29
Reyes
Harrison was quiet when we picked him up from school, but he brightened when we asked if he wanted to go to the beach. As soon as we were there, Jake produced a small, red ball from his pocket and handed it to Harrison.
“Go on,” he encouraged. “She loves it here.”
Harrison gave Jake a quick hug before running ahead a little to throw the ball for Lady. Quinn stayed close to us, having no interest for games.
We walked slowly behind Harris and Lady. The chilly air felt great against my skin, and the sound of the waves helped calm my anxiety. Despite the fun day with Jake, neither of us had been able to relax completely. Jake had been his usual self, cracking jokes and teasing whenever he could, but I could tell it was all an act. Deep down, he was just as unsettled as I was. I just didn’t know if it was about Harrison or if it had more to do with us.
Harrison ran back to us, breathless and happier than he’d been an hour ago. “Rey, how do we say bring it to mein Spanish?”
“Tráemela,”I replied.
Harrison murmured it under his breath a couple times before saying it to Lady. The dog just stared at him wide-eyed.
Jake laughed. “She doesn’t know Spanish,” he tried.
Harrison scowled. “Neither did I! But I’m learning, so she can too!”
Jake arched a brow and I shrugged. What could I say? The kid was right.
While Harrison tried to get the retriever to understand the new word, Jake and I stood side by side enjoying the view. He slipped an arm around my waist and pulled me in for a quick kiss. I nearly sighed at how much his simple touch calmed me.
Harrison tugged on my arm. “How about ‘ball?’”
“Pelota.”
“Tráemela pelota.” He repeated it to himself, then turned his attention back to Lady. She barked once when Harrison motioned to the ball, and he threw it for her. Lady bolted down the beach after it.
“Muy bueno, Bonita!”Harrison called after her.
Jake chuckled next to me. “He catches on quick, doesn’t he?”
“Yeah.”
“Come on, guys!” Harrison hollered. “Come play with us!”
I pulled away from Jake. “Think he knows how to play keep away?” I asked with a mischievous smirk.
* * *
After nearly an hourof Harrison running with Lady, Jake got a call from Brad inviting us to meet him for pizza at Finn’s Flying Pies. We made a quick stop at the house to drop the dogs off before heading over to the pizzeria. It reminded me of a pizza place back in San Diego with classic red-and-white-checkered vinyl tablecloths and chalkboard displays. Old vinyl records of all sizes and genres, along with a few brightly colored poodle skirts, lined the walls. Above the register was an old teal bicycle complete with a white woven basket. An Elvis Presley song played overhead, and it made me smile. If my family ever visited, I’d have to bring them here. Ma would love it.
After looking around, we determined Brad wasn’t there yet, so we went ahead and claimed a table by the entrance, making it easy for his friend to spot us. I slid into the booth first, followed by Jake, while Harrison crawled in on the other side, immediately reaching for the one of the kid’s menus tucked behind the napkin dispenser. I had no idea how he saw it, since they were folded so discretely to not take up space, but the moment he opened the menu and pointed at what he wanted without even glancing at the pictures, I knew he’d been here before.
“Can we play games after?” he asked, glancing at the corner with several different arcade games.
Jake followed his gaze and bumped my knee under the table. “Do you like pinball?” he asked me.
I shrugged. “Not really. Was never any good at it.”
He feigned surprise. “What? Really? Oh, I used to play with my dad all the time when I was a kid. Every Friday when he didn’t have to work, he’d take me to this burger place down the street. It was kind of our thing, I guess.”
“It can be our thing now!” Harrison said excitedly, climbing up onto his knees. “’cause I’ve played!”
“Yeah?” Jake asked.
