Page 90 of Love and Other Chances

“Hi, hon,” he replies. “I’m doing great. What about you?”

I give a short but sincere response, including an assurance that Brooks and I are doing well.

“I’m glad you called because there’s something I’ve been wanting to talk with you about,” Dad says, voice slightly tense. “Would you be able to come to Kansas City next weekend?”

“Ummm, I’ll need to look at my calendar to know for sure. Why?” I ask, setting down the tube of mascara in my hand.

“I had hoped to talk with you in person when you were here a couple of weeks ago, but, um, there’s someone I want you to meet.” The tone in his voice has my blood coagulating. I take the phone off speaker and sit on the edge of my bed.

“What do you mean?” I ask, trying to keep my voice even, though I know it’s a higher pitch than what could be considered “even.”

“Teegan, honey, I’ve met someone. Her name is Sonya,” Dad begins. My blood stops flowing altogether. “We met several months ago, and we’ve been seeing each other since then. Things are getting pretty serious—serious enough that I think it’s time for you and Logan to meet her. I want you both to know her well before I’d think about proposing.”

Silence.

“Teegan?”

Silence.

“Teegan, did you hear me?”

My frantic energy finally shatters the silence. “You can’t be serious!” I exclaim, standing up to pace the room. “You and Mom have always been so friendly with each other, even after the divorce. Neither of you have dated anyone all these years. We’ll never be a whole family again if you get married to someone else!”

Silence.

I pace, my breath shallow and my vision blurring at the edges.

“Honey, your mom and I were never going to get back together. We loved each other once, and we still respect each other, but our time is over. Why would you think that we were going to get back together?” Dad asks, voice strained.

“I don’t know! I don’t know! I just thought it was possible—it could happen! You’ve never dated, she’s never dated, you always get along so well, and you were so complimentary to her at Thanksgiving. I thought it was possible to be one family again!” My voice is shrill,words pouring out of my mouth faster than I can truly comprehend what I’m saying.

“I don’t want to meet her. I can’t meet her. I’m not ready for that, Dad,” I huff out, fighting tears. IknowI’m being completely selfish. IknowI’m being so hurtful to my dad. IknowI’m being immature to think they were ever going to get back together, to act this way about it now.

Iknowthose things. But my brain is incapable of stemming the hemorrhage of emotion bleeding out.

“Teegan—” Dad’s voice is cut off when I hang up.

Pacing the room, I try to imagine myself above the ocean. I try to fly my mind away on the sea breeze, the pink sunset, but my ankle is tied by reality, holding me captive. Trapping me as bar after bar snaps into place.

Disbelief. Bitterness. Betrayal. Fear.

Snap. Snap. Snap. Snap.

Hands shaking, I open my texts with Brooks.

Sorry I need to cancel tonight

I can’t. I can’t.

BROOKS

Are you ok? Did something happen?

I’m fine, just can’t come tonight. I’m sorry about the food

I pace, then sit on the edge of the bed, then slide to the floor. My head drops to my knees.

It hurts. I can’t. The pain. What if . . . I can’t.

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