, grasping her elbow with one hand, the other hand trailing to Lucille’s cheek.
She craned her head away. “You could’ve just texted.” Lucille’s voice was exasperated.
He dropped the hand at Lucille’s face and cocked his head. “It’s okay, I get you’ve been ignoring me. I knew I had to come in person, that there was no other way. I did you wrong. But I’m here to make right. Now, what’s it going to take to win you back? It’s like that saying, you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. L-Bomb.” He caressed her once again. “Tell me what to do. Anything.”
“I can’t watch...” Perdie murmured to herself. Cringeworthy. Noah appeared in her periphery. If Lucille ditches Noah because of this embarrassing display...
“Those other women don’t mean anything to me...”
Lucille pushed against him hard with her palms. “Other women—what? Ugh, gross. This isn’t funny.”
