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“I don’t know about that, but you’re right. I’ll have to make it work. Maybe steal one of your hoodies.”
“All right. Well… you know where everything is, but come get me if you need something.”
“Thanks, Gabe.” She grins and pulls her stuff through the doorway and closes it softly once she turns on the light.
I glance down the hall to make sure my daughter hasn’t woken up, thankful that I don’t see lights or hear noise behind her door. She’s a teenager, but the second Aurora appears she turns into a giddy little girl who wants to stay up all night and talk her ear off. I’m hoping we can get her one more good night of sleep before the house is pure chaos. I need the time to prepare myself.
CHAPTERTWO
Aurora
“Aunt Aurora!” Gin shouts as she does a belly flop onto the guest bed next to me. I blink, trying to clear the sleep from my eyes. I grin as I take her in her private school outfit. She looks the perfect picture of reform when in reality she’s a hellraising fourteen-year-old soccer star with an attitude that will probably take her father out someday. But she’s also one of my absolute favorite people in the world, right along with her dad.
I reach out for her, and she falls in, wrapping me in a tight hug.
“I’m so glad you’re here. But does this mean no beach this weekend?” Her lower lip rolls in a pout.
“We could go to the beach here,” I offer, trying to deflect. I don’t want to involve her in my drama, and I don’t have great answers for her right now. I barely know them myself.
“I mean one that isn’t cold and rainy.” She shakes her head at me like I’m ridiculous.
“We’ll see. Are you ready for your test? It’s today, isn’t it?”
“I think so. I’m still not sure about all those smaller countries in Europe. But I studied a lot.”
“I’m sure you’ll do awesome.”
“Gin?” I hear her dad yelling from across the house.
“Shit. I mean shoot. Trying not to let Dad in on the fact I use four letter words now, and I keep slipping.” She laughs. “Dad said to get you up. He made pancakes.”
“Pancakes, huh? With blueberries?”
“With chocolate chips.”
“He means business then.” This was Gabe’s way of trying to cheer me up. Pancakes with chocolate chips were his go-to for no-good, very-bad days.
“And thank you for the milkshake.” Gin smiles at me.
“Of course. Anything for my favorite.”
She hugs me one more time and then bounces out of the room. I can’t help the grin. I feel guilty smiling. When I told David I wouldn’t be making the wedding this weekend, he was devastated. I’m thankful I didn’t have to see his face. It would have crushed me and probably made me second guess my decision, even though I know it’s the right one. I still felt like a coward though, given that I just called him from the airport and told him I wasn’t going to make it.
He thought it was a joke at first, that I couldn’t possibly be serious. That making it to the week of the wedding meant I’d make it all the way to the altar. But my anxious heart had other plans, like launching into a full-blown panic attack while I was staring at the plane I was supposed to board. It felt like the plane to prison. A life locked down to safe, quiet, polo-shirt-wearing, balance-his-checkbook-every-weekend, eat-the-bran-flakes David.
I’d convinced myself it’s what I wanted. That he was who I wanted. That I just kept resisting normal because I liked to self-sabotage. I picked too many train-wreck men and too many bad situations that often got worse. David was the right choice in comparison. But when it came down to signing up for a lifetime of it—I choked. I called my own bluff and canceled the whole thing. Feeling like I could breathe again, even if it was laced with guilt, the second I got off the phone with him.
Moving from that gate to the one for Seattle—buying a ticket to come to see Gabe and Gin—made everything right in my world again. They were my home and had been for most of my life. Starting in college when Gin’s mom left and Gabe was struggling to take care of a kid, maintain his grades, and play football.
Once I’m dressed, I get out to the kitchen to find there’s already a pile of pancakes, syrup, and whipped cream sitting ready along with piping hot coffee, sugar, and creamer. Gabe and Gin are busy talking about her after-school plans.
“I know you want to spend time with Aurora but there will be time for that tomorrow night. Tonight you still have to go to Amelia’s. You’ve got the game in the morning and Ms. Stuart already has plans to take you guys out to dinner and the movies.” Gabe looks up when he sees me appear.
“Aurora. Tell him I can’t go to Amelia’s! I want to be here with you guys. We can watch a movie and order food,” Gin protests.
I look at Gabe and see a subtle shake of his head. I don’t ever cross him when it comes to Gin. He’s a good dad, an excellent one, probably even better than mine and that’s saying something. So if he thinks she needs to stick to the plan, then I agree with him.
“I’ll be here tomorrow too. We can do that then. We’ll order pizza or get more burgers.”
