Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Adelaide
“Okay, so, there’s no need to be nervous or anything,” I say on my dad’s doorstep later that week.
“I’m surprisingly not nervous,” Zander says, and nothing about his demeanour implies he is. It’s wild and interesting, but so good to see. “I think we can build onto what he said at the meeting.”
“Right. Yeah, you’re right.”
Except I’m the one who’s nervous. Every conversation I’ve had with my dad over the last month and a half has been about how wrong this man is for me and now I’m supposed to believe everything is okay?
I exhale deeply and Zander pulls me to him. His arms snake around my waist.
“Are you nervous, silly goose?”
“I’m pretty damn nervous, Zander Browning.”
He cocks his head, brings his hand to my cheek, then cups the back of my head. “Your father, in his own words, sees me now. We’ve got this.”
Okay. Well, if he says so. I place a quick kiss on Zander’s lips, then ring the doorbell. I’m antsy, hopping from foot to foot. Zander touches my elbow and smirks. Chill. He takes the basket of my dad’s favourite gourmet cheese from my hands so I don’t drop them all in my jitters.
The door swings open and there’s my dad. He’s in his summer uniform of swim trunks and a Hawaiian shirt. And, thankfully, he’s smiling at both of us.
“Mr. Ramsay,” Zander greets him, holding up the cheese basket. “It’s so nice to see you again.”
My dad’s eyes widen at the cheese, and his smile follows suit. “Zander, call me Oscar.”
“Oscar. Got it.”
I let out the breath I knew I was holding. Oh my God he’s being civil. He’s first naming him. This is good. This is so good.
Zander squeezes my hand as we walk past the threshold.
My dad moved away from the memories in the big yellow house and into a modest townhouse on the outskirts of Beaver Creek.
The big seller: a yard with a pool. No room for anything else apart from a barbecue and a four-person patio table, but that’s all he needed.
After all the tension, this is the first time I’ve been here all summer and my first potential swim of the season.
Dad takes us directly to the back. We settle in at the frosted glass table, the barbecue already smoking.
“Did you guys bring your bathing suits?”
“Yup!” I say, gesturing to the mesh coverup dress barely disguising my body. “I mean, it’s that or I’m heading to the strip club for my shift.”
Zander turns to me sharply. I can imagine he’d never make a joke like that around his parents, but I’ve never felt the need to hide around my dad. Dad laughs as he tends to some charred burgers and hot dogs.
“You can swim before or after we eat. Whatever works for you. Drinks are in the cooler, as you know, Ads.”
“You’re almost done, right? We can eat and then swim,” I suggest, and Zander nods his agreement. “Begin the awkward get to know you questions.”
“Addie,” Zander says in the same exasperated voice my father uses at that exact moment to say, “Adelaide.”
I bite my lower lip to hold back the laugh.
It’s a brief moment that tells me both these men who love me for similar yet different reasons will have no problem getting along.
I let myself relax into the cushion of my dad’s patio chair.
Zander’s hand finds my knee beneath the table. I cover his hand with mine.
Dad comes and sits at the table, setting a can of beer down in front of himself.
“So, before we get into all those awkward questions,” he says, pointedly staring at me, before turning his attention to Zander.
“I just wanted to apologize. I know you used to live here and I’m sure you remember the rumour mill.
I got a little swept up in it, and Addie’s cousin didn’t help.
I should have formed my own thoughts, like Addie did, before making any judgement.
I’m so sorry I avoided talking to you, son. ”
“Oh.” Zander fidgets, despite having nothing but his fingernails to fidget with. I grab his hands. “Well, thank you. I appreciate that. I guess, maybe, I should have made a better effort.”
“No, it’s not on you. Addie kept trying to get us all together.
I wanted nothing to do with it. But hearing how she spoke about you—” He chokes up.
It’s not my first time seeing him shed a tear, but it’s not something I see often.
“Thank you for treating my daughter right. Just don’t ever do her wrong. ”
Zander, bless him, doesn’t take offence to this. He laughs and brushes hair from his face. “I could never dream of treating her poorly. I’m pretty sure Addie would kick my ass, anyway, if I did.”
I let out a mock offended noise while both men laugh. My phone buzzes against the table. Zander peers at it first.
“It’s your agent. Release week, too. Might be something important.”
I excuse myself and stand just inside the screen door. Zander and my dad swap pleasant conversation. I watch transfixed as they laugh together and almost let the call go to voicemail.
“Hello!” I finally answer.
“Adelaide! I’m so glad I caught you!” Carrie-Ann says. “Are you sitting down?”
“No, should I be?” I glance around and wind up sitting on the edge of a fluffy armchair. “I am now.”
“Okay, good. I just heard the news. Are you ready?”
“I’m ready.”
“You’re officially a number one bestseller!”
“What?!” I shriek, drawing attention from the two men outside. I wave. “Are you serious?”
“The most serious I have ever been. Congratulations!”
I end the call and step out onto the patio. Zander and my dad stare at me expectantly, on the edge of their seats. I burst into tears.
“I’m fine,” I say when they jump up. “I’m a number one bestseller!”
Zander gets to me first, emotion taking over, I kiss him like my dad isn’t watching. Hands in his hair and a leg wrapped around his waist. He lifts me from the ground and spins me in a circle. When I pull back, my cheeks are flushed, and my dad’s eyes are wet. He wraps me in a big, bear hug.
“Congratulations, sweetie. I always knew you could do it.”
“Thank you.” I beam.
He lets me go and I wipe away my tears. In this moment, with the two men who love me more than anything, and a new title I never thought I would be able to add next to my name, everything seems to slot into place.
“You know what,” I say, eyeing the pool and reaching out to Zander. “I think I do want to go swimming now. Jump with me?”