“Go on, enjoy your day,” Gramps encourages me. “We miss you, Mac, but you deserve some fun. Remember, I went through law school, and it’s a lot harder now than it was back then. Call your friends, and go have some fun.”
“I want to spend time with the two of you too,” I tell him. “I’ll be honest, Gramps. I’m not really feeling the love right now.”
“Trust me, darlin’, there’s more love for you in this old heart than you could ever understand.” He taps his hand on his chest.
“He’s right, you know. You need to be hanging out with your friends and relaxing. I know you’re worried about the bar, but, honey, you have to take some time to breathe and soak up the sun. It will do wonders to clear your mind. We love you, but you’re home now, McKenna.” She smiles softly. “Go, have fun.” Grams waves her hand at me. “Have you eaten? I can make you something before you go,” she offers.
“Yes. Rip made pancakes and bacon.”
“Extra crispy?” she asks.
“Yep,” I say, popping the p.
“Train him right, sweetheart.” Gramps chuckles. “Agnes, what do you say we call Mary and Tom and see if they want to go grab some ice cream?”
“Sounds like a plan to me. McKenna, take these with you.” She hands me a plastic container.
“What is it?”
“Chocolate chip cookies. I made them this morning.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I am. You know I love to bake. I just had an itch to do so this morning. It’s nice to spend time in the kitchen just because I want to. This is my happy place. We’ll never be able to eat all of them on our own. Now, call your friends. Go have fun.”
I stand and pull Grams into a hug. “Thank you, and thank you for the cookies. Love you.”
“I love you too,” she says as we pull out of our embrace.
“Gramps.” I walk to him with my arms wide open, and he doesn’t hesitate to wrap me in a hug. “Love you.”
“Love you too. Have fun and be safe. If you need us….” His voice trails off.
“I know. Call you. I’ll probably stay with Laramie tonight like we were supposed to last night. Oh, I forgot to tell you. Laramie and Colby got engaged last night!”
“He finally did it.” Grams smiles. “Tell them we said congratulations.”
“I will. I guess I need to go change. Enjoy your ice cream.” With a wave over my shoulder, I head upstairs to my room. The same one that hasn’t changed at all since the day I left for college.
Digging into my dresser, I pull out my black bikini. It’s from two summers ago. I don’t have much time for leisure. I need to go shopping to pick up a new one. This one will have to do. Besides, it’s barely used. Quickly, I strip out of the clothes that Lara let me borrow and grab the bikini.
“Damn, I better call Rip.” Grabbing my phone from the dresser, I send him a text.
Me: Hey. Change of plans. I’ll be ready for the lake when you are.
Not ten seconds later, my phone is ringing, and Rip’s name flashes on the screen. “Hey,” I greet him.
“Why the change of plans? I told you I didn’t mind waiting on you.”
“I know. I appreciate that. Gram and Gramps insisted I go and hang out with friends. So, I’m getting changed now.”
“Changed?”
“Into my suit?”
“Right now?”
“Yes. I’m, uh, actually naked talking to you. I was just sending a quick text. I didn’t expect you to call me.”
“You’re naked?” His voice is low and gruff.
“I am.” My voice is sultry, and I wasn’t even trying. That’s just what he does to me.
“I’m almost home. I’ll stop and get you before I go back to my place to grab the cooler.”
“Are you sure? I can meet you there,” I offer.
“Kenna, I’ll be right there. Just— Fuck, I’m on my way.” With that, the call ends.
Tossing my phone on the bed, I rush to get dressed, wondering what I might have said to upset him. He sounded upset, but there is nothing I can think of. Unless he’s mad I offered to meet him at his place. Surely not. Shit, I’m doing it again. I have to stop comparing every man to my father. I know that Rip is his own man, but other than Gramps, my experience is that if something is wrong… it’s my fault. I can hear my therapist, Maggie, in my head telling me that all men are not my father. I know that, rationally, but the little girl in me sometimes forgets.
Slipping a pair of my own cutoff jean shorts and a tank top over my bikini, I slip my feet back into my flip-flops. After sliding my phone into my back pocket, I grab a small tote from my closet. Across the hall, I grab a towel, some sunscreen, and a few hair ties out of the bathroom and shove them into my tote. The only thing I need is my wallet. After searching my room, and downstairs, I remember that I left it at Rip’s before we went to the field for the fire. It looks like I’d have been going back to his place today regardless.