Page 27 of Take Me
“That was a dare.”It might’ve been me who dared him.“Anyway, it’s just to get us through these weddings.Dr.Hanlon dumped him, and everyone kept feeling sorry for us, so Mason made up a little fib.”I take a sip of my drink, anddamn—Mason makes excellent beer.“Kinda wondering if Neil’s heard the rumor.”
“Trying to make him jealous?”
“I don’t know.”Yes I do.“I guess I wouldn’t mind if he thought I wasn’t sitting home crying my eyes out over getting dumped.”
My dad looks concerned.“Are you still crying your eyes out?”
“Not really.”I sigh.“I’m sad that I’m not getting married like I thought.Still pretty butthurt he ditched me like that.”
“That’s understandable.”He piles a big mound of Mexican rice on his plate.“Maybe this thing with Mason will be good.Nothing like envy to put a man’s priorities back in order.Neil’s gonna see what he’s missing and come crawling back.”
Is that what I want?“I hadn’t really thought about it.”
Or maybe I had.Neil is between deployments this month; so as far as I know, he’s home for a while.
“Have you heard from him?”Dad asks.
“He keeps texting me, wanting to talk.”
“About what?”
“Beats me.Says he’d like to catch up, maybe take me to lunch sometime.”
“Hmph.”My father was never a huge fan of Neil.He didn’t dislike the guy; they just never really clicked.“He wants to be friends now?”
“That’s what he says.”Which seems weird, since we never behaved like friends.We didn’t play together, laugh together, get silly together like I do with my friends.
Mostly with Mason, so maybe it’s not a fair comparison.Ours is a special kinda friendship.That’s why it won’t be that hard to fake like we’re dating.We know each other better than just about anyone.
“Neil’s not a friend,” my dad grumbles across the table.“Friends don’t string you along for ten years like Neil did to you.”
“It’s not his fault he didn’t want to get married.”
“Sure it is.When I met your mother, wild horses couldn’t have kept me from getting down on one knee and begging her to spend the rest of her life with me.”
Something sharp twists in my chest.“Not helping, Daddy.”
“Sorry.”
That’s when I realize why he made tacos tonight.“Oh God,” I gasp.“It’s your anniversary, isn’t it?”I’m such an asshole.“I lost track of time, and I’ve been so wrapped up in my drama that?—”
“Honey, it’s notyouranniversary.”His kind voice makes me feel worse.“Your mom’s been gone nearly twenty-seven years.It’s okay to let some of the milestones slip past.”
“But it’s not.”I get up from my chair and walk around the table to wrap him in a hug.“You made Mom’s favorite dinner, and I couldn’t even be bothered to remember your anniversary.”
“It’s not a big deal, Ricky.”
“Itisa big deal.”I’m so mad at myself for forgetting.“I miss her so much, every day, and I don’t want you to think I forgot her.”
“I’d never think that.”
“And I hate that I got so wrapped up in my bullshit that I forgot about?—”
“Sweetheart, stop.”As gently as possible, he shrugs off my arms.“I’m really okay.I wanted to celebrate, not mourn.That’s a reason to bust out the good plates and tacos, don’t you think?”
“I guess.”I’m blinking back tears as I go back to my spot at the table.Biting into a taco, I sigh.“I’ve been trying so hard not to get sucked into my own pity party.The guy I felt so sure I’d marry cut me out of his life, and that stings—I hate how embarrassed I feel.”
“Hmm.”My father says nothing for a moment.“I noticed you didn’t mention missing Neil.”
