Page 89 of Catch the Sun

And then I step away.

Her eyes open slowly, like my words were a drug to her veins. She doesn’t say anything and just watches me retreat as her arms make a languid descent back to her sides, swaying on shaky legs.

“I’ll be over at five thirty tomorrow night,” I say, my voice gravelly as I saunter over to her bedroom door. “You’re not coming over for dinner. I’m taking you out.”

“Max—”

I don’t let her argue and walk out of the room, all while pretending like that tiny kiss to the side of her head wasn’t the greatest moment of my life.

Chapter 21

Max

I towel off my shower-damp hair as I make my way out of the dingy bathroom off the hallway. Tools are scattered at my feet. Tarps are laid out, as if the dirty subfloor needs protection. The house smells like the meshing of sawdust and despair, but there’s a flickering of renewed optimism hovering between these barren walls that feels like a subtle but striking parallel to my relationship with Ella. Chevy helped me work late into the night and I have no clue how I’ll ever manage to repay him. On the flip side, the only trace of McKay I’ve witnessed over the past few days has been around school, which is no surprise. I had a feeling he’d make himself unavailable to help with the reno despite his half-hearted agreement over leftovers last week.

After throwing on a clean button-down and my only pair of dress pants, which I wore to the Fall Fling, I tousle my hair in the mirror with some gel and dab a bit of hand-me-down cologne on my neck and wrists.

There’s a fresh box of condoms sitting on my nightstand.

It’s not like I’m jumping to conclusions or anything, but based on my conversation with Ella yesterday and the electricity that swam between us at school earlier, it’s better to be prepared.

Just in case.

At five thirty, I snatch up my wallet and prepare to head over to Ella’s house to pick her up for our dinner date. I made a reservation at an Italian restaurant downtown. One of my aunts who lives a few towns over gave me a gift card to Roma for my birthday this past September, so it’s the perfect time to use it.

I call out to my father before traipsing down the hall. “I’m going out, Dad. I might be home late.”

Rustling sounds ensue. “Wait, wait…hold up, Maxwell.”

Sighing, I pause in front of his bedroom door. A few seconds pass and thedoor swings open, revealing a sight I never expected to see.

My heart flounders. My eyes flare with surprise.

My father stands before me in a dark-gray suit with freshly styled hair.

He clears his throat and straightens out his emerald tie, a timid smile tipping his mouth. “Well?” he prompts, holding his arms out at his sides. “How do I look?”

I scratch my head then rub a hand down my face. “Um…you look great, Dad. Why are you dressed up?”

“For dinner tonight, of course. Your girlfriend is coming over for brisket.”

“I…” I don’t even know what to say. Not only had I assumed he instantly forgot about the dinner invitation, but I also figured he’d be passed out on sleeping pills or booze. And never in a million years did I expect to see him in a dress suit. My father hasn’t worn anything other than ill-fitted jeans and grimy T-shirts in years. “Dad, I–I canceled the dinner. We don’t have any brisket.”

“Hmm.” His eyes narrow. “I was wondering where you were running off to. Well, no matter. We can make something else. The pantry is stocked with pasta and jarred sauces. I’ll whip it up.”

“We don’t have a pantry. We have a shelf of expired canned food and I haven’t restocked the fridge yet. There’s nothing.” My shock is trumped by terror because he’s serious. But he can’t be serious. I’ll die of embarrassment if Ella comes over here and eats our “limited edition” cans of mystery meat. “We can reschedule. I’ll pick up some fresh groceries tomorrow.”

“Nonsense.” He swoops past me, smelling like McKay’s cologne. “We’ll figure it out. She’ll be here at six o’clock, yes?”

“No, I—”

There’s a knock at the front door.

Kill me now.

I blanch, my skin starting to sweat.

“Oh, she’s early. That’s a shining characteristic, Max. Everyone is late these days with no consideration for others.” Smiling, he hobbles to the front of the house, his aluminum cane clapping along the subfloor.

---