Page 15 of Always Been Yours

“How’re you feeling about seeing everyone tonight?” My dad is wholly focused on the grill, flipping the steaks and corn over. Stella and Daisy didn’t even last long enough to let the grill heat up. I don’t blame them but unfortunately, I’m stuck out here. It isn’t completely horrible. I’m enjoying a cold beer from the local woman-owned brewery and he’s enjoying one of his favorite hobbies.

“What do you mean?”

I know what he means. Of course, I do.

He obviously knows I’ve seen Vivi already. There’s no way my mom could keep that secret even if it hadn’t been work-related. He probably doesn’t know I’ve seen Calypso and Lexi at Brighter Daze but that was a quick interaction.

The girls wanted to get some new books and I may have used that as an opportunity to see the inside of the store for the first time. The big chain bookstore is only fifteen minutes from us, so it wasn’t like I didn’t have another option.

The only people I haven’t seen yet are Asher and Hudson. They’re easily the two I have the least apprehension about reconnecting with. We haven’t stayed as close as I would’ve liked over the years, but we’ve stayed in touch regardless. We went to get lunch about three years ago, only months after Arielle asked for a divorce. Of course, I didn’t mention anything about it then, not even when they asked about my life, or Arielle, or my daughters. It would’ve gotten back to my parents, and I didn’t want anyone worrying about me. Especially not with something that no one could help or change.

Asher should be showing up anytime now. And from what my dad was telling me a few minutes ago, Hudson’s on some solo adventure in Sedona. He’s always been sort of a loner and extremely picky about who he lets into his life, so it doesn’t surprise me. Regardless of his stoic demeanor, Hudson and I were always a little bit closer because of baseball. So I make a mental note to reach out to him sooner than later.

“To see Vivi. Here, in this house. I’m sure it’ll bring up some memories for you.”

Um. Okay. Not exactly what I was expecting. He isn’t usually so straightforward, and I don’t appreciate the knowing look in his eye.

Doing my best to keep my tone even, I say, “I saw her at the vow renewal.”And we all know how well that went.

My dad gives me a small nod. “And I don’t think that went all that well, from what I was able to pick up.”

I stiffen at the blatant call out. “What did youpick up?”

He opens his mouth, but the voice I hear doesn’t come from him.

“G! Man, I was happy to hear you’d be joining us.”

Asher daps me up before turning to my dad, giving him a firm handshake. It doesn’t matter that my dad practically raised them—both of the twins have gone as far as saying that Tim Miller taught them how to be men worth being proud of—he still expects a strong handshake before he pulls you into the loving hug. I’m his legitimate son and I get the same greeting when he isn’t holding his grandchild.

“Even if my mom had allowed me to miss the dinner, I would have still been here.” I shrug, trying to let the guilty undertones of that statement fly off in the light breeze.

“Yeah, our mom didn’t give us much of a choice either. Except Hudson since he’s on his littlefinding myselfjourney. Again.“Asher rolls his eyes in a playful manner but neither my dad nor I can stop the soft chuckles that vibrate our chests. Asher has always been the clingiest of the siblings. It never bothered me much… except when I wanted time alone with Vivi growing up. “I’ll be honest with you,” he says before taking a sip of his root beer—he stopped drinking alcohol a few years ago. “Shetried to plan a last-minute trip, but my mom wasn’t in a compromising mood by that point.”

I lift my eyebrows, shocked that Asher not only told me this but also that she wants to avoid me that bad and we have to work together. I shouldn’t be surprised but I am. I wasn’t expecting us to be friends or for her to have forgiven me necessarily. But it’s beeneightyears since we had last seen each other. Granted, that last time wasn’t worth remembering but I didn’t think she would actively avoid me. That makes me feel like it’s something more. Vivi can bounce back from an argument faster than anyone, especially when she gets some good blows in and the last word. She got both that night. Not that anything I said was particularly pleasant, even if my intentions were good.

“Is she here?”

Asher looks over my dad’s shoulder. “No, Lyp picked me up. She should be out any time now. Lex had to close down the store and Vivi is picking her up.” He takes another sip before his expression morphs into confused amusement. “Dude… Are you sweating?”

“No.” I am. Just a little. I’m suddenly really nervous again. “It’s the humidity. I’m still getting used to the weather out here again.” That’s a lie if I’ve ever told one. Every day I lived in Phoenix, I missed the weather out here. The sea salt air, overcast days when the tide is high, and summer afternoons looking for shells during low tide. The best part is the sixty-to-seventy-degree weather year-round.

Asher and I haven’t talked about my life out there anyof the times we’ve seen each other so he wouldn’t know that I’m lying. That doesn’t stop the skeptical side-eye he gives me.

Unfortunately for me, my dad does know me and is standing right next to us. “Son, it’s sixty-four tonight. Not to mention, I know for afactthat you hated the dry weather in Arizona. It was all you talked about when you came home for a visit.”

My dad and mom have never referred to Phoenix as my home. Even when I was married and owned a townhouse out there. Home has only ever meant Amada Beach. Arielle hated it. It was one of the many reasons that she stopped visiting with me—not that I wanted to mix this part of my life with her. Even if it was always the largest part of my life, outside of my Stella and Daisy.

Calypso sashays out to the patio in that exact moment, saving me from having to poorly avoid more questions.

I’ve never been attracted to Calypso but even a blind man couldn’t deny that she’s as gorgeous as the rest of her family. Her strawberry blonde hair is cut to her shoulders. She’s dressed as if she was ready for a night out in a cropped leather jacket and her red lipstick she started wearing when she was a senior in high school. It warms something in me that she still does, like maybe more things than I anticipated have stayed the same here. I have a lot to catch up on but maybe it won’t be hard to find my place here again.

“Hey, Grady.” She slides up to us, a glass of red sangria in her hand.

“Hey, Calypso.” I give her a side hug before I think too much of it. It’s awkward for half a second, before she gives me a tight squeeze back.

My dad gives Calypso a quick hug and excuses himself to go check on the food inside. He hands me the tongs on his way inside. From the look of apprehension on my face, Calypso must realizethat I don’t want this job. She snickers and snatches them out of my hand.

“Isn’t it a rule when you become a dad you automatically love grilling?”

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