Page 71 of Feint

Wow, we have been here for over an hour now! Time flies when you’re spilling your guts to your mom, I guess.

I nodded. “Yep! He’s probably wondering if we snuck out the window and ditched him.”

We walked back outside, hugging each other, and were greeted with the sight of Dad unloading takeout boxes and bags.

“Okay, so, basically, everything in the fridge I knew how to cook was bad, so I went ahead and ordered steak tacos!”

Then, Dad and I said at the same time, “With extra green sauce.”

We smiled at each other. I happily hopped on a stool, and Dad looked from me to my mom.

“Did you tell her?” he asked with a slightly worried expression on his face, mostly hidden by his smile, but I could tell by his eyes that he was a little worried.

“I did. We don’t give our daughter nearly enough credit sometimes. She has grown up into a fine and levelheaded woman.” Mom squeezed my shoulders again before joining me at the counter.

Dad turned to look at me and smiled. “I already knew that. And I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you myself sooner.”

I shook my head quickly. “No, you don’t have to say sorry, Dad. I know why you paid AJ to leave. I know your heart was in the right place. I love you for that.”

But I couldn’t leave it at that. I hopped back off my chair and ran around to give him the biggest hug, and he hugged me tightly back. I could have sworn somewhere in that hug that he wiped a tear from his eye, but I would never tell a soul. Then, we pulled apart.

“All right, let’s eat these before they get cold!” Dad joked, and we all got our food plated.

We ate and talked and laughed, and my body eventually got tired as the evening went on. Before too long, Mom and Dad looked at each other.

“It might be time for us to go soon. You sure you don’t want to stay over at our place? I can make pancakes in the morning,” Dad said as he pretended to flip an invisible pancake in the air.

I giggled. “I’ll be fine, Dad. And if I need anything, I’ll give you a call right away. But I still might swing by tomorrow for those pancakes, if that’s okay?”

Dad kissed the side of my head. “Of course it’s okay. It’s a father-daughter date!”

I saw my parents off and waved as they drove away. Then, I spent ten minutes making sure every door and window was locked tight downstairs before getting a glass of water and retreating upstairs to my bedroom. I turned on my TV and grabbed my new phone. Mom had taken care of it while I was in the shower earlier. It was newer than my old phone, but all my data had been transferred over. I opened it and set my water down. Kordell had sent me a text.

Kordell

Hey, mama. Got back to the clubhouse. Shit, today was… a lot. You doing good?

I let out a sigh. I was so relieved he’d made it back safely.

Rosalie

Yeah, it was. I’m just happy you didn’t get hurt. I was so worried about you the entire time. And the things they said… I didn’t think I would ever see you again.

Tears threatened my eyes again, and I sat down and wiggled in my covers. But I was even too tired to cry. They never fell, and soon, another ping came from my phone.

Kordell

Going to take a lot more to stop me than someone lower than dirt trying to take my clubhouse position, mama. Don’t worry. You in bed already?

I snuggled into my blankets, lying sideways as I typed my reply.

Rosalie

Yeah, I’m so tired. I feel like I’m going to pass out. I wish you were here. I miss you.

I expected a text in return, but instead my phone rang for a FaceTime. I answered it, still half buried under the blankets.

“Hey, there’s mymamacita. Let me see your face,” Kordell murmured over the phone.

---