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“What’s so funny about Garrett humiliating me?”
“It’s Garrett,” he says, as if it shouldn’t be surprising at all. “You two have been picking on each other for fifteen years. Now you want to have a relationship with him and you think things will be different. Honey, people don’t change just because your relationship has.”
“Well, he lied to me, and it’s way more than a prank or a joke.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, his stoic eyes set on me. “Don’t forgive him until he earns it.”
“But…” I reply because I can feel him wanting to continue.
“But…I hope he earns it. You’re still family and you’ve been happy lately. I’m your dad, so as much as I hate to think about you having a boyfriend, I do like to see you happy.”
My throat begins to sting with emotion. What is it about a heart-to-heart with your dad that makes you want to start crying immediately?
“I know Laura wants to see him happy too.”
Just the mention of Garrett being happy sets my jaw, and I look up at my dad. But he doesn’t continue, and I’m left to worry even more.
* * *
I’m cleaning up the kitchen with Laura when my phone rings; I don’t recognize the number, but it’s local and for some reason, I feel compelled to hit the green button.
“Hello?”
“I heard about you…” a sweet voice replies.
“Eden?”
“You remember me,” she says with a laugh. “I didn’t know if you would. Charlie gave me your number. I hope you don’t mind me calling.”
I almost forgot that I did give Charlotte my number in the midst of the event planning.
“Of course not,” I say, glancing at Laura as I sneak out of the kitchen to talk in private. “But what exactly did you hear?”
“I heard you blew away the voyeur hall with a little solo performance.”
Oh. That.Inwardly, I groan. “You heard about that, huh?”
“Honey, everyone heard about that.”
“Well, that’s a little embarrassing,” I say as I disappear down into the basement.
“Embarrassing? From what I heard, it was hot as fuck. I’ve always wanted to take a room alone, but never had the guts to do it. You’re amazing.”
I laugh. “How is that amazing?”
“Because you don’t give a fuck. You’re hot and you know it and you own it and make people look at you. I wish I could be you.”
This time, I laugh a little louder. “Please.”
“I’m serious! That kind of confidence is so hot. You have to perform this weekend.”
This weekend…the event. “I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not talking to Garrett right now.”
“Well, he hasn’t even been in all week, so you probably don't need to worry about him anyway. Plus, what better way to show that you don’t need him than to show up and blow the roof off this place.”
