“You’re not spending the evening with me?”Hannah asked, her tone full of accusation.
Evie’s eyes went wide.She swung her gaze to me for a second, then tilted her head at her mother.“Mom, I told you I was going to some parties after graduation.I’m spending tomorrow with you.”
Hannah’s lips pursed so tightly together they vanished.“I suppose that’ll have to do.”
Evie’s shoulders slumped ever so slightly, letting me know her mother’s barb hit.“Maybe you can stay with your mom a few more days,” I suggested.“Since you’re going to stay at my house the next two weekends for the holiday and then your party, you can stay with Mom more nights during the week.”
Evie smiled at me gratefully, then looked at her mother.“What do you think, Mom?”
“I’m very busy, but that would be fine.I would like to see you.”
“I’d like that, too, Mom.”
“Good.”
“Are we ready?I have a call in twenty minutes,” Brian said quietly, gripping Hannah’s elbow as he spoke.
Hannah nodded.“Yes, we can go.”She ignored Oscar and Christy and stepped forward to hug me.“I’ll be in touch to make sure everything is ready for the party.”
“I’m working normal hours through the summer, so if you reach out during the day, remember that.”
Her lips pressed together again.God forbid I had a job.“Fine.I’ll handle everything, as always.”
I swallowed the retort on my lips.If I’d had it my way, the party would not have been the production she insisted on, but I didn’t get to plan the party.Just host it.
“You’re so good at micromanaging everyone, Hannah.It sounds like everything will go smoothly,” Oscar said.
Hannah glared at him, then lifted her cheek for me to kiss it.
I obliged.
She turned and followed an already retreating Brian toward the parking lot.
Evie hugged Christy, Oscar, and me, then chased after her mother.
“What in the hell did you ever see in her?”Oscar asked.
“What she wanted me to see,” I told him, knowing it was the truth.“But I can’t regret marrying her because then I wouldn’t have Evie.”
“She’s the only good thing about your marriage,” Christy said.
I slung my arm around her shoulders, then hooked Oscar with my other arm.“So, are you two taking pity on a lonely dad with a new graduate and hanging out with me today?”
They both made empty excuses, then laughed.
“That was the plan,” Oscar said.
“Want to take the boat out?”Christy asked.
“Sounds like the perfect day to me,” I answered, knowing I’d survive Evie leaving because I had the two best friends in the world.
Seven
Reegan
I was curledup on the couch in Ashlyn’s living room when she emerged from her room sometime around noon.I smiled as she waved, still half asleep.I’d always wanted to be able to sleep all day, but I never could.Ashlyn confessed she wished she was like me and up early and functional.We always wanted what we didn’t have.
Like my morning coffee with Josh.
