NATE
“Dad,do I really have to do this?” Evan whined from the passenger seat for the third time since we left the apartment and started toward the beach. “It’s a Saturday.”
“You do,” I repeated for the third time. “And I know it’s a Saturday, just like I know it wouldn’t matter what day of the week it is because you’re still grounded.”
“For three more days,” she whined. “You could have been cool and let me off early.”
“Ah, but I’m not the cool, fun dad. I’m the lame dad.” I shot her a wink that made her snort.
“Believe me, I know. You’re totally old and nerdy.” A teasing smile pulled at her lips, and just the sight of it made my chest feel light. She was still grouchy most of the time, there was no denying that, and I still couldn’t do most things right, but it was like a veil had lifted over the past week or so, and I was starting to see flashes of my girl again. “It’s embarrassing, really. When I’m an adult, I’m going to put you in one of those old folks’ homes so I don’t have to deal with you anymore.”
“I feel the love,” I deadpanned as I made the left turn the GPS indicated.
“Holy crap,” Evan breathed, giving voice to exactly what I was thinking as we pulled up to Luna’s house. My daughter leaned forward to get a better look through the windshield as I parked behind Luna’s car and hit the button to kill the engine. “This place is sick. The water is like, right there.” She pointed out the passenger window to the stretch of sandy beach the houses backed up to. “It’s big too.” Her shoulders sank with that realization, the excitement of the beach being only yards away drying up. “This is going to take forever to clean.”
“And remember, no cutting corners” I reminded. “You do it right the first time, or you start over again.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she mumbled. “I got it.” She grabbed the handle and climbed out of the car just as the front door opened and Luna stepped onto the porch.
A fist slammed into my chest at the sight of her. The bright, cheerful sunshine hit her hair, making it look like waves of fire. Dressed for a casual, relaxing Saturday at home, she wore a pair of cutoff-jean shorts that showed off those long legs with miles of that creamy magnolia-white skin. She had on a faded concert tee with Guns and Roses’ logo on the front, knotted just above the waistband of her shorts. Lastly, her feet were tucked into a pair of those ridiculously ugly bright pink Crocs.
There was something about seeing Luna like this, comfortable in her own skin and on her turf, the picture of relaxation, that drew me to her like a moth to a flame. I’d planned to drop Evan off and be on my way, but instead, I followed my daughter’s lead and got out, trailing behind her as she started up the crushed shell driveway.
This was the Luna I’d met that first night at the bar. The real Luna, in her element, and it was just as intoxicating now as it had been in that dive bar.
She surprised me even further by smiling at Evan with ease. “Hey, you guys made it. Hope you found it okay.”
“Yeah, it was easy,” Evan answered, her voice slightly timid but a lot curious. “So, you live on the beach. That’s pretty cool.”
Luna’s smile grew even bigger. “Well, not right on it. There’s a greenbelt between the property lines and the beach in this neighborhood, but it’s pretty small.”
From what we could see around the front of the house, that greenbelt couldn’t have been more than thirty yards wide.
“Now, my friend Cheyanne, her place is literally on the beach. You walk out her back gate and you’re standing on sand.”
Evan blinked. “Yeah, but your place is really nice, too. We just live in a small apartment. You can see the water from our balcony, but only because we’re on the third floor. Otherwise, the view would be of a parking lot.”
“I said it’s temporary, didn’t I?” I chimed in, bumping Evan’s shoulder with mine. “When we pick a place, we have to pick it together so we’re both happy.”
Evan took a rocking step back and looked up at the house again, mumbling, “Wouldn’t mind a place like this. But only if I didn’t have to clean it.”
Luna let out a low, throaty chuckle that did things to my insides that were not good, given our current situation. “Yeah, well, other than this once-a-month gig we have going on, who do you think cleans this place? Speaking of, I pulled out everything you need and placed it by the front door.” She pointed at the flowerbeds lining the porch. I’m going to be messing around out here so I’m not in your way.” One brow went up. “I’m assuming, given you’re more than old enough, I don’t need to follow behind you to make sure you do a good job?”
Evan’s cheeks flushed, her head lowered. “No, ma’am.”
“Okay, then the clock starts now. Also, I have some Cokes in the fridge. Feel free to grab one if you want.”
“Thanks.” Evan lifted her hand in a wave as she glanced over her shoulder. “Bye, Dad.”
“Bye, sweetheart. See you in a few hours. Love you,” I called when she disappeared across the threshold, closing the door behind her with a thud.
All I heard in response was, “Uh-huh.” I remembered when I’d been around her age and it stopped being cool to tell my folks I loved them or give my mom a kiss on the cheek when there were other people around. I’d never thought about Evan reaching that stage until I woke up one day and she was in it. It had crushed me then, and it still did now.
I hadn’t realized I was still staring at the closed door separating me and my kid until Luna spoke. “They grow out of that phase, you know,” she said, pulling me back into the present. When I looked at her, she tipped her head to where I’d been rubbing the ache in the center of my chest with the heel of my palm without realizing I was doing it. “The whole, I’m-too-cool-to-show-my-parents-affection phase. I’m sure you know that already. I went through the same thing. Only lasted a couple years.”
“Same,” I grunted. “Still, it hurts like hell when it happens. I wasn’t prepared.”
She shrugged and moved across the porch to the railing, resting her back end on it and crossing her ankles. “That means you care. That’s a good thing. You know, if you’re worried about leaving her here alone with me, it’s a waste of your time. I wouldn’t do anything to risk my chances at free labor.”