Page 130 of The Odds of Happily Ever After
Just parked outside your building. Take care, Luna.
Luna
Meet you at your car in 10!
On the driveto Luna’s place, I played back our conversation over and over in my head, trying to view it from her perspective. I’d known I was likely to make another misstep with her, but I hadn’t expected to do so this soon—and in this manner.
When I decided to surprise her with a ride home, I thought she’d find it considerate. I’d adjusted my schedule to hers and eliminated the need for her to walk or take the bus after a long day at school. After years of keeping my distance from her around campus, I wanted to show her that I didn’t want to hide anymore. That I cared more for her than I did for what people thought or said about me.
I hadn’t accounted for the possibility that she might need something entirely different at that moment.
Analyzing our exchange, I recognized how I’d decided on a course of action on my own and imposed it on her despite her objections. I’d already known she struggled with feeling insignificant and how she longed to be independent, and still I’d hit both sore spots by trying to override her say in the matter.
A memory returned to me—my last dinner with Luna and Tala before Tala returned to Manila. I’d surprised them with plane tickets for Luna to travel with Tala to Jason’s game in California. They’d been thrilled about the news . . . until I opened my mouth again.
“I talked with your boss,” I told Luna. “She’ll swap your Monday shift with another employee’s. And I’ll get you notes for any classes you’ll miss.”
Her mouth fell open. “I can take care of my own notes,” she shot back. “Also, you didn’t have to talk to Marge. It’s my job, which makes it my responsibility. You’re not my keeper.”
I’d considered Luna ungrateful then, but to my surprise, when I brought her and Tala home, Luna asked her sister to go ahead. Then she apologized for her reaction and thanked me even though I insisted that I did it for Tala.
The girl I’d thought of as spoiled and immature acted with more grace and maturity than I had. I should have known that I would end up falling head over heels over her.
If she could apologize to me when I was being an ass, I could very well own up to my mistakes and beg for her forgiveness . . . even if it meant I had to lay myself bare to earn it.
I checked my messages and found that Luna was ten minutes away, giving me that much time to gather my thoughts and find the right words to say. I’d just locked my phone when it lit up with a call from my father of all people. The urge to reject it cameon strong, but I’d avoided him long enough. I could spare him five minutes.
“You’re alive,” he said as soon as I answered the phone.
“The last I checked, yes.”
“You took your time calling.”
“I had to take care of some matters.” I unbuttoned my collar. “I have an appointment in ten minutes. Is this urgent?”
“It is. My birthday is in twelve days.”
“I’m aware. I thought you were sick or something.”
“From how often you talk to me, I could be on my death bed and you wouldn’t know.”
I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. “So you’re planning a party?”
“Your tio and tia are planning a party. My only wish is to see my son.”
“I have things going on.” Things like recalibrating my plans and winning over Luna.
“You always have things going on. Your father will only turn sixty once.”
His words halted my instinctive denial.
Sixty. Of course I’d known that my father was getting older, but I hadn’t stopped and thought of how old he actually was. Of how much time I was missing out on in my determination to keep my distance from him. Granted, the fault wasn’t all mine, but I had to accept that it wasn’t just his either.
“The party will be on the day itself?” I asked.
“We can move it to whenever you can come.”
Of course he’d phrased it so that I’d be inclined to say yes. “I’ll look into my schedule and get back to you.”
