Chapter 20
OWEN
“How was your first mushroom trip?” Heather leans on the bar across from me picking brownie-bites from a pint of ice cream labeled Gingers. “Was it everything you thought it would be and more?”
“I have never once thought about a mushroom trip.” What I do think about is Gina standing on her porch just now, looking like an angel.
“Okay, Bubba, spill it.”
My eyes narrow. “I’ve warned you about that nickname.”
“Look, just because I wasn’t around when Aunt Pinky called you Bubba doesn’t make it any less hilarious.”
“It’s not hilarious. It’s annoying.”
“Spoken like a true oldest child.” She takes another bite of ice cream. “Did you barf?”
She switches topics so fast, it takes me a beat to realize she’s back to the mushrooms. “No.”
“What happened then?”
I lean back against the counter, crossing my arms. What happened…
A lot. It’s been on my mind all day. Thankfully, it didn’t impact my game play, and we beat San Jose handily. Still, I’ve been all twisted up inside.
On the one hand, I feel a relief I haven’t felt in seven years. On the other, thinking about what it means stirs up feelings of guilt I thought I’d put away.
“Okay, you are taking way too long to answer me, so I’m guessing it must’ve been intense.”
My brow furrows, and I decide just to say it. “I saw Angie.”
Her eyes widen, and she puts the pint and the spoon on the counter. “You saw Angie?”
I nod, and she turns and walks straight to the cabinet over the stove. She opens the doors and takes down the bottle of Stone Cold single-barrel reserve whiskey my uncle Alex gave me when I left Eureka.
It’s my late grandfather’s old recipe that my uncle cultivated and turned into a world-renowned label. It also turned my family into multi-millionaires.
My sister pours us each a finger and hands me a glass. She lifts hers, and we clink before tossing it back. Smooth.
“Now.” She takes my arm and leads me to the table. “Tell me everything that happened.”
Normally, I would roll my eyes at her theatrics, but in this case, I’m not so sure.
“It was like I was being lifted up, and there was light all around me.” I try to remember the details, but some of them are hazy now. “She was there, smiling. She kind of reminded me of that old movie Wild at Heart when the Good Witch appears to Sailor.”
“Never saw it.”
“Well…” I try to think of how to describe it. “She had light all around her, and she seemed to hover in front of me.”
“What did she say?”
Bending my elbow, I rub my fingers over my closed eyes trying to remember her exact words, the order of our conversation.
“She told me she was okay. She said she was at peace.” Again, those words hit me in the chest hard. Clearing my throat, I push past the emotions. “She told me to let her go and get on with my life.”
Heather presses her lips together, nodding slowly. “It was her spirit. She can feel you still holding onto her, and she wants to transition.”
“I don’t believe in that.”
“It doesn’t matter if you believe in it or not. It is.” Heather reaches across the table, holding my hand. “Why are you afraid?”
My jaw clenches, and I don’t like her choice of words. “I’m not afraid.”
“Owen.” She arches an eyebrow. “You have a beautiful woman falling in love with you. You’ve been given permission to let go and live. Why are you still hesitating?”
“I’m having a hard time believing it was real and not just what I want to happen.” I lean closer, lowering my voice so Maddie doesn’t hear. “I was on drugs.”
“Mind-expanding drugs. Native Americans have used psilocybin to commune with the spirit world for generations.” She leans back in her chair. “It was real.”
I study my hands, remembering holding her face, sliding my thumb across her cheek. “When I look at Gina, I feel so strongly like, it’s always been you. But how can I feel that way? It’s like I’m forgetting what came before, how I got Maddie.”
Her reply is quiet, thoughtful. “I think you and Angie had something really special. She was my first big sister, and I loved her.” Her lips press together, and she continues slowly.
“That doesn’t mean she was your soul mate.
I’m not taking anything away from your relationship, but her path took her away from you. ”
Pushing out of my chair, I walk over to pour another shot of whiskey. “I don’t believe in soul mates. What if your soul mate dies? Then what?”
A touch of impatience enters my sister’s tone. “You can be perfectly happy with someone who isn’t your soul mate.”
“Heather,” I groan.
“It’s simply a deeper connection when it is. It’s spiritual. You can feel it, and I think you’re beginning to understand the difference.”
My voice is quiet. “The way I feel about Gina… should make me feel guilty.”
“Why?” She stands, walking over to take my hand.
“It feels like I wasn’t truly in love before.”
She blinks up at me, her brow crinkling. “It doesn’t have to mean that.”
An ache is in my throat, and I look down at my hands, her slim ivory one covering mine. “I always wanted to be a good husband. I want to be a good dad, like we have. Protect and provide.”
