Dad takes his time considering my suggestion, which is honestly insulting. Is he that resistant to seriously entertaining an idea from me? Because let’s be real. If this were coming from Gavin, he not only would have jumped on the opportunity to partner with him on this venture, but would have praised him for his ingenuity.
“Elena already has a working relationship with the co-op,” Gavin chimes in. “Because of her, they sold out all of their inventory at the farmer’s market. Their profit margins went through the roof.” That’s not exactly what happened, and the profit margins were definitely not as high as he’s indicating, through no fault of my own. But I know he’s exaggerating the truth in a way that only Dad will recognize, using buzzwords likeprofit marginsandinventory. So I nod, grateful to him.
About a million seconds later, Dad eventually agrees. “Okay,” he says. “As long as you can manage helping your mom with her work.”
I grimace. It’s not exactly the outcome I was hoping for. Luckily Gavin swoops in at the opportune time.
“I can help with that,” he says. “I’ll cover for Elena at home so she can go with you.”
Dad is again hesitant, but Mom answers before he has a chance to protest. “Great,” she says. “At least one man in this family isn’t afraid to try new things.”
Dad is probably the only one who doesn’t register the underhanded jab directed at him. But Gavin and I are too relieved to worry about that. Somehow we’ve both gotten ourselves out of our old patterns and into new ones.
Chapter 19
While Gavin and I are getting ready to meet Brennan the next day, Dad wastes no time gathering data for his business proposal for the farming co-op. He mutters incoherent words that I’m assuming are swear words in Korean while the web pages take forever to load. I don’t blame him, since I’ve seen sloths move at a faster rate. True to her word, Mom is not getting involved in any more of Dad’s business affairs. Instead she spends most of her day tending the herb garden.
When I go to the room to change, Gavin passes me on the way to the bathroom. He does a double take at my face. I know yesterday-Gavin would have said something snarky, like how I’ve overdone it with the makeup or how my lashes and lips make me look like a llama. But to his credit, he says nothing. Wow. Look at us. Wecanget along.
“I can see if Callie can join us,” I suggest. In the likelihood Brennan and I do hit it off, that would make Gavin the third wheel. A group thing could ensure everyone has a good time.
“No,” he says much too quickly, which strikes me as odd.
My brow quirks. Does he not like Callie? The sweet-as-pie, girl-next-door Callie? Who couldn’t like her?
“What’s going on? Why don’t you want to hang out with Callie?” I ask.
“What? That’s not it at all,” he says unconvincingly.
“Just tell me,” I say. “I thought we were trying to, you know, get along better. Especially since Mom and Dad are fighting all the time.”
My guilt trip seems to work, and Gavin softens. “If you have to know.” He hesitates, as if he’s gathering the courage to tell me his deepest, darkest secret. “I kind of, sort of have…” He mumbles the last part inaudibly.
“What was that? You have a rash?Down there?” I say loudly to get him to see how ridiculous he’s being. Also because it’s fun to mess with him.
“God, Elena. Grow up.” He pinches the bridge of his nose.
“You grow up!” I say back to him. “You’re being weird, okay? So just tell me what’s going on.”
“All right,” he relents. “Every time I’m around Callie, there’s something between us that makes my throat close up. Like I can’t breathe or something.”
“What are you saying? You’re allergic to Callie?”
“No.” He gives me a look. “I think I…sorta, kinda,maybehave feelings for Callie.”
I wait for more, but there isn’t. “Gavin, do me a favor,” I say. “If you ever get close enough to Callie to confess your feelings, nevereverrepeat those words to her.”
“Elena, be serious.”
“I am serious. I’ve met people who work at the DMV with more passion than you.”
“Okay, fine. I like Callie. Happy?”
I press my lips together, but it’s no use. The smile cracks through.
“Oh my God.” Gavin puts a hand to his face. “You’re going to be so extra about it, and I just can’t handle that right now.”
I let out the squeal I’ve been holding in. I just love playing matchmaker, and Gavin knows that about me. “I can’t help it. I think Callie’s great. She’s naturally pretty, fun, and doesn’t have a superficial bone in her body. And, bonus, she’s got great taste in friends.” I point to myself.
