Page 74 of Puck Drop
“Then why the hell don’t you go outside to sit in the pool?”
That’s all I got now. Since I am still on a warpath, I will yell at her for not getting out there for a tan and a dip in my pool.
TWENTY-FOUR
Elizabeth
It’s beena week since our encounter with my father. The first few days were incredibly rough. I felt depression creeping in, and the only reason it didn’t take over my life was because I didn’t want to disappoint Logan.
He came home four days ago, ready to lay it into me. I’m laughing now, but I was really scared when he told me that things would not work out the way they were. Then he explained about the food, and when I showed him the freezer, which was almost empty, his face was priceless. He really thought that I was starving myself, and that I was getting myself sick because of it.
Once we got that squared away, he got on me about not being out by the pool. He called me a plastic house plant, for God’s sake. I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry, but, either way, he was really invested in what he considered an argument, and I didn’t want to ruin it for him. So, in the end, I promised him That I would spend at least forty-five minutes every day outside by the pool. We went out shopping so that I could get sunblock and the bathing suit.
Now, he just ran to the store to buy more water and anything else he thought would be necessary to keep me hydrated, because he’s worried about that. He is really sweet in the way he wants to take care of me, and I appreciate everything he does for me.
The one thing I am really struggling with though, and which has nothing to do with him, is that I don’t have any inspiration to paint. I could stare for hours at the canvas, but I can’t make anything come to life. Logan suggested I should relax for a while and not force it, and I think he’s right.
I jump in surprise when I hear my cell phone ringing from where I have it under a towel. The heat really kills the battery, so I had to become creative. Expecting to see that it’s Logan calling, I am surprised that it’s actually my best friend.
“Mona,” I exclaim. “I’m so happy to hear from you.”
She huffed at hearing that. “Well, I would’ve never guessed, since you never call me.”
I press a hand to my chest in fake surprise. “That’s so not true. We talk all the time.”
“Yeah, we do,” she agrees. “That’s because I’m the one who does all the calling,” she points out.
I snicker, but I know she’s right. I’ve always done a bad job of keeping in touch with her, leaving her to do all the work to keep us connected.
“I really appreciate you. I hope you know that,” I say with all the sincerity I am capable of.
“Yeah, yeah,” she blows me off. “Tell me what’s new.”
“Well, I’m sitting by the pool as we speak,” I tell her. “I can’t believe that it took me this long to get out here. My tan is perfection already.”
“Sounds like you have it really rough out there,” she mocks me. “I wish I had your life.”
The smile dies on my lips. I know that she didn’t mean anything by it, but I’ve always been very self-conscious about my father‘s wealth, especially in her presence. I would hate to know that she thinks I ever flaunted it.
There’s something else in her tone of voice, though. She tries to sound happy and upbeat, but I can tell that it’s all fake.
“How are things with you?” I ask. “How’s the new dating site?”
“Meh, it could be better. Very slim pickings. All men are creeps.”
“Not all of them, though,” I argue.
“You say that only because you’re in the beginning stages of your relationship, honey. Things do change after a while.”
Since I am well aware of her messed up relationship with Alex, I understand where she’s coming from, and I don’t take her words to heart.
I remain quiet for a while, trying to think of what I could say that would make her feel better. Sometimes, nothing that anyone could say helps. I’m trying to be mindful of that, especially since I don’t want to upset her more. As I sit here, mulling things over, I realize that there’s a loud noise coming from inside the house.
“Oh, that’s so weird,” I say into the phone. “I think Logan is home.”
“Do you want me to let you go?” Mona asks.
“No, not at all. Let me just say hi to him.”
