Page 10 of Trapped and Tackled

“I won’t judge you.” Dad pauses. “Too hard anyway.”

I snort. “I’m sure.”

He grins, then shakes his head. “We all make mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them. But Craig, he seemed solid. A smart, ambitious, reliable man.”

“Yeah,” I whisper, my throat tightening. “He seemed like a lot of things.”

Dad stares at me curiously before polishing off his T-bone.

Before he can press me further, I blurt out, “Marlowe’s celebrating her birthday at Toby’s parents’ place on the lake in a few weekends.”

Dad quirks an eyebrow.

“Your house, your rules…” I prompt, letting him know that I’m looking for him to give me the go-ahead even though I hardly need it.

He sighs and wipes a palm over the lower half of his face. “She’s still with Toby, huh?”

“On and off,” I confirm.

Dad nods. “Let me think about it.”

“Dad—”

“I know you don’t need my permission, Len, but I appreciate you checking in anyway. Just, let me think things over, okay?”

“Okay,” I agree as the server stops at the end of the table.

Dad asks for the check and settles the bill.

We ride home together, listening to some throwback music and talking easily. When we enter our house, Dad kisses the top of my head and disappears into his office.

I find a note from Mom that she joined a friend for dinner since Dad and I went out for a bite.

Sighing, I plop down on a barstool at the kitchen island and pull out my phone. Life here is quieter…simpler…than it was in the city. There, I felt a need to keep up appearances.

My evenings were spent preparing for Craig to return from work. I used to cook his favorite meals and try my hand at crafting cocktails. I would set the table with a different aesthetic or play with my makeup and hair.

I kept thinking that if I could get it right, be what he wanted me to be, things would get better.

I practically burned out from trying so hard and things only worsened.

This is a fresh start. A new beginning.

I drop into my bed and stare up at the ceiling. I always wanted to be an event planner, a wedding planner, specifically. To help create a vision for two people on the brink of creating one life. To celebrate their love.

My friends used to tease me for being a hopeless romantic.

These days, I just feel hopeless.

Sighing, I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.

“Wake up, Leni Lou!” Mom tugs the curtains in my room wide open, letting the sunlight stream in.

“Mom!” I groan, clapping a hand over my face.

I sit up groggily and glare at her.

She beams and claps her hands together. “I have the perfect project for you to get out of this funk.”

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