16. RJ
RJ
W hen we arrive at the airport the next day, I’m not ready to let go, not ready to leave our bubble.
We all make it through security together but have to separate since we have different gates.
Summer is on a different flight to Denver than us, and her kids are headed to Wyoming.
Logan, Lana, and Lucas take turns giving me hugs as Summer keeps her distance, refusing to look at me.
Shoving down the disappointment, I offer her a smile. “It was great seeing you.”
She blinks at me, and I instantly wonder if I’ve made things worse. “You too.” And then she turns and ushers her kids toward their gate, and we head in the opposite direction.
When we get to our gate, I plop into a chair and try not to let my disappointment creep in.
“I’m sorry, sweetie.” I lean toward Sophie. “I feel like we hardly hung out this week. I was looking forward to the two of us spending time together. And then Aunt Raven totally screwed up her calendar.”
“We did spend time together. And Summer’s kids were cool.
It was kind of fun getting to play oldest child instead of only child.
I had fun, I promise. Plus, who wants to spend a whole week with their dad?
Gross.” She playfully nudges me with her shoulder.
“Also, I’m pretty sure Auntie Raven was messing with you. ”
My head whips to hers. “What? Did she tell you that? When did you talk to her?”
“Relax. I texted her to complain about the situation initially.” She tilts her phone showing me their exchange.
Sophie : There are people here already, Auntie
Raven :
Sophie : What does that mean?
Raven : Ask your dad about his first kiss.
Sophie : Ugh, what does that have to do with anything? Adults are weird.
“Is that why you asked me that?”
“Yup. To be fair, I didn’t know it was with Summer, or I wouldn’t have asked you in front of her. I’m still sorry about that.”
“I’ll talk to Raven. She shouldn’t have put you in the middle of this.”
“I like being in the middle of all this. It was fun. Auntie Raven is an instigator, and I love it.”
If she only knew.
“Still. It was supposed to be just the two of us this week. She shouldn’t have derailed our time together and roped you into one of her pranks.”
“Wait, Auntie Raven is a prankster?” She rubs her hands together like she’s forming some kind of wild idea. The sly smile on her face is so Raven-coded, and I shake my head in frustration.
“Only with me. She likes to mess with me. It was her favorite pastime growing up, and apparently she hasn’t grown out of it. And I know that look, it’s the same one Raven makes when concocting her evil plans. The answer is already no to whatever you’re thinking.”
“I have to go to the bathroom.”
The app says our flight boards in fifteen minutes. “Hurry, they’re going to open the doors soon.” I try to convince myself that my daughter isn’t about to get roped into one of Raven’s pranks.
My brain is racing as I process the texts Sophie showed me.
While she didn’t outright admit to setting all this up, her winking face implies that she knew she double-booked us.
But why would she do that? Did she plan this?
She couldn’t have known Summer and I would share a bed.
I know I’ve asked her about Summer a few times since I moved back to town, but we all used to be friends.
It’s normal to be curious about old friends, right?
Ten minutes later Sophie walks back toward the terminal, head buried in her phone, grinning stupidly at the screen.
“It’s settled,” she announces, leaning down to grab her carryon.
“What’s settled?” I ask as she uses her foot to push my rolling suitcase out of my reach. “We don’t have time for this,” I growl in frustration.
“You’re staying here. I talked to Mom, and she said it’s fine. Tim’s picking me up at the airport. And Auntie Raven said you can stay another week. She’s already booked you a new flight for a week from today.”
How have all the women in my life ganged up on me without me even realizing it, and in the last ten minutes while she went to the bathroom? I eye her suspiciously. “You didn’t go to the bathroom, did you? This was your plan the whole time?”
“So clever, Dad.” She winks.
“What did you tell Raven? Summer is her best friend. I don’t think she’d be cool with us dating. She got really weird after I kissed Summer in high school.”
“Relax. I told her that Summer found some issues with the house and wanted to have an inspector come out and look at it.”
