My brow furrows at the thought of her getting ink. Knowing that if she does it’ll only be by my own hand. No one else is touching my Abby.
No way. No how.
“It’d be so small you’d hardly notice it,” she pleads as if she really needs my permission.
“I just don’t think—” I start but decide I may as well weigh in on it again, but I’m glad when we’re interrupted by her cell phone ringing.
“It’s Tasha,” she says swiftly, wiping her hands to answer her phone.
I thought I was grateful for the interruption. But on second thought maybe not.
I glance at the huge trolley full of breakfast food, my appetite suddenly waning.
Abby stuns me by putting her phone on speaker, her appetite seemingly unaffected by anything this morning.
Both Abby and Tasha start speaking at the same time, Abby smiling fondly.
How can I choose between Abby and Tasha? I can’t and I suddenly realize I don’t have to.
Those two are best friends forever, whether they like it or not. If I didn’t know for sure before I know it now.
“Tasha, just tell me you’re safe,” Abby says, talking over her best friend.
My ears feel relief as well as my heart when I hear my daughter answer.
“I’m okay, Abs. Don’t be silly. I’m just mad as hell with my dad right now is all… And what is it with you two anyway? I thought it was the tattoo thing but…” she trails off. Another voice can be heard, in the background wherever she is, followed by her laughter.
“I guess I’ve got something to tell you,” Tasha giggles, lowering her voice and sounding like she’s moving someplace more private.
Abby shoots me a look that lets me know I’m hearing everything that two girls would usually talk about and I might not like what I’m about to hear.
I take my cue and head for the bathroom instead, giving both girls a little privacy. Figuring I’ve already stalked Abby and eavesdropped on them both quite enough for one lifetime already.
But damn. Why is Tasha so happy, even if she’s mad at me? I thought she was mad at Abby too?
I guess real friends can’t stay mad for long, I tell myself, shaking it off until I hear Abby scream in shock.
“No way!” she shrieks again as I rush back into the room. “No way!”
Abby’s taken the phone off speaker, and this dad finds himself locked out of the conversation.
For now.
Turning on my heel and grumbling just a little, I settle for a hot shower.
The powerful jets of water drown out Abby and her conversation with Tasha, but I’m startled in a good way when Abby slides in next to me under the steaming water.
Her body instantly slips against mine as we kiss in silence before taking turns to lather and rinse each other off.
I don’t mention Tasha or her phone call, but once we’ve showered and I find my appetite returning, I’m munching loudly on the cold breakfast dishes while Abby spills her guts. Giving me all the gossip I can already sense I don’t want to hear.
I hold my hand up, signaling Abby to skip the part where Tasha’s still mad at me for threatening her ex-boyfriend, but before she even says it, I know it's coming.
“Tasha and Brad… Well… they got back together,” she gushes, ignoring my groan as I try not to ball my hands into fists.
“And how is that good news?” I ask, wondering what Abby’s so happy about it. “I thought you disliked Brad?”
“I do. I mean… I did,” Abby corrects herself, and then I see it.
A look in her eyes and face as she remembers just who it is she’s talking to.
I’m Tasha’s dad, not some girl at a sleepover.
“Uh, shoot,” Abby says to herself, red in the face because she knows she can’t not tell me now, she’s come this far.
“Well?” I go on, folding my arms, trying to look serious as I sit across from her butt naked still.
“Now, Slade. Don’t get mad…” Abby says, putting on a voice that I just know means she has news that’s gonna have me blowing my stack.
“Abby,” I growl, not angry at her, but letting her know I don’t want games right now.
She looks pained to say it and twists her mouth, wringing her hands as she tries to find the words.
If Tasha being back with Brad isn’t the worst news, then I dread to think what… Oh no… Oh god, anything but that…
“I just thought Tasha had already… I mean, I thought last night was only my first time…” Abby stammers, trailing off as my mood darkens as black as the night.
“Wait. Did you tell Tasha that we?” I manage to ask, but Abby is already shaking her head.
“Oh god no,” she snaps, rolling her eyes. “It’s just that I always thought Tasha had done it years ago. Turns out last night. She and Brad…”