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LW: No. But I think we should tell him…at dinner.
Me: WHAT!? Like…tonight?
My phone chirps again with a text from Skyler
Sky: Bringing tequila over!
Me: No!
Sky: You need to loosen up. Just one...or four.
Me: You are the worst influence, ever! Speaking of which, you taught Landon’s son how to shotgun beers?
There’s a knock on my front door and then Skyler and Aidan are coming through it. “I don’t even know his son!” Skyler chirps.
“Apparently at some party your senior year,” I tell her as I make my way into the living area where they have already made themselves at home and are sitting on my couch.
“I mean if he was a freshman, then maybe.” She shrugs as she puts two shot glasses on the table. “I was like the freshman Mom; I made sure the guys that were on their sports teams were nice to them. They were like little puppies!”
“Well, thank you for contributing to his delinquency. He has a DUI now, Sky.” I put my hands on my hips and look at her over the top of my glasses.
“From the night I allegedly taught him to shotgun? He was like fourteen, what was he doing driving?!” She looks so confused it’s almost comical and I wonder if the shots have already taken their toll.
“No, not that night, Sky. Focus!”
“Wait, I’m confused. And baby, slow down,” Aidan chimes in and puts a hand over the shot glass she’s holding to her lips.
“You’re just mad you can’t have any.”
“Do I want to be drunk at dinner with your parents the first time I meet your father? Absolutely not. And your mother is already side-eyeing me after she caught me feeling you up in the kitchen.”
“Oh, she is not.”
“But let’s circle back to the first thing. He has a son old enough to…drive?” Neither of us say anything and I just blink my eyes several times at him. “I just assumed he was…a younger guy and best friend was another word for like mentee. He’s, like, your dad’s age?”
“Do you want to stay in my good graces or no, Professor Sleeps-With-Students?” I’m half joking, but he needs to reign in the judgment if he wants a prayer at keeping me on his side.
Skyler snorts into her shot and shakes her head. “Hey, that’s ‘Professor Sleeps-With-Student’! Not plural!”
Aidan shakes his head. “I didn’t mean anything by that I swear, I just didn’t realize…I mean…”
“Don’t listen to Serena, our Dad is going to freak.” Gee thanks, Sky. “But Serena, you’ve been the perfect child your whole life. It’s about time you took a walk on the wild side. Join me, it’s fun!” She holds her shot glass up and downs another one.
This was going to be the furthest thing from fun.
We are back over at the main house when a car door slams, sending me flying almost a foot into the air. “Will you relax? I’ll try and keep the spotlight on me and Aidan, but you have got to keep it together, Rena,” Skyler whispers and I nod, suddenly wishing that I had indulged in at least one drink to calm my nerves. My father walks through the door with Landon in tow, and immediately my body reacts to his close proximity.
Settle down, Serena, now is really not the time.
My father enters the living room first and immediately spots Skyler. Of course. “Skyler Alexandra, get over here troublemaker,” he teases, with perhaps the biggest smile on his face.
“Dad!” She hops to her feet and bolts for him, letting him envelop her in a hug and kiss the top of her head. If there was ever any doubt that she’s the favorite, it’s solidified in that moment. I don’t think anyone even notices me until I look up and notice Landon staring straight at me. His face doesn’t give much away, but I hear his thoughts as loud as I hear my own.
Hi baby, I missed you.
I give him a small smile as I stand to approach my dad. “Long time no see, Dad,” I joke. I get it to an extent; he hasn’t seen Skyler in three months whereas he’s seen me almost every day of the last three. But still, I would like just maybe even a quarter of the enthusiasm.
“Hi, sweetheart. Hold down the fort while I was gone?” He kisses my forehead and pulls me into a hug.
