“He isn’t the kind of man who’s going to just get over it,” I say. “You know that. He’s always going to judge us.”
“That’s why I want to move out.”
“Well, let’s talk about it again after I graduate and you get your real estate license.”
“Will you at least think about it?”
“Of course.” I squeeze her arm but I really don’t want to move in with her. I love both her and Charlie, but I want to live my life on my terms once I leave home. If I was going to live with someone, it would be Jordan.
Holy shit. Where did that come from? We’re not even officially back together, and I’m thinking about living together? My feelings are apparently a lot more intense than I’ve been willing to consider.
When we fell in love the first time we were trying to get through my senior year and his rookie hockey season. We had grand plans for the summer, me living with him while going to college, getting married once I got my degree.
And then it all went to hell.
Since then, I’ve been in survival mode. Focused on school and work, doing my best not to irritate my dad. He hates every guy I date so I don’t bring anyone home anymore. Not that there have been many guys I liked enough to do that, but it’s not worth the hassle. He talks about me finding a husband but he doesn’t actually want me to date anyone. I think he wants it to happen through osmosis. Or maybe he thinks an arranged marriage is the only acceptable possibility.
As a retired military man, my father has a somewhat skewed view of the world, with everything based on structure and order and rules. His rules. My mother can occasionally rein him in but that rarely happens, and these days it’s usually only when it has to do with Charlie. He’s my dad’s only soft spot.
Maybe he’s just mad he only had daughters because he seems to be a different man when it comes to his grandson.
My phone buzzes, and I check my text messages.
JORDAN: Three more days until I see you!
I smile, quickly typing out a response.
VICTORIA: What’s your schedule once you’re back?
JORDAN: We land fairly early on Thursday, so I’ll be free after about one if you want to go do something?
VICTORIA: I’m off on Thursdays so I’m available the whole day.
JORDAN: I can text you when we land and you can meet me at the house? We can figure out what we want to do from there?
VICTORIA: Sure.
JORDAN: There’s a new Spiderman movie out—you want to go see it?
I can’t help but smile.
That was our first date—going to see one of the Spiderman movies.
VICTORIA: That sounds perfect.
JORDAN: I’ll look up times and locations and pick up the tickets.
VICTORIA: I’m excited!
JORDAN: For the movie or to see me?
VICTORIA: Do I have to choose? They’re both pretty high on my list.
JORDAN: Okay. I guess I don’t mind sharing your affection with Spiderman.
VICTORIA: That was our very first date.
JORDAN: I remember.
