Eventually, we stop at a café, and grab some coffee, taking a seat at one of their outdoor tables since it’s not blistering hot.
“Oh, this is good,” Thea croons, sipping on her blended coffee drink.
I set the flowers on the table and stretch out my legs. Tonight’s dinner isn’t far from my mind, and I’m trying not to overthink it.
“Hey,” Thea says softly, trying to get my attention. I swivel my head toward her. “Are you okay?”
I nod, tapping my finger on the lid of my coffee. I don’t know why I even got it, I don’t want any. “I’m worried about tonight,” I admit.
“Oh.” She frowns, and looks away.
I clasp my hands together and rest them on the table. “She has every right to be mad, my dad too, for that matter. First I don’t tell them about football, and then this.” I wave my hand at her. “If I was in their shoes I’d be pretty fucking pissed too.” I cover my face and let out a groan. “I don’t know how to make it okay again, and you know me, I hate conflict. I want everyone to be happy, but all I keep doing is making everyone miserable.”
Thea reaches across the table and takes my hand. “We all make choices that we think are the best at the time, and sometimes hindsight shows that we were wrong, but we can’t go back in time and change it so we have to follow the course and let things play out. It’ll be okay, I believe that, and you should too.”
I sigh. “Between this, and your mom and dad, and Cade …” I pause. “It’s a lot going on.”
She nods, her eyes growing misty. Her mom’s staying with us now, in my room, so I moved all my crap—at least, most of it—to Thea’s room. Her mom has been quiet and distant with all of us, staying mostly in her room out of sight. No word has come from Thea’s dad and I’m really fucking glad, because I don’t know if I could stop myself from hitting the guy this time.
“Yeah, it is,” she agrees. “Hopefully, it’ll all be over soon,” she whispers.
“Yeah, I hope so too,” I echo.
Thea and I are the first to arrive at the restaurant and we’re led to a secluded table in the back, and I wonder if Thea requested that we be seated away from everyone else.
“Thank you.” She flashes a smile when the host pulls out her chair and hands her a menu.
I take my seat and a menu from him and he tells us that someone will be by with water.
I clear my throat and wiggle restlessly in my seat.
“Stop,” Thea hisses. “You’re acting like a five-year-old who can’t sit still. Everything will be fine.”
I mess with the collar on my shirt, trying to loosen it. “Is it hot in here?”
“No, you’re just a hot mess,” she groans. “Calm down. You’re going to have a heart attack before they get here.”
“What if they don’t come at all?”
She gives me a look. “They’ll come.”
Someone comes by and fills up our glasses with water and I slurp mine down like I haven’t had any water all day.
“Whoa, slow down,” Thea warns, placing her hand on my arm.
“I’m nervous,” I hiss under my breath.
She snorts. “I hadn’t noticed.”
I see my parents and glance at Thea in panic. “Am I sweating?”
“No, you’re fine. Take a deep breath.”
I take her advice, but then I forget to breathe out so by the time my parents are taking their seats I exhale heavily, sounding like a whale, and everyone stares at me.
Fucking great. This is already fantastic.
Thea’s hand touches my knee. “Are you okay?”