“Karly, the home was already wrecked, and you had no part in the wrecking.”
I know that. Eric knows that. Everybody, I think, knows that. Yet, still, I feel like I’m harboring this dirty secret. One that will wreck it all.
“Now, let’s go eat. I’m positively malnourished at this point.” He winks.
I do my best to contain the butterflies that have decided to erupt in my stomach and help slide to clubs into the back of the truck.
At the restaurant, Lainey and Eric already have a table, so dad and I make our way inside to join them, and for the most part, it’s painless.
Dad and Lainey tease each other about her distaste for sports in general, and for the most part I try to be silent. I ordered a stack of waffles but have yet to touch them due to the fact that I’ve already downed three mimosas trying to calm my nerves.
Are you okay?
Eric mouths at me from across the table, his dark blue eyes matching his half-zip sweater. The sleeves are pushed up, making me nearly salivate at his forearms.
What the hell is wrong with me? I’m drooling over the man’s forearms! Get a grip, Kar.
I nod at him, finishing off my drink, but that isn’t enough for him. He’s too good of a guy to let me sit here while he wonders if something is bothering me.
“Did something happen?”
His question is directed at me, completely unfazed by the fact that my father is still sitting here, or anyone at all for that matter.
“Yes.” “No.” My father and I respond in unison, followed by his side glare.
Eric stares at me and everyone at the table waits for my response. So instead, I dig into my purse and pull my phone out, sliding it roughly to the center of the table.
3 missed calls.
Eric picks the phone up, his face turning sympathetic.
“We’re gonna talk to her, Jolene. I promise.”
Lainey smirks before taking her fork and grabbing a bite of my waffles. She chews it and stares at us like she’s watching a movie and eating her popcorn.
“What?” Eric asks her.
My dad immediately followed up his question, “Yeah, let’s hear it, kid.”
“Nothing,” she shrugs. ‘
“No,” I snap, “You look like you are enjoying this, so by all means, spit it out.”
Eric elbows Lainey as she begins to grin.
“God, ya’ll are so moody. All I was going to say is that you’re both adults. If you wanna fuck each other, then what should that matter to anyone else? And since I’ve already opened my mouth, I’ll just follow that up with, sometimes, we don’t have a choice in who we love. It’s not like you can just turn it off. Hanna’s ass should know that firsthand. I feel like y’all are worried for no reason.”
Everyone, including myself, gapes at her.
“What?” She sasses, popping another bite of my waffles into her mouth.
Eric doesn’t respond. He just slides his hands down his face in horror.
“Don’t be dramatic, E. You both know I’m right.”
Dad busts out in laughter, offering Lainey a high five, “I like her. She’s sassy.”
Well, I guess her statement does explain where her stance is on the whole thing. I’m not sure why I really expected her to be anything other than team Eric. I laugh when I remember Hanna’s reservations about having Lainey babysit Ellie.