Page 50 of No More Love Songs

“I do recall,” she says, grinning from ear to ear, and I know I’ve been busted. “That’s why we went up to Sky’s room to look for you. Know what we didn’t hear when we went up there? Music.”

I roll my eyes, stalling for time.

“Didn’t hear any talking either,” Rat chimes in.

“Wonder what else you two could have been doing up there. Together. Without her notepad. Or music. Or talking.” Ari’s having way too much fun with all of this. Time to reel her back in.

“Before you get any crazy ideas,” I open, knowing full well she’s already had about a hundred of those just since I walked in the kitchen still wearing the same clothes she saw me in last night, all but confirming her theories, “it is way too soon, to get any crazy ideas.”

“Oh, but crazy ideas are so much fun!” she claps her hands together, jumping up and down like a giddy toddler on a sugar high.

“See, this is where the problems start,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Clearly, you’ve already been spending way too much time with Sky. Because that’s just the sort of thing she’d say too.”

“But it’s true,” she presses on, “you and her, you’re like...something.”

Slowly, I start to nod. “Yes, me and Sky are...something.” What exactly that something will become, should it have the chance to become anything at all, has yet to be defined.

“That’s a big deal, Dad,” she says, sounding suddenly serious. “You should act like it’s a big deal.”

“Ari.” I sigh.

“Dad.” She sighs right back.

“She’s totally right, bro,” Rat piles it on too, batter still stuck in the corner of her mouth. “This is huge.”

“It’s not huge.” Hell, I don’t even believe myself when I say it. “It’s just two people who enjoy each other’s company and intend to do so while they happen to be in the same place.”

“Yeah, except one of those people hasn’t enjoyed the company of a woman in like a decade, so...”

Damn, burned by my own flesh and blood. “It’s like that, huh?”

She bugs her eyes out. “Unfortunately.”

“Until now,” Rat points out, bringing us back full circle.

“So, is she coming into town with us today?” Apparently, Ari’s ready to go from circling to full speed ahead.

“Are you going to make it weird if she does?” I ask, moving on to the coffee maker now that I have the pan on the stove getting hot for them.

“I don’t think you and Sky need me to make it weird,” she says dryly. “But if you’re worried I’m going to start calling her mom or ask about wedding plans, the answer is no, I’m not going to make it weird.”

I hit brew and turn around to face her again. “Good.” I can feel my face stretch beyond the scope of my usual smile. “Because the answer is yes, she’s coming with us today.”

“Yay!” Ari does a little happy dance around the kitchen. Then, she gets serious again. “Okay, first things first. Breakfast!”

“I’m going to let you two handle that.” I’m also not going to point out that it’s more like lunch, since they met my expectations of sleeping ‘til noon and we’re now rounding the corner toward one. Instead, I’m going to get my ass in the shower so I can make it back in time to beat Sky here for coffee. Not that I think all three of them in this kitchen together, one sleep deprived and over caffeinated, the other two overzealous teenage brains, could be cause for any concern. Or potential disaster.

Of course, I realize there’s one saving grace this morning, Mavis doesn’t work on weekends. So there’s no risk she’ll suddenly pop up as I round the corner and also notice I’m still in the same clothes from yesterday.

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