No one can unless I let them. “You know my family was never perfect, right?”
“But look at you now. You and Phoebe and even Carter ... and, like, my father wouldneverstand up to my mother if she ever took away my trust fund.” She pulls back and waves her hands at her eyes. “I’m happy for you, Tavi. And you give me hope. Thank you. I’m going to go ...”
She flaps her hands somewhere across the room, like she’s embarrassed herself and wants to leave but can’t find a quick escape, and a flash of blonde catches my eye across the room. I stifle a surprised gasp and inch closer to Dylan.
“Is that your mother?” he murmurs.
I nod as Lola waves at someone and dashes off.
“What’s she doing back here?”
“Looking for where she fits,” Phoebe says on his other side. She peers around him at me. “Apparently she’s been lost without Dad, and whatever you said to her in Costa Rica was a wake-up call.”
I process that for a minute. I was so mad I don’t even remember what I said. It’s like this blank spot in my head.
I haven’t seen my dad since Dylan and I got back early today either. Partially because I’ve been busy, and partially because I don’t know what to say to the man who’s waited thirty years to show the first bit of interest in being a father.
Do I want to see my mom if she’s willing to accept me—no,celebrateme for who I am?
I don’t know.
I know so many of my issues with her are things I can’t fix, but I also know she never knew any better. My mom coming back to Tickled Pink voluntarily?
This is unexpected.
It’s like a vegan sugar-free social media fitness guru throwing it all away in the name of chocolate and cheeseburgers.
And speaking of—I grab the pinwheel thing to test it out. “How are you and Dad?” I ask Phoebe before biting into the thing.
“Weird,” she replies. “Like maybe we could become adult acquaintances who might possibly have made the wrong assumptions about each other for a very long time and who are willing to acknowledge that we could have some kind of a relationship if we give each other the benefit of the doubt.”
I nod as I swallow the odd but strangely good concoction. “That would be an improvement, wouldn’t it?”
“You don’t heal thirty years’ worth of shit in a summer. But it’s a start.”
I nod again.
I don’t think Gigi knew what she was doing when she ordered all of us to come here, but it’s turned out pretty well for both Phoebeand me. And maybe it’ll end up being good for our parents in the long run.
Possibly Lola too.
And honestly? I hope it does.
“I take it Carter left town?” I ask.
“He says he’s staying at the school now that there’s only Lola intruding on his time and he doesn’t think she’ll stick around. And speaking of,” she adds as Teague joins us, “Gigi asked me to give you this.” She slips a small, elegant envelope out of her back pocket. “Completely up to you if you read it or burn it. I didn’t snoop. I have no idea what it says.”
I take the elegant linen envelope and glance down at my own outfit.
Halter top cropped just above my belly button, tight black pants, and stilettos.
Not a pocket in sight, and I left Pebbles at Dylan’s house, so I’m sans bag as well.
“Want me to hold that?” he asks.
“And maybe read it and tell me if I should too?”
He kisses my temple. “If that’s what you want.”
