Page 28 of Take Me
“Huh?”
“You’ve said you’re sad that you’re not getting married.Disappointed you put so much time into that relationship.You’ve even mentioned being embarrassed, which takes a big person to admit, by the way.”My dad takes a bite of taco, chewing thoughtfully as he watches me across the table.“But this whole time since you split up, I’ve never once heard you say you missed Neil.”
“That can’t be true.”
“It is.”My dad’s always right about these things, so I give up arguing.
“He was gone all the time.”I’m not sure I’m making the right point.“Our whole relationship was based on missing each other.”
“Sure, I get it.”He doesn’t look convinced.“But I’ve just heard you say you miss Mom.And you even miss Zippy.”
“Dad—”
“All right, all right.”Smiling, he takes another bite of taco.“I assume you want me to stay quiet about you and Mason not really dating.”
“That’d be great.”
“Can do.”My dad grins.“Maybe I’ll get me a girlfriend, too.”
My stomach lurches.“Really?”
“Why not?You think an old guy in a wheelchair isn’t a hot ticket?”
“You know that’s not why.”If I hate being pitied, my father absolutelyloathesit.He has never, not once, played the handicapped card.He doesn’t even use that word.“You just never seemed interested in dating.”
“Things change.”
I swallow a bite of my taco, working to get it past the lump in my throat.For nearly three decades, my dad’s been a widower who never got over my mother.It’s not like I expect him to be a martyr.It’s just hard to picture himdating.“You think you might want to dip a toe in the pool?”
“Dunno.”He gives me a mischievous wink.“Maybe not my toe.That part doesn’t have much sensation.”
“Dad.”His was an incomplete spinal cord injury, so he has more use of his lower extremities than some folks with paraplegia have.
That doesn’t mean I want to picture him using them.“I’m sure you’ll know when it’s time.”
“Probably.”He seems distracted as he piles mango slaw on his tacos.“Just like you’ll know when it’s time to start dating for real.”
I swallow my Kolsch, ignoring the pit in my stomach.“Not anytime soon.”
Once more, I’m grateful to Mason for the fake dating cover.I need a real boyfriend like I need a rust hole in my tailpipe.
I puton my barnyard hooker outfit again and drive over to Mason’s, hoping it’s not too late to swing by.I’d normally text first, but my phone died taking fashion pics with Hazel.It’s charging now, so at least I won’t be offline for long if Dad needs me.
En route to Mason’s, I pass by the turnoff to his grandparents’ place.Pops and Nana passed away years ago, and their house burned to a charred shell.I catch myself touching the key to their door, the one Mason gave me when I started spending so much time there.
“We don’t lock the doors much,” he said as he handed it over.“But this is for you if you want it.”
It’s a symbol, I guess.A silly souvenir that I’ve threaded on every damn keychain I’ve owned since that day.
As I pull up to Mason’s place, I spot his truck parked right out front.I gather my skirt and get out, scrunching my face in the spatter of raindrops spitting through thick, lacy trees.I’m not even halfway up his front steps when the door swings open and Mason steps onto his porch.
“Whoa.”He takes in my outfit, then looks down at the short, stubby dog at his feet.“That’s a stranger, Scrump.You should bite her.”
Scrumpy wags his tail and ambles forward, telescoping his tongue to lick my bare knee.“Hey puppy.”I bend down to scratch him, earning myself a fresh lick to my face.“Looks like you’re settling in, huh?”
The dog licks me some more, wagging so hard I think he’ll fall over.“His center of gravity must be different with those short little legs.”
“When the weather gets warmer, I’m thinking he’ll be great at standup paddleboarding.”Mason’s eyes sweep me as I get to my feet.“Seriously, what’s with the dress?”
