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I hit send.
Dad texted back,It’s a date!
The exclamation mark was cute and sweet, and full of hope.
My heart beat faster as I dropped a heart on his reply.
I texted Cap to tell him what was happening and got back to work.
Within two minutes, though, Cap texted back,I’m glad you’re doing that.Available if you need me. He ended that with a red heart.
The red heart was just cute and sweet.
I glanced at Tito, who had sunglasses aimed at the coffee cubby even though now it was quiet.
He didn’t seem to mind he had a guest barista.
And if he didn’t mind, why should I?
I knew the answer to that.
So I headed to Byron to see if he needed his mid-morning dirty chai refill.
* * *
I droveto the Biltmore mall spotting the tail.
It was hard to miss, seeing as it was a bronze El Camino, and behind the wheel was Tex, and, get this…
Sitting next to him was Tito.
I had no clue how that unholy alliance sprung up, since I’d been in their presence all day, and I hadn’t seen them in the same space once.
But in that current moment, the meetup with Dad looming, I didn’t have it in me to figure it out.
Though, I did give some time to wondering how that old El Camino made it all the way down from Denver, and if the grenades were still in the back.
I parked.
They parked, not close, not far.
I got out and walked to Frost.
They got out and ambled to a bench outside True Food Kitchen, which was situated next to Frost. And it should be noted they were about as incognito as Tom Cruise would be strolling the mall in hisTop Gunflight suit and mirrored aviators.
Dad was hanging outside Frost.
I hated that it was awkward, but no way around it. The hug we exchanged when I made it to him was awkward.
We walked in, and I knew why he picked this place. The sight of vats of creamy deliciousness and the smell of sugar and waffle cones took me back to a place I missed so bad, it was like intense chronic pain you get used to and just lived your life dealing with.
Dad, Macy and I didn’t just sneak bowls of ice cream when Mom wasn’t looking.
Dad took us, including Mom, to the local ice cream parlor as a treat, and he did this a lot.
“Wild guess,” Dad murmured, looking down at the gelato on display. “Bubble gum.”
Okay.
