Kelly looks to Paul who lets out a bewildered chortle. “It’s been a crazy few days.”
Nerves prickle my skin, and I stuff my hands into my pockets, eyes drawn to the expanse of kitchen floor between us. “Yeah, it has.”
Now’s the time to explain. I practiced what I would say the whole way here, but now I wish I’d prepared index cards or written bullet points on my hand or something.
I still haven’t found the words when Paul asks, “So, you metthem?” He must read confusion on my face because he clarifies a moment later. “Miguel and Cheyenne?”
“We spoke to them on the phone yesterday. They seem great,” Kelly says, weary from the weight of her daughter’s heavy news. Heavy but good, if her tired smile is any indication.
“Yeah”—I glance at Gretchen through the window and back to the Fishers—“I did. They’re wonderful. All of them.”
“Well,” Paul sighs, “we’re thankful you were there with her.”
“Of course,” I say.
Silence falls, the elephant in the room stepping out of the shadows. Eyes bounce around, shoes shuffle on the floor, Paul runs a hand down his wife’s back and I shift on my feet.
Ready to press on, I clear the thickness from my throat. “Listen, I owe you both an apology for how things went down at the restaurant last week. I didn’t want you to find out like that and I’m sorry.”
Kelly smiles warmly while Paul bobs his head once in acceptance.
“And the things that Drew said…about me…I need you to know that I’m?—”
“You said you love her.” Mr. Fisher’s stern voice cuts me off.
“Yes, sir. More than anything.”
“And you want something real with her?” he adds, his expression softer than his tone, but I don’t cower.
“I want everything with her.”
I’m serious about his daughter and this is my opportunity to show him that. Paul studies me and I hold his gaze before he turns to his wife. Kelly smiles up at him and they both look back to me. “Then that’s all we need to know.” He nudges his head toward Gretchen through the window. “She’s been waiting for you.”
Whether he means today or the past three years or a lifetime, I can’t be sure. I suppose it doesn’t matter, because they’re all true. But one thing I’m certain of is that she’ll never wait for me again.
Outside, I plop down next to Gretchen and drop my legs in the water beside hers.
“You made it,” she beams at me.
Flipping my hat around, I lean in and give her a chaste kiss.
“I’m here,” I say as I pull back, chin dropped, and give her a wink. “You remember the last time we were here, Fish?”
“You mean that summer you ignored me until I forced you to talk? Yeah. You’re welcome, by the way,” she says, tone dry, eyes rolling.
“In my defense, no one warned me I’d be coming home from college to an underage smoke show. I was trying to make it to my first real job without a criminal record. So,you,”I kiss her, “are welcome, milady.”
“Well, look at us now,” she declares loudly to nobody at all, arms splayed wide. “We’re young—well, I’m still young, you’re old—and in love.”
I throw an arm around her shoulder and haul her closer as she pulls my lips to hers. I oblige, but only for a moment. “Keep it PG, Fish. Your parents are inside.”
Chuckling, she jumps to her feet, splattering water on my shorts in the process. “Let’s get back to your place, then.”
“I havesomething I want to run by you,” I say, fingers twirling through Gretchen’s hair as she lays sprawled out beside me in bed.
She grabs her glasses from the nightstand and turns her naked body toward me, blanket tucked under her chin. “Okay.”
“My boss asked me to lead this big project at work. It’s kind of a big deal and it would look really good on a resume. But I’d have to stay here through November.”
