Page 27 of No More Love Songs

“I’m heading over toManny’s. Think you can keep an ear out for Sky since it’s her first day and she’s the only one over there?” I ask Ari when I finally find her. She’s sitting on my bed, using my laptop and blasting my stereo. It’s been hard to establish boundaries with just the two of us and so little reason to maintain them. But I still try. “Also, why are you in here?”

She glances around like it’s a weird question. Then she points at the dogs all camped out on my bed right along with her. “I didn’t feel like being alone and I couldn’t sway even one of them to come to my room,” she huffs. We’re constantly battling for favorite human around here. I’ve been on a winning streak for weeks now, so I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before she sways them in her favor again and my bed winds up being empty for a month or so.

“Of course, the dogs.” I arch an eyebrow at her. “And my laptop versus yours?”

“Geography,” she says flatly. “It was already here, and I didn’t feel like going to get mine.”

Yeah. Could have guessed that one too. “So, Sky?” I get back around to my original request.

“Why don’t you just take her with you?” she suggests, nonchalantly returning her attention to her screen. “She might like checking out town. And you enjoy her company.”

I roll my eyes, a wasted gesture since she’s ignoring me. “Ari, I don’t know what crazy ideas are cooking inside your pubescent brain, but I assure you, they don’t match up with any the grownups are having.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She looks up at me. “Also, that was ageist. Why are you acting like my crazy ideas have anything to do with my age? I’m sure my ideas will be no different when I’m a hundred than they are now.”

I could argue, but I don’t suppose it would do much good. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to be ageist. I was merely trying to let you know that this situation doesn’t lend itself to any sort of parent trap scenario.”

She folds her bottom lip out and leans her head to the side, like she’s thinking. “I don’t know, Dad. This might be the exact sort of parent trap scenario. If you recall, the adults in that story didn’t know what the hell they were doing either.”

“Wow.”

She grins. “I’m kidding.” Then she shrugs casually and gets back to her essay for real. “I wasn’t suggesting you date her. I just thought it would be cool if we were actually friends with her, you know, even after she leaves the lodge.”

If she’s still faking, I can’t tell. But it doesn’t matter. “I’m not really concerned with that far in the future. You know me, Ari. I don’t like to commit to anything that isn’t happening in the moment.”

She just nods. She’s heard this speech about a million times. Mostly because it’s one spot where our personalities completely differ. Ari would love nothing more than to have at least a year’s worth of time scheduled out. Hell, she’s nowhere near graduation, but she already knows exactly where she’s getting her first apartment when she moves out. “So, you’ll check on Sky?” I try one more time to get confirmation.

“Yes, I’ll check on Sky.” She grins. “I’m much better at making new friends than you are anyway.”

I make a face, but I don’t get into it with her. “Thanks.”

I’m halfway down the hall when I hear the thud of a dog jumping to the floor followed by paw pads moving over the hardwood headed my way and Ari’s distinct hiss, “Traitor!”

When I turn to look, Jack, our German Shepherd is hustling to catch up with me. “Coming for a ride?” She speeds up moving past me and to the stairs in response. I’m not at all surprised to find her sitting at the door waiting for me when I get there.

“Come on then,” I open the door and gesture for her to lead the way. “A drive will be good for both of us.”

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