Chapter One: Partied Too Hard

My eyes opened to the sight of my eight-year-old daughter Aaliyah standing in front of me with her big bright brown eyes.

As soon as I woke up I knew I didn’t avoid getting a killer hangover. Not only that but I was pretty sure I was still a bit drunk. No doubt I went… a little overboard at my friend’s party last night and I couldn’t remember much of how it ended. I got an idea as my eyes slowly shifted from my daughter to the other side of my bed. Strategically I pulled one of the blankets over the head of my one-night stand.

“Mommy,” Aaliyah said with a giggle. “You can’t hide a whole man.” Trust me, I have multiple times before. “We need to leave so I can get to school.”

“Tillie couldn’t take you?” I asked as I rubbed my temples, trying to relieve my throbbing headache.

Tillie, my best friend and the only support I’ve had since I got pregnant at… fifteen. We lived in a duplex she bought so she could rent out the second unit. When things got harder for me she let me stay and I’ve been here ever since. She insisted that I didn’t pay rent when I first moved here. When I was able to I started paying rent anyway since I inherited a bunch of money from my grandfather when he died. I was his favorite and it came in handy when my parents kicked me out. They didn’t kick me out when I got pregnant like most parents, they waited until I was eighteen. They even threatened to take Aaliyah from me because they thought I was a shit mom. 

Maybe they were right but I wanted to be better, especially now.

“I slept over at Titi Tillie’s house but she said you need to take me to school because she works early,” Aaliyah explained. “She already left.”

I couldn’t drive her to school in this state “Aaliyah, let’s spend the day together at home, just you and mommy,” I said. “We can call it a mental health day.”

“My teacher said I’ve had too many mental health days,” she said. “Momma, I really wanna go today, it’s Riley’s birthday!” Her best friend.

“Fine, I’ll figure something out, wait in the living room.”

When my daughter was gone I shook the man in my bed awake. “Hey, I’m pretty sure we fucked last night,” I said when his eyes opened. “Are you sober enough to drive me to drop my daughter off at school??”

He groaned as he sat up and looked around. “I don’t have my car,” he said. “I can call a rideshare app now, I’ll pay.” He yawned. “I’m Andrew by the way.”

“We really don’t need to exchange names but I do appreciate the help.”

“Nah, I know your name is Clementine,” he said with a humorous smile. “We’ve fucked before.” Oh, shit. “Don’t worry, I kinda think it’s funny.” Hilarious.

Andrew got us a ride while I got ready. I didn’t have to do anything for my daughter, she had already gotten herself dressed, made herself a simple but nutritious breakfast, and had everything she needed for school in her backpack . It was a little sad how self-sufficient she was but at least one of us had our acts together. It was kind of inspiring, my eight-year-old was my role model… haha.

During the car ride there I felt horrible and Aaliyah didn’t help by asking, “Are you my Mommy’s new boyfriend??”

Andrew laughed, “No, we’re friends.”

Aaliyah shook my arms, “Mommy you’ve never had a boyfriend so how are you gonna get a new husband so I can have a daddy like my friends??”

“Uhh, I’m not looking for a husband baby,” I answered but it did make me a little sad, as if I wasn’t enough. I grew up with two parents and they both sucked.

Honestly, I was a free spirit and I liked it that way. Tillie was the only partner I needed and she treated my daughter almost like she was her own. Whenever I wanted to be impulsive she was there to make sure my daughter was cared for. Like the time I stole this asshole’s motorcycle and drove to Vegas for the weekend. Or the time my friend invited me to come along as her plus one to this rich guy’s yacht party last minute. The only catch was that we had to be topless the whole time, it was worth it.

“Mommy!” Aaliyah shouted, bringing me back to reality. 

“Sorry, I was thinking about something.” Reminiscing.

“I said can I look for a husband for you??” She asked as she got out of the car since we were parked in front of her school.

I shrugged. “Uh sure Liyah,” I said, not taking her seriously. Sure she could try but there was no way anyone would go for it.

Aaliyah squealed with a big smile then ran straight towards her school to her best friend to tell her happy birthday.

As the rideshare driver drove off I unlocked my phone and read through the group chat I had with my party friends. Apparently, we all got matching tattoos last night after the party. I looked at Andrew with a raised eyebrow. “You’re a tattoo artist,” I said and he nodded. “And you gave me a tattoo while I was blacked out drunk and then slept with me?” This wasn’t a good look for him.

“Yeah but we were all drunk when I was giving you and your friends tattoos,” he said and when he laughed a snippet of a memory came back to me of when we had sex the first time. I made a stupid joke about my ass and he laughed, it was the exact same laugh. “I blacked out in the middle of giving your tall friend the tattoo which was before I even got to you. Honestly, I’m surprised I even did get to you.”

A laugh escaped my mouth because the whole situation was insane. On top of that, he did a pretty good job despite being intoxicated. He was making an impression, if we had sex for a third time at least I’d remember his name. Andrew actually seemed pretty cool, not exactly my type beyond a fun night but he’d make a cool friend. 

We exchanged numbers before I got out of the car.

When I got in my house I turned the TV on and got into comfy clothes. As I grabbed the remote and was about to change the channel I stopped when I heard the topic. Someone died and the picture they put up of the murder victim looked familiar. I couldn’t place it but I knew the woman. They played a clip of her boyfriend being interviewed. “There were these two guys there but I wouldn’t even call them that. They barely looked human, like they were demons or possessed by one.

Demons, I would have thought the guy was a lunatic but I’ve heard enough personal accounts of demons to believe the guy.  I’d wish to come across something like that if I didn’t have a kid. I wouldn’t care if I’d die but I needed to live for Aaliyah and I wouldn’t want her in any danger.

The last thing I remembered was hitting my bong before passing out.

When I finally woke up I checked my phone for the time. I jumped out of my bed and panicked when I realized it was half an hour past the time my daughter's school let out. I was really fucking dropping the ball as a mother today. I jumped out of my pants and pulled my shirt off, throwing it on the ground. I needed to get dressed quickly!

The sound of a car pulling into my driveway brought me to my window. I looked down at a fancy car with no idea why it was there. When Aaliyah popped out the backseat I was struck with concern. I rushed out of my room as I hopped into my pants so I could get her and curse out the stranger dropping my eight year old daughter off.

Aaliyah burst through the front door and threw her bag down in a rush. “It's okay Momma,” she said when she saw the worry on my face. “Riley’s uncle gave me a ride.”

I smacked my palm against my face and said, “Aaliyah what have I told you about accepting rides from strangers??”

Aliyah rolled her eyes with her hands on her hips. “He’s not a stranger, I’ve met him like two dozens of times,” she said with a matter-of-fact tone. “He’s at Riley’s house a lot, plus Riley was in the car too. She still is, they’re waiting for you to come out!”

I squinted my eyes as I crossed my arms, suspicious. “Why…?”

“Ugh becau— Auntie Tillie help!” Aaliyah yelled as she opened the door after hearing Tillie’s car settle in her driveway. “We need to get Mommy ready, I found her a husband!”

I peeked out the window and a man was leaning against the car in my driveway. That was the man Aaliyah found for me. My daughter had good taste, he was sexy, and tall with thick wavy hair but maybe a little too put together for me. I wouldn’t be his type.

Or so I thought.