Reaching up, she wraps her arms around my shoulders. “You were the best husband, Owen.” Her face is at my ear, and I pat her arm as she hugs me. “You’re the best dad, and you deserve a second chance. Dad had one, and so should you.”
Maverick
What’s this I hear about everybody doing mushrooms at the party?
Gavin
I went home with my ladies. The only mushrooms I had were on pizza.
Owen
Hey, group chat!
Maverick
We’re carpooling, we’re all in Haddy’s dog show… Now back to the mushrooms. Why didn’t I get any?
Owen
It was an accident. Heather was putting them away, and we thought they were regular chocolate.
Maverick
New rule, if anyone has magic mushrooms, they have to share them with the group. Capiche?
Gavin
Not me. I’ve got a baby now.
Owen
I’m happy never doing them again. It was a lot.
Maverick
Second rule, if you know someone’s doing magic mushrooms, you let me know, and I’ll make the decision for myself.
Owen
I’m pretty sure Ryan and Meredith still have some if you want a square.
Maverick
That’s what I call a team player. Good work, Sly.
Shaking my head, I put my phone in my pocket, checking my reflection before heading downstairs. My hair’s still too long, but otherwise, I’m good.
“Did you see me walking Peepee, Daddy?” Maddie meets me at the bottom of the stairs, holding up her arms, Zander in hand.
I reach down to lift her onto my waist. “I sure did. You looked like a real pro out there.”
“I’m going to walk with her in the dog show. But only if you say it’s okay. That’s what Miss Gina said.”
Her eyes are round, and I smile, thinking of Gina working with her, teaching her to walk that little dog, supporting my position as Maddie’s dad. A second chance…
“I think that would be a lot of fun, Shortcake.”
“You do?” A huge smile breaks across her face, and she throws her arms around my neck. “Thank you, Daddy! And you’re going to walk Ladybird!”
My brows furrow, and I put her on her feet again. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. We’ve talked about LB.”
“You can do it.” She holds my hand, walking with me to the door. “It just takes practice, and then after a little while it just clicks into place like a puzzle piece. That’s what Miss Gina said, and it’s true.”
Stopping at the door, I give her another hug. “If Miss Gina said so, I’ll give it another try. Now I’m meeting her for lunch. Wish me luck.”
My daughter’s face scrunches. “Why do you need luck to eat lunch?”
“I’ll tell you later.” I tweak her chin and jog out to my truck.
It only takes a minute to drive down the block to our old residence. Gina walks out when she sees me, and she looks so good. She’s wearing a navy plaid skirt that shows off her long legs, and a navy sweater that clings to her body in a way that should be sinful.
She skips out to the truck, her long hair shining in the morning sun, and I hop out to open the door for her.
“Such a gentleman.” She pauses to kiss my lips before climbing into the cab.
My eyes slide down to the hem of her skirt rising up the curve of that ass, and I fight the urge to touch her there.
“I’m not always a gentleman.” I shut the door, jogging around to the other side and climbing in.
She scoots across the seat to lean closer and whisper in my ear. “You’re not, and I like it a lot.”
I catch her face before she can move away and kiss her. “Good.”
It’s a short drive to the Alcove, and it’s not too crowded when we arrive.
“I love this place!” Gina grabs my hand. “It’s like something out of a storybook.”
“That’s what Maverick told me. He said you have a thing for greenery.”
“And this place is historic. You know these are two of the oldest homes in Los Feliz? They date back to the 1800s.”
She’s so excited, I can’t help a chuckle. “As long as the food’s good.”
“The lemon ricotta pancakes are incredible, and they have great vegan and gluten-free options.”
“I’m not either of those.”
We follow the hostess to our booth, and Gina orders the lemon pancakes. I get the short rib Benedict. The waitress brings us both coffees, and when she leaves, our eyes meet.
For a moment I study her face, her soft hair, her pretty green eyes. Her nose is slightly upturned, and she has the faintest sprinkling of freckles across the bridge.
“What was your favorite breakfast food as a kid?” She lifts her coffee cup in both hands, puckering her glossy lips before taking a sip.
“Froot Loops.” I exhale a laugh, taking a sip of my own coffee.
“Why is that funny?” Her brow arches.
“My dad would call me Froot Loop when I was a little boy, and it made me so mad.” I sit back, remembering last night, Heather calling me Bubba. “I had a real problem with nicknames when I was young.”
“To be fair, Froot Loop isn’t the greatest nickname.” Her nose wrinkles.
“How about you? Any dog-related nicknames in your past?”
She shakes her head. “I’ve only ever been Gigi, for Gina Grace.”