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Liv
Thenightcontinuesaslaughter fills the air. Tina leaves, claiming she has to get up early. Garrett walks her to her car then returns. My parents, Uncle Mike, and Charlotte arrive in the work truck. The guys help them unload a barbeque grill and get to work setting it up.
I return to the house with Dad to grab chairs and wood to make a fire. “You seem happy today,” he says as we bounce along the dirt road in the truck.
“It’s come to my attention that I might be a little too stubborn.”
He chuckles. “Figure that out all by yourself, huh?”
“Are you happy Dad? With Mom? Even after everything?”
He thinks about it for a few seconds. “I’m happy because of everything. I appreciate your mom even more for what she’s been through. Sure, I got hurt. But that’s life, Livvie. I don’t want to be a miserable old asshole who ends up alone.”
“What if she does it again?”
He sobers. “Well, then I suppose it wasn’t meant to be. But I’m sure enjoying our time together now. That’s something to be grateful for. We’ve already missed out on so much.”
He parks the truck, but he stays seated when I don’t move to leave.
“Liv, I know you’re scared of getting hurt again. Luke will do everything in his power to prevent that from happening, but he’s human. Everyone is going to let you down in life. I’ve disappointed you, too. Even your brother has. You can’t control it, and you can’t hide from life just because it’s scary. That’s no way to live, honey.”
How do parents always seem to know the things you’re desperate to hide?
“I know you’re conflicted about Charlie. But let me ask you a question,” he says.
With all our visitors taking up my time, I haven't had the chance to tell him I ended things with Charlie. I'm curious what advice he has to offer so I nod.
“How does Charlie make you feel in here?” he places his finger over my heart.
“Safe,” I say without thought.
“And how does Luke make you feel?”
That one is harder to answer. He drops his hand as I contemplate, but he waits with patience.
“He makes me feel everything,” I say.
“Then it's simple. Do you want safety, or do you want everything?”
The answer is easy. I'm done playing it safe. I smile at my dad and lean over to hug him.
“I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, honey.”
“If I give Luke another chance, I’d move back to San Diego.”
“You mean the billionaire doesn’t enjoy farm life?” We both chuckle, then part and load the truck with the chairs and wood. I stock up another cooler with drinks and we return to the lake. When the sun sets, my uncle gets the fire going and we settle around it. Once I’m dry, I pull on my purple sundress and sit next to Luke on the blanket he’s sprawled out on.
“Hi,” he says.
“Hi.” We grin at each other for a few moments. I look away, blushing like an idiot. How does he still have this effect on me?
Diplo and Thomas Rhett’sDance with Meplays over the speaker and Jackson leans over from his camp chair and grabs my hand. “We’re dancing,” he declares and yanks me to my feet.
I laugh at his antics, as he twirls me around to the fun beat. I shimmy and shake as he leads me. He spins and picks me up, somehow flinging me over his shoulder and flipping me to my feet before I realize what’s happening.
“Damn, I miss it out here,” he says when the song ends, a huge grin splitting his face.
