“Bahahaha, I love when I annoy you so much that you call me by my full name. I win, Amelia Grace Sinclair!” The door closes behind us, and we head for the car. Before we pull out of the spot, Lizzie laughs again. I look up and grin when I see Amelia flipping her off through the glass, mouthing the word ‘asshole’.
We hit the road, talking about whatever random thing pops into Lizzie’s head and listening to music. A few hours later, we’re sitting at a table outside Lizzie’s favorite restaurant for fish and chips in Seattle.
“Can I ask you something, kiddo?”
“Yes, you should absolutely squeeze the lemon wedges over the French fries, not just the fish,” Lizzie replies as she does exactly that. “And then dip the fries in the tartar sauce. I got extra for a reason.Do notwaste these on ketchup.”
I chuckle and follow her instructions. “Okay, this is amazing.”
She smirks smugly. “I know. But what were you going to really ask?”
“I was just wondering why you live with your mom, since you don’t seem to get along.”
“Oh. Well, it was going to be temporary after I graduated. Calvin has a roommate and their place is small. And kind of gross. No way am I moving in there. We were supposed to get our own place months ago, but he didn’t like any of the ones we looked at, and then it was just too close to the wedding to deal with. It’s…” she sighs and shrugs, “it’s annoying. But it’s not for much longer now.”
“I could have connected you with someone to find more places to look at. And help with finances if needed.”
“I actually sometimes forget that. Which sounds especially dumb right now. But you weren’t always Mr. Moneybags, you know?” She points a fry at me and chuckles. “When I was akid, your company was tiny and I hardly even realized you were the boss, you were just my dad. And even after it got big, you were still just my dad, not a bank account. Ridiculous wedding aside, obviously,” she says with a cringe.
Shaking my head, I reply, “I don’t mind. It’s just money and I have a lot of it. I wasn’t involved in your life nearly as much as I should have been. The least I can do is help out however I can now.”
“You were always only a phone call away. And you made sure I had the best time when we were together.”
“I wish I’d been around more, though. There’s a lot I didn’t know until this week. You were really good at tap, by the way. Why did you really quit?”
“You can’t say anything, okay?” She looks at me sadly.
“Okay.”
“Dance was just something I did for fun, especially after I stopped doing pageants and didn’t need a talent. When Minnie moved to New York for school, I didn’t enjoy it as much anymore, but I still went, and we danced together any chance we got.”
“Then the accident happened?” I fill in the blanks.
“Then the accident happened. Tap was already her least favorite style, and she only kept going with it because it was something we did together. But she has a lot more trouble with the movements than the other styles, so she doesn’t do it anymore, and it’s no fun without her. We just find other shit to do together now.” She shrugs.
“Like drinking games and getting peed on by kids.”
“Living the dream, Dad. Living. The. Dream.”
Chapter 24
Apparently, I now own dancing shoes
Alex
We don’t spend as much time in Seattle as we expected we would, and are on our way back after just a few hours. “We just might make it in time to check out the classes Minnie’s teaching.” Lizzie smiles from the passenger seat as I drive down the freeway.
“Sounds like a plan to me. You going to join in?”
“Oh, we both are. Put those new sneakers you bought us to good use.”
“No.” I shake my head to emphasize my refusal.
“Yes.” She nods hers just as hard. We fight about it for the last half an hour of the drive, and even as we pull into the studio’s parking lot.
When we step out of the car, Lizzie waves at Haven as she and another girl walk along the side of the building.
“Did you just get off work?” Lizzie asks her.
