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chapter eight
Reid
I’m late getting back to the house on Wednesday, my doctor’s appointment running long. I hate getting bloodwork done, not because I’m squeamish about needles or blood, but because every time something gets checked, there’s the possibility of getting bad news. It’s a little pessimistic, considering my otherwise positive views on most things, but I figure it’s okay to have a few areas in life that are less than perfect.
Shoving out of my truck, I drop down onto the dusty drive, slam the door, and walk through the clearing between our two cabins, straight up onto Busy’s deck. There’s no use going into my house, looking for Sydney, stepping out onmydeck, and calling her name when I know exactly where she is—where she has been on the handful of days I’ve left her at home over the past few weeks that Busy and Junie have lived in the cabin next door.
Junie’s sweet giggles escape from the open windows, and I stand at the edge of the deck, just listening to the sound.
“You’re a princess,” I hear her say.
“Oh,amI?” Busy replies, her tone teasing. “I thought I was the queen.”
“Granna’s the queen.”
At that, Busy bursts into laughter. “She certainly is, isn’t she?”
I lean back against the wooden siding, knowing I should just head in and get my dog and call it a night, but for whatever reason, I just want to stay here for a minute. Maybe two.
It’s been a few days since our near-kiss, and my hope is that enough time has passed that we can move past it without causing any kind of rift. I truly enjoy my time with Busy and Junie, and I don’t want the fact that I’m attracted to her to fuck up this burgeoning friendship we have developing.
I listen to them playing whatever princess game they’re enjoying for five minutes. Something in my soul feels soothed by it, then just as I tell myself it’s time to head in, I hear a phone chime.
“Hey.”
I’m instantly on alert at the sound of Busy’s voice getting sharp, the muscles in my body going taut as I shift my head, listening for her next words.
“No, Jay. That’s not what we…”
She trails off, but only a few beats pass before she’s talking again.
“What do you mean you’re not going to come?” Her voice drops slightly, becoming hushed. “It’s herbirthday. You said you would be here.”
I grit my teeth. I can only assume this is Junie’s dad. The only thing I know about the guy is that he obviously let Busy get away, which was very clearly his first mistake. Now, I’m starting to feel like I might have some inkling of the type of man he is.
“Ofcourseshe’ll care,” she continues. “Someday, she’s going to look back on these moments and she’s going to see that her dad wasn’t there.” A pause. “Itdoesmatter, and you saying it doesn’t is just your way of trying to make yourself feel less guiltyfor wanting to drink yourself into a coma on a holiday weekend instead of spending time with your daughter.”
My fists clench.
Yeah. I knowexactlywho this guy is.
“Okay, so what if I move her birthday party? It doesn’t have to beonthe Fourth.”
More silence, and something inside me knows whatever it is the guy is saying, it isn’t what a fathershouldbeing saying.
“Fine, Jay. Fine. You want to make up excuses? That’s your choice. But your daughter misses you, and that’s a truth you’re going to have to live with.”
A few more beats pass and I don’t hear Busy speak again, so she’s either hung up on the guy or moved into a different room. Quietly, I step down off her deck, giving myself a minute to collect myself before I noisily step back up and cross over to the door, hoping she thinks I’m just arriving.
When I look through the screen, though, I don’t see anyone.
“Knock, knock,” I call out.
Junie comes barreling around the corner wearing a purple gown that’s about three sizes too big, a crown on her head and a wand in her hand, Sydney following dutifully behind her. “Misery!” she shouts, giving me a big smile as I open the door and step inside.
I tilt my head to the side, amused but also wondering where she learned that word.
“Hi, Junie Bee.”
