The front door slammed, and I heard Daddy calling my name from the living room. I dropped the brush down on my dresser, threw my hair up in a ponytail and ran down the stairs.
“Hey, Daddy.” I ran up and wrapped my arms around him giving him the biggest hug. It was rare that he was home without Anna. “I have the movie all picked out, I was just about to place an order from China King.”
“We’re not staying in, my love,” Dad said pulling me against him.
I pulled out of his embrace and looked up at him. “What do you mean?”
“Well, we are meeting Anna and her son, Logan, for dinner.”
I felt that familiar little friend, jealousy, creeping back into my body and I couldn’t help the discouraged look that came across my face. I was less than thrilled about spending any more time with Anna. I was tired of all my father’s time being monopolized by her.
“Why? I thought this was supposed to be our night.” I stomped my foot. Another surge of jealousy ran through me. I was my father’s princess, had been since I was born. I didn’t want to share him with her anymore, I’d shared him all summer.
“Leah, listen, I have been alone for a long time. I’m happy, and let’s be honest and serious for a moment, you will not be around forever. Once you’re done high school, the whole world will be in front of you. I’m sure you will move out—maybe even out of the city—then what will I do. This is a good thing for me, Leah.”
“Why does this dinner have to happen tonight?”
I watched him take in a deep breath before he spoke. When his eyes met mine, I knew something bad was coming. “We have something we want to tell you both at the same time.”
“What if I don’t want to go?” I crossed my arms and took a step back.
“Leah, you are going!” He looked at me, but I glared back.
“I’m not having dinner with her and her son. End of story.” I flopped down on the couch and turned on the TV.
“Young lady, get yourself up. You don’t want to eat, that is fine, but we are going. You will be pleasant this evening too, understand? I won’t have it any other way, now let’s go.”
I didn’t move, I could feel the tears building in my eyes as my father looked at me and said, “I will be in the car, you have five minutes.”
Dad turned and walked out the front door, he was serious. I sat there for the full five minutes until I saw my father get out of the car and start making his way toward the front door. I knew if he came into this house to get me I would be grounded. So I got up, locked the front door and joined my father in the car.
THREE
Logan
“Logan, honey, this is Leah. Joe is just out parking the car,” said my mother.
I looked up from my phone. I recognized her instantly, the same girl who for the past year had stared at me every morning as I made my way back to my locker, and who sat in the bleachers every football practice. She was the prettiest girl I had ever seen. Her long red hair framed her face and fell softly down her back, her green eyes stood out against her dark black sweater. She had perfectly bowed lips and a cute button nose.
“Hi, Logan,” she said smiling back at me.
I didn’t answer instead I glared at my mother, pretending I didn’t want to be here even though I wanted nothing more than to sit and stare at Leah all night. “How long do we have to be here?”
My mother’s face dropped, I could tell I disappointed her in my behavior. “Logan, sit up straight and put that phone away right now. You will be here as long as I determine,” she said through clenched teeth and sat down.
Joe approached the table and sat down beside my mom which meant I had no choice but to sit beside Leah. I watched as he leaned in and kissed my mother before opening his menu. “What you going to have, Logan?” Joe asked.
“I’m not hungry,” I said shoving my menu off to the side.
My mother took one look at me and stood up. “Please excuse us for a moment.”
I could feel all eyes on me as I got up and followed my mother outside. As soon as we were out of earshot from people walking into the restaurant, she turned toward me. “Logan, I will not tell you again to smarten up. You are doing a fantastic job of making yourself look foolish.”
“I don’t want to be here. I don’t like him, Mom, and I couldn’t care less about Leah.”
“Well, in life you have to go places you don’t want to go. So, you have ten minutes to change your mind, Logan. I’ve had enough. You can either eat dinner with us, or you can sit in the car alone until I’m finished. Either way, you will be here until I go home.” She didn’t give me a chance to respond, instead she walked into the restaurant leaving me standing outside. I could see the embarrassment and disappointment all over her face and that was one thing I didn’t like to see. I never disappointed Mom, until now.
I took the full ten minutes to calm myself down before walking back inside. As I made my way back to the table, I saw her green eyes watching me. “You better now?” Leah whispered, leaning into me just enough that I caught a whiff of her perfume. “I don’t want to be here either if that makes it better.”