I toss balled-up athletic shorts at him.
“It would be a lot easier if he hadn’t inherited your stubbornness. But it’s not your fault if it’s too late. He’s an adult.”
He tosses the shorts back. Good. A little levity. “Look at you doling out parenting advice.”
“How about you keep trying to talk to him, see if you can make headway. Meanwhile, we get to know Ceci. She could be useful. She knows him.”
Chapter 6
Cecilia
We exit the diner and sit on a bench. Trena fiddles with her to-go box in silence, letting me know that her wheels are spinning once again. Admittedly, what happened in the diner was a lot.
Lennox and Blake are already gone. If I tried to sort out why I want them so badly, my brain is too jumbled to give me a clear answer. Luckily I don’t need one.
They’re the perfect outlet now that I’m single. No immature antics from guys my age. No awkward groping when we make out. The way Blake grabbed my wrist was a real panty-drencher.
Panties. That’s a good conversation starter. “My No Panties Day parade will be epic.”
“That’s what you’re thinking about right now?” Trena’s exasperated.
“Mostly the no panties part.” I wink.
“You’re seriously going to make me move to Eggplant Canyon by myself?”
“I’m not making you do anything. I’m the one who wanted to live somewhere fun.” I grab Trena’s to-go box and tear off a piece of her cinnamon roll. When I try to give the box back, she waves me off.
“You’re impossible, Ceci.”
“First, I’m impulsive for wanting to leave. Now, I’m impulsive for wanting to stay.”
“You change your mind every five seconds.”
“Says the bestie I’ve had for years. And my parade? I’ve been planning that for months.”
“Right, your parade that you were willing to give up when you decided to move.”
“It was just going to have a new location.” I help myself to more of her roll.
“Please move with me to Eggplant Canyon, so I don’t have to live in limbo until you get tired of those guys. I still can’t believe you let him…”
Trena keeps talking, but my mind has wandered off.
I’m not normally one to think the universe is crafting synchronicities, but… what if I had to have that argument with Henry so I would run into his dad?
“Ceci!”
My head snaps to Trena’s glare.
“You weren’t even listening.”
“I’m sorry.”
She flops against the wooden planks of the bench. “Quit acting so starry-eyed. Those old dudes—includingHenry’s dad—aren’t going to swoop in and give you a happily ever after.”
The swirly feelings in my chest, the way my heart is racing, the thoughts of a future with those guys… “I bet they’ll give me a happy ending.”
My sing-songy silliness makes Trena laugh even though she tries to hold it back. And it takes the pressure off feeling all the feelings.
