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“Because it would be too easy to sneak your boyfriend in, and they're not cool with that,” I said. “Dad would have sealed up the patio door with cement before he let you stay down there.”
Riley sighed. “It's frustrating,” she said. “They forget that I'm almost eighteen. It's only a few months away, and they still treat me like a child.”
“Because you live under their roof, Riley,” I said. “But you'll be graduating soon and can go away to college somewhere far away. Or not. Whatever you want to do.”
“I don't think we can both live in the basement after high school, can we?” she teased.
It wasn't much, but it was the first time she'd joked with me since I'd been back. Back in the day, we'd cut up with each other, hurling insults and going back and forth with one another. It was a fun time and we'd gotten along really well. I was happy to see my sister starting to come back to me.
“Be like old times?” I said with a laugh. “Nah, I hope I can figure out my life and eventually move out on my own again anyway. I just have no idea where to start yet, but I'm working on it.”
“At least the surf shop is a start,” she said. “You always did love surfing.”
“Yeah, and I get to work with kids,” I said. “And since I have some early childhood education credits and child CPR under my belt, that's a plus.”
“You always did like kids,” Riley said, rolling her eyes. “Which I don't understand. At all.”
“Yeah, I know,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “So, I hear you've been watching the Pratt kids next door sometimes. How'd that go?”
“Terrible,’ she said. “They hated me. Kept asking when you'd come back.”
“So, you don't mind if I maybe start watching them again?”
“No, of course not,” she said. “Have at it. I'm going to get a job at the movie theater with Seth anyway.”
I wanted to ask if perhaps that would be spending a little too much time with him, especially since they spent just about every other waking moment together, but, that wasn't any of my business. If she was happy, so be it. High school romances hardly lasted very long anyway. And with college coming up for her, and the possibility of her going away somewhere, there was a shelf life on her romance with Seth.
Not that I was the expert on any of that. I'd never liked any of the guys I'd gone to high school with; they were always too immature. My parents always said I was more mature than any of them, and they were probably right. Fact of the matter was, I still didn't care for guys my age.
Now Marcus Pratt next door? That was a man I could see myself dating, at least, if my father didn't murder us both first.
“Well, I'm always here to talk if you need to, sis,” I said. “I'm just downstairs now. A lot closer than San Diego.”
I had to get ready for work, so I went downstairs. It was warm day, so I opened the slider in the family room and could hear Zoey and Zack laughing together in the backyard. Marcus was such a devoted father, it impressed me so much. I loved listening to the sound of their laughter as I got ready for work.
There was a knock on the screen door and I jumped nearly jumped out of my skin. I turned and saw Marcus standing there, looking in at me.
“Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you,” he said.
“It's okay,” I replied. “I was just kind of off in my own little world. Wasn't expecting anybody to knock. What's up?”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” he said sheepishly. “I was just wondering if you'd watch the kids for me tomorrow night?
“Sure,” I said, smiling brightly. “I'd love to. What time do you need me?”
“Maybe around six?” he said. “I might be out late, so you could sleep over in the spare room if you like.”
“It's not far to walk,” I said with a laugh.
“Yeah, but it could be really late and you might want to go to bed before I get home.”
Marcus was never one to be out late. I cocked my head to the side and stared at him carefully, a laugh erupting from my mouth before I could stop myself.
“Do you have a date, Mr. Pratt?”
His face turned a bright shade of red and he looked away from me. “Maybe? I don't know if I'd call it a date, but – yeah, I guess it's a date. Sort of.”
A twinge of misplaced jealousy simmered inside of me, but I pushed it away. “Where are you taking the lucky lady?”
