“You know what I mean,” Ella snorted.
“I haven’t yet. I’m not a fan of flying, but I will.”
“Will you come see me at my new school?”
I slashed the air with my hand, my eyes all warning and Ella went immediately on the defensive.
“Sorry, Dad, but I like her. She’s my friend too. And you could let her sleep at our house since she let us stay with her all this time.”
A moment of uncomfortable silence passed before I spoke up.
“True. Koti, you’re welcome to come to Texas anytime.”
“Thanks,” she said, with a laugh due to my discomfort. She’d been true to her word and hadn’t made any part of our situation awkward. A part of me hoped our time together meant more to her than a fling because it was becoming the case for me, but I knew I couldn’t have it both ways.
“Or we could come back here, right Daddy? I’m sure Grandma won’t mind.”
“Right.” I stared at the fire as the girls stuffed their mouths with s’mores and compared their chocolate-covered fa
ces. I gazed at my daughter who was the perfect picture of innocence and the woman who sat next to her, who didn’t deserve the shit cards she was dealt but looked just as pure sitting next to her. Inwardly I sighed as I snuffed out the fire and followed them in the house. Our nightly book club had begun, but it seemed I was the only one serious about reading as they giggled back and forth comparing notes about Outlander while snacking on grapes.
“Jamieeeee,” Ella snorted. “He’s so hot.”
“He totally is,” Koti said, with far too much enthusiasm for my taste.
After several minutes of listening to their fawning over a fictional man, I lowered my book and gave them a pointed look. “Would you two shut up.” I picked up my novel in an attempt to resume my reading. A second later, I was smacked in the head with a fistful of grapes. I glared over at the two of them who feigned innocence and hid my grin behind my book.
STEVIE NICKS SANG “EDGE OF Seventeen” as I pulled into the small parking lot singing along at the top of my lungs. Banion greeted me with his usual thousand-watt smile. “Yank, you look fresh.”
“Not from the boat?”
“Nope, you’ve finally got the island glow.”
“Finally, huh?”
“Yep, or something else making you happy. You got a new man?”
“Nope.” And that was the truth of it. “New friend. And I’ve known him since I was a kid.”
“Oh well, he gay?”
I laughed through my reply. “No.”
“Well, then he’s a blind yank. You were bones when ya got here.”
“I know.”
“All fixed up then?”
I nodded, my smile disappearing. “My parents came and went.”
He looked me over, his skin darker from days of endless sun. “Not such a good time?”
“Not at all.”
He shrugged. “Things happen the way they are supposed to happen, nothing you can do.”
“Yeah.”