“I really do have to go,” I say again, my hand already pulling at my door handle. “I’m picking Sadie up from camp.”
“She’s coming back?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I tell him. “Just in time for the wedding.”
He smiles. “That’s good. I’m sure you’ll be happy to have her back home.”
“I am.”
“I guess…I’ll see you soon?” he asks tentatively.
“Yeah.”
I don’t understand the impulse that has me reaching for him, but it happens despite the nagging voice in my head telling me it’s a bad idea. I place my hand lightly on his forearm, giving it a gentle squeeze. He looks at me with an observant gaze, and before he can do anything, like give my hand a reassuring pat or even something as bold as an embrace, I turn and get into my car to leave.
The entire drive to LA is a blur. I don’t remember what roads I took, what street signs I passed. I don’t even notice the usually irritating freeway traffic. All I see is Everett’s face. How solemn his expression turned as soon as he saw my painting. How he looked like he wanted to ask me more than how I’ve been. Maybe he wanted to ask me if I’ve been thinking about him. About our kiss. About those stolen glances in the pool around everyone else, hoping we didn’t look suspicious. And a part of me wished he asked me. Just so I could tell him that it’s all I’ve been thinking about. But also to tell him that I’m still scared.
As soon as I walk onto the campgrounds and head over to Sadie’s dorm room she’s been sharing with three other girls, I go right into mom mode.
“Sadie, your clothes are a mess in here.” I’m sifting through her duffel bag, finding that her clothes have been thrown in there without a care.
“I’m going to wash them all anyway, Mom,” she argues.
I huff, sorting through her things to make room for the rest of her belongings. We finish packing, and she says her goodbyes to her camp friends. They exchange hugs, promising to stay in touch and keep each other updated on their music. Before I know it, I’m filling the three-hour drive back home with a demo Sadie recorded at camp, played through Bluetooth on her phone, and a complete Taylor Swift singalong that she and I duet.
When I pull into my driveway, I’m surprised to see Leo’s car there.
“Dad!” Sadie squeals as she bolts out of the car before I’m even able to put it in park.
“Whoa, kiddo,” Leo exclaims, embracing our daughter in a tight hug. “You go away to camp for the summer and suddenly I’m ‘Dad?’”
Sadie rolls her eyes, the only appropriate response from an angsty tween, before she helps me with her bags from my car.
“I thought we could go out for burgers,” he tells me, eyeing me cautiously. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a milkshake from Ruby’s.”
“Yes!” Sadie exclaims. “I’m so hungry.”
Leo’s eyes don’t leave mine. “Why don’t you get your things inside,” he instructs Sadie. “I need to talk to your mom for a second.”
“Okay.” She takes her guitar from me as I remove it from the trunk, and she walks into the house through the open garage.
“Sadie told me she was on her way home,” Leo explains. “She texted me when you two left camp.”
I nod.
“Anyway, are you okay with some burgers? Or we can go to that sushi place you like.”
“You can go with Sadie,” I tell him. “I’m sure she’s excited to see you. You know, since you missed her showcase.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
I huff. “Tell her.”
Leo awkwardly rubs his knuckles into his palm. “I, uh, talked to James a few days ago.”
I already don’t like where this is headed. “And?”
“He told me you guys went to Vegas.”
