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May knows where I’ll be. She’s a smart girl.
She’ll know where to go when she needs what I have for her as much as I need to give it.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
May
Dad’s quick to catch up with me, hugging me and apologizing for what he just said.
But what really hurts is his reaction to Brandon’s news.
It makes me realize that this is all gonna be a lot harder than I thought if dad’s already acting like this.
How’s he gonna take the news about Brandon and me?
I can see now why Brandon was so firm about taking things slow and secret.
At least where my dad’s concerned, even though neither of us likes to hide anything from him. Maybe he just knows without knowing. I mean, he was fine.
“I didn’t mean to snap at you, honey,” my dad says soothingly.
I forgive him instantly, believing him when he tells me he’s just overtired and that today’s only made him realize how much he’s really struggling.
“What do you mean, Dad?” I ask. “I thought you said things were picking up.”
He doesn’t have to go into details. I can see at a glance that dad’s just been telling me that for ages so I don’t worry.
“C’mon, let’s just go, can we?” my dad asks, and once we’re all back in the car, I think it’s wiser if I keep my opinions to myself and my eyes forward, as best I can anyway.
I can’t take my eyes off Brandon, even in a mini-crisis.
But my tear-stained eyes grow wide, and my jaw drops once Brandon lets us all know that he has bought the house next door, and by the look of things, he’s moving in.
Tonight.
If it wasn’t for the little wink he gives me, I’d have no idea what to do next. But stepping away from the car and fishing for the key in his pocket, I can see that Brandon knows exactly what he’s doing.
And when the time’s right, I’m sure he’ll make sure we both pick up right where we left off.
Watching him head inside his new house, I realize how quiet my dad is now.
He looks just as stunned as I do, but without a word, he pulls into the drive of our house and acts as if nothing happened.
“I’m sorry it wasn’t a morefundinner,” he groans, pulling up but leaving the motor running.
“Look, May? I’m gonna just go drive for a while, get some air, and…I dunno, just drive, I guess,” he says, apologizing again before I tell him it’s okay.
Dad’s thing when he’s upset or worried. He likes to drive, not like a maniac or anything. He just likes the open road with the wind in his hair. And always by himself if he’s in the kind of mood he’s in tonight.
“I’m heading straight to bed,” I let him know. “Unless you want me to wait up if you wanna talk, I mean.”
But dad just pats my knee.
“Thanks, sweetie, but you go on ahead and get some rest. Everything will be fine, you’ll see,” he smiles, putting on a brave face for my benefit.
Dad waits until I get inside before he drives off again, and I’m instantly torn between doing what I said I would and going to bed or doing what every cell in my body is screaming to do.
Go visit my new neighbor.
