My phone pings. “I will. Heading there now.”
“GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, Peanut,” Dad says, tousling my hair.
He thinks being at home gives me protective shelter from my so-called stalker. He’s also glad to have me away from Stiles. Mom told him the story before dinner, and Dad offered a few choice words. He didn’t approve of a man cheating, and his disdain over a woman being put in a dangerous situation was clear. He hadn’t pushed the issue beyond that, probably sensing I couldn’t talk about it anymore.
After burgers on the patio, I’m grateful for some time alone in the pool to sort through my feels. Mom’s words have been playing on a loop in my head…loving the whole of someone—that’s what really counts. Isn’t that what most of us want, to be loved and accepted—flaws, mistakes, and all?
I swim another lap with my thoughts all over the place. When I come up for air, Mom is waiting with a towel at the shallow end. “You have a visitor.”
“Who?” I ask, thinking it might be one of my high school friends from the neighborhood, but I hadn’t told any of them that I was coming.
“Eduardo.”
“Eduardo?” He’d never even met my parents before, nor had I ever told him where they lived except for my hometown. I guess it wouldn’t be hard to find out with a last name.
“He said he’s been concerned about you. I didn’t realize you two had remained friends.”
“Yeah, we have,” I say, wrapping the towel around me.
“Your dad’s talking to him in the living room. He’s seems like a nice young man. Very handsome.”
The accent and smoldering eyes used to be my kryptonite, but I look at him sitting on the couch and don’t experience the slightest tingle.
Eduardo stands when I enter—Calvin Klein-casual. He has on beige walking shorts with an untucked sky-blue linen shirt rolled up his forearms and open to his chest.
“Cara!” He steps forward and takes my hand, placing a kiss on each of my cheeks. “I hope you don’t mind me dropping in.”
“Um…it’s quite a surprise.”
“I was worried about you, and it gave me a chance to finally meet your parents.”
Okay, that’s weird. I like Eduardo, but this feels out of bounds. “Let me get dressed, and we can go for a walk.”
“Whatever you want,Cara.”
I leave him, seeming all too cozy with my parents, to throw back on my shorts and T-shirt. I don’t bother to do more than drag a hand through my damp hair. “I’m ready.”
He shakes hands with my dad and kisses my mom’s cheeks. I shove my feet into my Converse and lead him outside, getting some distance from the house. I remain unusually silent while he chats about how wonderful my parents are and how nice my childhood home is.
We reach Norton Park Elementary, where I went to school. The gate to the park is unlocked. I take a seat on one of the three swings that hang over synthetic turf and, holding the chain links on either side of me, push back and forth with my feet trailing on the ground.
Eduardo stands in front of me. His eyes lower to meet mine, and the corners of his mouth curve downward in a frown.
“You seem upset,Cara.”
“I’m confused. I don’t understand why you would come here.”
“I told you I was worried about you. All the trouble you’ve been having with your colleague, the threats—”
“I’m honestly not concerned about that. They’re just a nuisance.”
“You can’t be too careful,Cara.”
“I don’t want to talk about that, Eduardo. I want to make sure you and I are straight.”
“What do you mean straight?”
“We’ve had some good times, and I like you as a friend. But I’m not interested in starting up anything again.”
