Page 30 of Dear Adam
I’m pouting like a full on child, but I don’t care. I even stomp my foot for good measure and I’m considering throwing myself on the ground for a full on pity party.
“We’re going to revisit the fact that he patted your head in a minute. But first, you said when he was leavingthis morning?” Her eyebrows are doing that thing again, except this time it’s more suggestive.
“We fell asleep on the couch!” I halfway fib because I did fall asleep…eventually. After I finished breathing in all the woodsy, pine scent of him I could while curled under his muscular arm. I mean seriously, who’s armpits smellthatgood?
She narrows her eyes. “On opposite ends I’m sure.” I bite my lip and look anywhere but her. “Okay fine. I won’t make you share all your secretsyet.But this head pat…what do you mean you went in for a kiss and he patted your head?”
“It’s exactly like it sounds. We were both in the doorway. He looked like he might want to say something. His eyelids started getting all droopy, he was definitely looking at my lips,andhe had even started tilting his head a little to the right. I closed my eyes and leaned in and instead of kissing me back, he swerved, kissed my cheek, and very awkwardly patted me on the head. It was the most mortifying experience of my life.” I shudder thinking about it again.
“Like this?” she asks and pats my head roughly. My glasses slide down my nose again and I shoved them back up. “Or this?” She begins caressing the back of my head and I swat her away.
“Just a little…tap tap,” I say, tapping her head with maybe a little more force than necessary. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter. He’s going back to California anyway, so there’s no point in wrapping myself up in something that didn’t happen because even if it did, it would never work.”
“Oof,” Emma says, smoothing out her hair. “That’s not good.”
Leave it to her to tell me exactly how she feels about the situation. She’s always said exactly what’s on her mind, so telling me her exact thoughts shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it still stings nonetheless.
“It really would’ve been a lot easier to hear you say, ‘Oh Aly, I’m sure it was a misunderstanding and I bet he’s beating his head against a wall right now for how embarrassed he is!’”
“Sorry, Aly. That doesn’t sound good, though, and you know it,” she says as she unpacks the box of vases and arranges them on the nearest empty shelf. I cringe and my stomach churns at the memory. “I think you should probably figure out what you’re doing about your dad, though.”
“Ignore him?” I say, removing the lid from the trash can and dangling my phone above it. She shoots me a pointed look over her shoulder. I roll my eyes but replace the lid. The bells above the door chime as two girls walk in and make their way around the store. “Can you cover for me while I call him back?”
She nods, and I make my way to the back to call Dad.
“Hello?” he answers on the first ring. His voice is so similar to a bark, I’m expecting Pretzel to chime in at any minute.
“Hey…Dad,” my voice wavers. “What a pretty day. How are you and—”
“Cut the crap, Alyson. Why did you leave Hudson in the middle of dinner last night? He was taking you out on his dime, having the decency to give you a chance, and you left him sitting there, all alone. Are you not ashamed of yourself? This isn’t the daughter I raised.”
Probably because you didn’t raise me, a nanny did,I want to say. Instead, I bite my tongue and say, “I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t feel well.”
“You didn’t feel well? And you couldn’t ask him to take you home?”
“I was too…embarrassed,” I squeak.
“Rightfully so,” Dad says, and blows a puff of air loudly, right into my ear. “Thankfully, he’s agreed to come over to the house for dinner tonight. I expect you to be there so you can apologize to him face to face for what you did and come to your senses about him.”
“Dad I—” I start before he interrupts me.
“Six o’clock, Alyson. Not a minute past. Do you understand me?”
“Yes,” I mutter. Before I can say goodbye, he’s already ended the call.
Chapter fourteen
Aly
Iarriveatmyparent’s house with a minute to spare and park my Vespa next to Hudson’s ridiculously fancy car. Pretzel is strapped to my chest again, complete with swim goggles, and I rush to remove them before anyone can see. I know, I know. I’m protectingPretzel’sfeelings, something I never thought I’d do.
I push open the heavy oak door and follow the chatter into the dining room. My parents and Hudson are already seated around the table, laughing as if they were a happy little family. Rage bubbles deep inside me at the sight of Hudson in Adam’s typical seat.
“Put the dog in the basement,” Dad commands as soon as I round the corner.
Good to see you too, Dad!“Yes sir,” I squeak and quickly run down the stairs.
I pull the stuffed unicorn out of my bag and pour water into a bowl for her. As I’m turning to leave, I see them—a whole pile of fresh laundry, full of mom and dad’s undergarments that IknowPretzel will love. I kick the basket over.Pretzel looks at me, to the basket, and then at me again with eager eyes.
