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"Because mom has never been alone a day in her life. It would be good for her to stand on her own two feet for once. She's been in a one-sided marriage for so long; I don't think she would know what a functional relationship is even if she were in one. And though she won't admit it right now, she's still in love with dad," Cammy darts a look up at me. "Does it hurt your feelings when I call him dad?"
I think about it for a second.
It's the name that she grew up calling him, and based on the information that she's told me about how absent he's been in her life over most of her childhood, I know that the name is just what she's used to calling him—not a term of endearment.
"No, it doesn't hurt my feelings. He was there when I wasn't."
Whether he earned the title or not is a different story.
"What should I call you now?"
I hadn't thought about it until she asked.
"Do I call you dad too?" she asks.
"No, not unless you want to. But Uncle doesn't seem right either. How about just Seven… for now until we figure it out? There's no rush."
She beams back at me. "Ok, Seven it is."
Rita brings out our food but it's so busy in the restaurant that she can't stay and chat. She takes off again to grab more orders.
"Are those the only reasons for why you don't want me and your mom together?"
"And because you don't love her anymore… you're in love with Brynn," I just about choke on a bite of my carnitas taco. "Mom doesn't get to ruin your life a second time. And you and I are fine just the way we are, aren't we?"
"Yeah, kiddo," I say, smiling down at her and giving her shoulders a shake. "We're fine the way we are."
In my peripheral, a beautiful brunette catches my eye.
Brynn.
"Excuse me, I have someone I need to talk to."
Cammy looks over in the direction I'm staring and then turns to me and smiles.
"Don't screw it up."
I shake my head. Now I know where Cammy gets it from.
I walk towards Brynn and I see the moment she sees me and then cuts eye contact, pretending she doesn't see me.
I reach out and touch her arm.
"Hey, can we talk?"
Brynn cuts her eye contact to a table that needs clearing.
"Um, I have a lot of work to do. Can it wait until after my shift?"
I see Cammy slide in front of us and quickly start to clear the table that Brynn seems to be worried about.
"I got it. Take your break," Cammy says over her shoulder.
Brynn looks back at me, realizing that she has no viable excuse now.
"Ok, sure I guess."
I lead Brynn by the small of her back out to the front of the restaurant.
