“Who’s down for a wine tasting at that vineyard next door?” Theo asks. Everyone says they’re up for it.
“Camden and Ellie, you wanna come too?” Theo asks.
“We’re gonna hang out here for a bit,” I say. “I’ll text you to see where you are so we can meet up.”
Theo flashes a thumbs-up. When the rest of the crew heads to the winery, Ellie and I make our way back to our room.
We’re both quiet as we walk. Discomfort gnaws at the center of my chest. We’ve never gone this long in awkward silence.
The second we’re in the room, I close the door behind me and turn to Ellie. I take in the shy look in her eyes, the way she fidgets with the hem of her tank top.
I let out a breath. “Ellie, I’m so sorry for?—”
My phone rings, cutting me off. When I see it’s my dad calling, I roll my eyes and silence it.
“Should you answer that?” Ellie asks.
I shake my head. The ringing ends, and I open my mouth to speak, but it rings again. I exhale sharply, annoyed.
“Hang on, let me get rid of this,” I mutter, then answer the call. “Hey, Dad. I’m a little busy right now. I’ll call you back.”
He just laughs. “No can do, son. I’m here at your hotel.”
“What?”
“Surprise! Jenna and I are here at the lobby of your hotel. You’re staying at the Onda Valley Inn, right?”
I bite back a groan, regretting that I told him the name of my hotel when we were texting the other day.
“Yeah. I am.”
He chuckles again, completely oblivious to the irritation in my tone.
“Well, come on down and have a drink with Jenna and me. We just got a table outside with a gorgeous view of the mountains. And bring your wife too. I haven’t seen Ellie since she was a little kid, and I’m dying to see her.”
“Dad, this isn’t really a good time.”
“Come on, Cam. One drink with your old dad won’t kill you.”
I exhale sharply. “Fine. Give me a minute, and I’ll come down there.”
I hang up and clench my jaw.
“Your dad’s in town?” Ellie asks.
“Yeah,” I say through an annoyed breath. “He’s in the hotel lobby with his girlfriend. Er, fiancée, I guess. They’re checking out wedding venues.”
“Your dad’s getting married?”
I sigh. “Yeah. Not super surprising given his history. He’s been married, like, four times since he divorced my mom. And engaged, like, nine times.”
Ellie’s eyes go wide. “Wow.”
“He wants to have a drink. And he wants you to come too.”
“Okay, sure.”
“Really?”
