“You made out with Zyan all summer long?”
Eden rolls her eyes. “Not the point, Mum.”
“Oh,” is all I can say.
“Anyway, of course Bentlee and Harmonee were standing there and they knew all about Zyan and me, but today they’re all ‘So, did you make it up or what?’ and they know I didn’t, but now they’re going around saying Zyan is only an acquaintance.”
“I see.” I really don’t, but for the sake of not going into details with her or asking more about these make out sessions with Zyan, I’m going to just accept I’m out of the loop.
“Yeah, so whatever. And while all this is going on, Rusty asks me out.”
I mentally go through the class list from Eden’s school, trying to place a young man named Rusty.
“Kira’s brother.”
“Oh, he’s younger, right?”
Eden nods while she takes a drink from her smoothie. “Only by a year, but he’s on the varsity baseball team. He plays first base.”
“Well, it’s nice to be asked out.”
She shrugs. “Yeah, I don’t know. We’ll see.”
I wish Katelyn and Josie were here to offer me all the safe advice. Sometimes, I feel like I’m treading water where Eden is concerned or battling Jimmy over what I think she should be allowed to do and not do. I think she should date. She’s old enough and definitely mature. She has a good head on her shoulders and is on track to go pro with her surfing. I want her to go to college, and I’m hoping she will, but the circuit can be time consuming and grueling.
“Well, let me know about Rusty, and if you want to talk about Zyan. I’ve been told I’m a good listener.”
“Thanks, Mum. I’m just mad because I thought we had something going on. I guess I was wrong.”
Jimmy is going to murder this boy.
“Where’s Dad?”
“He’s at the tattoo parlor.”
“What’s he getting this time?”
I laugh because the man is almost out of space. “I don’t know, he said it was a surprise.”
“Think you can come down to the beach with me for a bit?”
I nod and slide off the barstool. That is another rule we enforce—no surfing by yourself. There have been far too many accidents where someone has gotten hurt and there wasn’t anyone around to help them. I don’t want Eden in that position—ever.
“I’ll go change and meet you downstairs in a few minutes.” Again, I brush my hand down the length of her hair. I kiss the side of her head and retreat toward my bedroom. Eden is hot on my heels, only she goes to the right when we get to the top of the stairs and I turn left.
2
Jimmy
Harrison drops me off at the end of my driveway. He doesn’t offer to give me a goodbye kiss or tell me he’ll call me. To be honest, I’m a little pissed off at how cold and unaffectionate he is. I turn slightly to look at him, and flutter my eyelashes. “When will I see you again?”
He slowly looks my way. I smile and tilt my head to the side. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
I scoff. “We just had an amazing time, and you’re dumping me on the side of the road like yesterday’s rubbish.”
Harrison chuckles. “I don’t know how Jenna puts up with you. Get out of my car before I remove you.”
“What an arse,” I mutter as I open the door. After I get out, I shut it but keep my hand on the door, bending down a little so I can see him. “Seriously, though, thanks for going with me.”