What's Life Without the Sprinkles - By Misty Simon Page 0,12

of her had been so relieved he’d finally left, taking his childish temper tantrums and complete lack of help with him. The other part hadn’t been able to believe she was going to be the sole responsible person for a baby who would be born in six months. Thank God Nate had been there to help.

She shoved the door of her apartment open and stormed through. No, she wouldn’t think about that for another second, as a matter of fact. She at least wanted cake in her life, and putting it off until some other time was not going to give her sweet tooth any satisfaction.

She needed her son to be happy and healthy, her shop to thrive, and a roof over her head. And maybe, just maybe, she’d see about Nate, if the timing was right. Maybe.

All conditions met, except for the happy son part, but that she could work on with him. Nate often helped to make him happy and teach him about life, too. She would be lost without him. It would be work to fit everything in, but she wasn’t afraid of a little hard work. She’d been at it for almost eleven years at this point.

She shared her apartment with her sister, but she owned it. She shared her business with two of the best women in the world, and her son would eventually get over himself, even if she had to force him.

Her love life was her own. Or at least it would be, once she got her hands on one very delicious piece of rear end labeled Nate West.

Of course her resolve didn’t last much past getting into her room. Who was she kidding? The problems with going after Nate were already stacking up in her head.

“Ugh!” After kicking off her shoes, Claudia threw herself on her bed and dropped her hand over her eyes.

“I told you I was right,” Zoe said, startling Claudia.

Where had she come from? And she hadn’t even tried to keep the smugness out of her voice.

“You’re my sister. Aren’t you supposed to hold the ‘I told you so’ line and just commiserate with me?”

“Probably, but not this time. He isn’t right for you.”

“Yeah, I figured that out for myself tonight, thanks very much.”

“No charge.” Zoe flopped down on the bed next to Claudia, stuck her legs up in the air, and seemed to be contemplating the meaning of her toes.

“You were wrong about the rug, though. It was hair plugs. Poorly done hair plugs.” Claudia couldn’t believe she had dismissed that. She certainly hadn’t missed it, but she’d ignored it all along.

“I was still in the ball park, though. You should always listen to your little sister when it comes to these kinds of things.”

Claudia smacked her in the face with a pillow. “At least I’m out there still trying to date and be semi-normal.”

Zoe grabbed the pillow and tucked it behind her head. “Yeah, well, you’ll never really be normal, semi or otherwise. I applaud you for sticking your neck and body out there trying to find Mr. Right.”

“I hear a ‘but’ in there.”

“Absolutely. Isn’t there always a ‘but’ in there?” Claudia didn’t make contact with the pillow this time. Zoe snatched it out of her hands and tucked it behind her head, too. “But you need to stop listening to Mom, who obviously needs her eyes and brain checked if she thought Eddie was right for you.”

“At least I’m actually dating.”

“I’m actually dating, too, goofus, just not with any intent. I’m only twenty-five, and in no huge hurry to run out and find the Right one, or even the Right For Now one. I’ll take the Hung one.”

This time Claudia was faster, but she also ended up with her head flat on the comforter while Zoe was propped up like a queen against the headboard with all the pillows. “You’re incorrigible.”

“And you still have several hours before you have to pick up your precious boy. Maybe you should go to a bar and see what kind of men are hanging out on this fine night. I’ll go with you.”

“Not going to happen,” Claudia said, with her mouth if not her heart. She could see herself out on a club dance floor, maybe shaking what her mama gave her in the arms of a cute guy for the night. While in her mind that might be a pretty picture, she knew it would never happen. But, oh, just the thought… Her hormones were not helping her stay