Instead, I chuckle, popping a fry into my mouth. No idea what I serenaded him with, but I’m sure it was fantastic. “You’re gonna want an autograph, I’m sure. There’sno wayI’m not going to be on Broadway soon.”
He laughs, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s what Gordy looked like when he was younger, since the two are nearly spitting images of each other. Hell, I wonder if Gordy has ever laughed. The man is suspiciously lacking in laugh lines on his face, unlike my own. “Maybe you should just stick to karaoke or something. Which, by the way, I’m thinking of starting karaoke nights here.”
I tilt my head. Huh, that could be interesting. Taryn does want to take over someday; he’s made that very clear. It’s promising to see he’s already proposing some lively changes. Aside from a couple of dart boards and a pool table, the place is a little lacking in engaging activities.
“There’s a thought,” I hum, glancing around the room at the regulars in our coastal village. “Might want to start off with some sea shanties though.”
He nods, still grinning. “Probably. We’ll see if my dad goes for it.”
“Goes for what?” Gordy asks, popping out from the back with a rack of steins.
“Karaoke night,” I supply for Taryn. “I think it sounds fun.”
Gordy harrumphs. “That’s going to have to be your pet project, then.” No surprise there. He doesn’t exactly enjoy running this place,so implementing fresh ideas to beckon to outsiders isn’t something I’d have pictured him doing.
“Well, mine and Morgan’s,” Taryn corrects him. “She and I have been brainstorming.”
Gordy cocks an eyebrow up at his son. “Isthatwhat you kids are calling it these days?”
Taryn chuckles. “Shut up, old man.”
The bell above the front door tinkles, and Taryn’s eyes flit up, then promptly fill with hearts. He dashes around the bar, and I spin on my seat to see my NBA—niece by association, Ev’s adult step-daughter, Morgan—in the entry.
“Hey, UBA!” she chirps, nudging me after she plants a kiss on her boyfriend’s lips. “I’mshockedto see you here tonight!” she adds with a healthy dose of snark. Right here on this stool is where she finds me whenever she’s in town on the weekends. She attends a nearby university in Machias, but in her spare time, she’s here in Ternbay.
She and Taryn have been dating for a bit. Still not sure how Ev feels about that, given Taryn and Colt’s history—theybothdid some shit back in the day that made me want to throttle them—but whatever Morgan and Taryn have got going on? It’s working.
Ah, to be young and in love again. Pre-jaded bliss in all its finery.
“Sup, Morgandorfer? You calling T-dawg out for the evening?”
Taryn rolls his eyes at me. “I’ve been here since nine AM. I’m due to cut out. Dad took your keys, right?”
“Sure did. Didn’t give me any lip about it tonight either,” Gordy gruffly answers for me, before softening. “You’ve put in a long day, kid. Thanks.”
Taryn nods at him. “See ya Tuesday.” On that note, he slips off the bandana he’s wearing in lieu of a hairnet tonight, and runs his fingers through his surfer-dude style blond hair. That’s the only bit of TristaI see in him, since Gordy’s shorter hair is chestnut brown. Put the bandana back on, though? And the two could be near identical, save for the years between them.
Gordy nods back, then addresses Morgan, “Evan’d have my head if I didn’t tell you to be responsible and wear your helmet on the back of that crotch rocket, young lady. Already know if I gave that warning to my own kid, it’d go in one ear and out the other.”
Well, well. Look at Gordy having Ev’s back. I still can’t get over that either. It’s just plain weird to see them on the same team. Sorta, anyway. I don’t think they’ve truly worked out whatever shit is between them.
Morgan giggles. “Yes, I will wear my helmet. I always do. I’ll even get this butthead to wear his.”
Gordy smirks. “Keep her, Taryn. I like her.”
Taryn agrees, “Pretty fond of her myself. Will do.”
“Well, ain’t that fuckin’ cute?” I hum, after they head out.
“Sure is,” Gordy nods, pouring me another shot. “Thought my boy was gonna turn out to be a fuckin’ hellion for a spell, but I guess something finally clicked, and now he’s got his head on straight. I don’t envy you and your six-year-olds at all. They’ll be teenagers before you know it. Word from the wise, do what you can now to raise ‘em right.”
I nod, letting my eyes fall to the shot glass before tipping it back. Lord, don’t I know they’re growing up on me all too quickly. I’ve got an extroverted, spritely tomboy in Terra, and a quiet, shy princess with Tati. Love them both to pieces and cannot help but feel that my time with them is all too little. Sarah and I agreed to her getting primary custody. It stung—stillstings, really—that she doesn’t seem to have much faith in me to allow me to be more than just a part-time parent.
Every other weekend and a couple evenings, here and there, after school aren’t nearly enough. Getting holidays feels like a battle I can’t win half the time. We’re only two and a half years into this arrangement and I already can’t wait until they’re old enough to make up their own minds about whose home they’d rather stay at.
Sarah got our house, but we still live in the same town, for Christ’s sake. It’s not like the girls couldn’t stay over more often at my place and go to the same school. But Sarah decided the schedule would be more structured, I guess.
Structure.Hmmph.Fuck structure. What’s wrong with going with the flow now and again?
