Page 136 of Anyone But Her

"So you're going back to San Diego?"

"Just for a few days."

"I think that'd be good." He stands up, so I do as well. "I should be going. I just wanted to give you an update on what I'd found out in case your father had contacted you, but maybe the whole thing will go away."

"I doubt it, but I might as well try the easy route before getting lawyers involved."

He takes out his wallet. "You need to get a hotel for tonight."

"Lou, no. I'm not taking your money. You've already done enough for me. Pat said I could crash at his place tonight so maybe I'll do that. And in the morning I'm leaving for San Diego."

He puts his wallet away. "Good luck. Let me know how it goes."

"Thanks, Lou. For everything you've done for me."

"You're welcome." He starts to walk off.

"Wait." I catch up to him. "I know I probably shouldn't ask this but I'm going to anyway because, well...I'm just going to ask."

"What is it?"

"Is there any way you'd let Taylor go with me to San Diego? I'd rather not go there alone. I'm already nervous about talking to my dad and then I'll need to stop over at Albert's house, which I haven't been in since I left. It's going to be hard to see it without—"

"Yes," Lou says. "If she agrees to it, then yes. She can go with you."

I stare at him, thinking he must be kidding but he seems completely serious.

"Thank you, Mr. Tuckerman," I say before he changes his mind. "I promise I'll keep her safe and get her whatever she needs. And I'll make sure she checks in with you and—"

"Luke." He sets his hand on my shoulder. "Calm down. I'm not going to yell at you for dating my daughter. We've had a lot of talks back at the house since you've been gone and apparently I'm the only one who had a problem with you being with Taylor. I'm still not totally on board with it given that I see you as a son but my wife assures me I'll eventually come around," he smiles, "meaning I have no choice but to come around or Barb will give me hell. But in all seriousness, you do need to regain my trust. I don't like being lied to, especially when it involves my family."

"I know, and I'm sorry it happened that way. I wish we could've just told you the truth. Looking back, I would've lived in my car this whole time if it meant I could be with Taylor without having to lie about it. I love your daughter, Mr. Tuckerman, more than anything else."

"If that's true, you might actually be my son someday, so stop calling me Mr. Tuckerman." He chuckles. "It's Lou."

"Got it."

"Goodbye, Luke. See you when you get back." He walks off.

I get out my phone and call Taylor. When she picks up, I say, "You want to go on a road trip?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I want you to go to San Diego with me. I'm going there to talk to my dad and check on Albert's house and maybe talk to that lawyer in person since he isn't calling me back."

"Um, I'd love to but there's no way my dad would let me."

"I've already talked to him. He said it's okay."

"You talked to my dad? When?"

"Just now. He came to see me. We talked about stuff and I asked him if you could go with me to San Diego. He said you could if you agreed to it. So will you go with me?"

"Of course I will! My dad really doesn't care if I go?"

"He's fine with it. I think your mom might've had something to do with that."

"I told you my mom loves you. So what else did you say to my dad?"

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