I’m a little unnerved by how easily the lie slips out of her mouth. “Remind me to have a tracker installed on your phone when we get back.”
She rolls her eyes and pats me on the head like I’m a petulant child. “This really isn’t a good look on you.”
“I can’t help it if I’m overprotective, especially not after how easily you just concocted this whole scheme.”
“I’m not talking about that.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
“This shirt. Green isn’t your color.”
I bite my lips in frustration and drop my head to keep myself from saying something I’ll regret. No one warned me how much teenagers will test your patience while keeping you humble.
She rests a palm on my shoulder, getting my attention. “Dad, you have to go after her.”
My head pops up. “What?”
“Summer. It’s obvious she’s into you and you’re into her. I think she’s good for you.”
Fuck. I thought we were being discreet about things. “Was I that obvious?”
“There was nothing subtle about the way you two were looking at each other. It was gross. Besides, you’re normally so grumpy, but it’s like you’re a completely different person around her. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile this much.”
“And what do you expect me to do? Run through the terminal and stop her from getting on her flight?”
“That’s exactly what you should do.” She claps bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“And what possible reason would I give Raven for staying in her beach house with her best friend without kids?”
“Oh my God, you never listen. You found issues with the house. You didn’t want to leave her alone during the inspection. One of the kids knocked a hole in the drywall, and you want to stay and patch it up. Any of those are believable, but I’m sure you could come up with more.”
I stare at my daughter, dumbfounded. How many times has she used lies like this on me?
“And before you ask. I’ve never lied to you and Mom. I know that face.”
“We’re still getting a tracker for your phone,” I grumble.
“Seriously, Dad, your life is so boring. And you never date anyone. Mom moved on, you should too.”
Is she right? Should I pursue this? I haven’t seriously dated anyone since Jessica, only casual hookups.
But this is Raven’s friend we’re talking about.
Her best friend. If I fuck this up, I could fuck up their friendship too.
She hasn’t been the same since her husband died, and I don’t want her to lose another person in her life because I couldn’t keep it in my pants.
“You look deep in thought. I’m just gonna…” She points over her shoulder as she heads toward the gate.
I take a step toward her. “I’m not letting you fly home by yourself.”
“Yes, you are. Auntie Raven already canceled your ticket.”
“She what?” I refresh the app, and sure enough, my sister’s updated my return flight.
“I guess you’re stuck here.” The gate attendant opens the door and announces our boarding group. Sophie hugs me. “I’ve got to go, or I’ll miss my flight.” She leans in close to my ear. “You should tell her how you feel.”
And then she scampers away, practically skipping to the gate.
Fuck.
I open my text thread with my sister.
You canceled my flight?
***
Don’t do that. My daughter is getting on a plane without me. What the fuck, Raven?
She’s 16. She’s flown out to visit me by herself before you moved back. She’ll be fine.
You should have asked me before doing that.
She said she talked to you about it. Said you were staying to fix some issues? Thank you for doing that. After Kris died, it’s been hard for me to set foot in that house.
Guilt nags at me. What am I doing? Thinking about fucking her best friend all over her late husband’s vacation home?
I’m catching the next flight home.
Don’t.
Why?
I don’t have any time off left to get out there to take care of the inevitable list of items Summer will insist need to be done. You’re doing me a favor. Just be nice to her. She’s been through a lot.
If she only knew how nice I really want to be to her. Leg-shaking, mind-numbing, multiple orgasms worth of nice.
And I already had Bella talk to Hardy so you could have the next week off too.
What the fuck, Raven?
Do you know how much shit the guys are gonna give me? Probie has to have his big sister schedule his PTO.
Who cares what they think.
I love my sister, but there’s no point arguing with her. I never win.
I believe what you mean to say is thank you, Raven.
Thank you, Raven
I type the words angrily and have to delete and retype several times when my fat thumbs keep tying “Raceb” instead of “Raven.”
Now I need to work up the courage to go over to Summer’s gate.