Page 100 of Here's to Tomorrow

24

Rae

“You really don’t need to be here for this, Dad.”

He gives me adon’t go therelook, letting me know he’s staying.

We’re waiting on Hudson to arrive with Joey in tow for our weekend getaway.

I turn to my sister. “Haley, youdefinitelydon’t have to here.”

“What? And miss Dad meeting your boyfriend? Nope, not happening.” There’s a twinkle in her eye because she knows something my dad doesn’t—she knows about Joey. “You’re going to love him, Dad. You two haveso muchin common.”

I flip her off before my dad turns back to me.

“This is the same guy that fixed your car, right?” I nod. “Well, he gets bonus points for that already.”

Good, because he’s going to need them.

The last two weeks have been nothing short of amazing. I’ve spent all my free time with Hudson. I’ve played make-believe with Joey for countless hours and watched an insane amount ofAdventure Time.My favorite moments have been at night when I’m wrapped in Hudson’s arms, falling asleep and falling even more in love with him and Joey.

Now here I am, waiting for him to meet my father and unknowingly help me face my biggest fear. You’d think I’d be more nervous for him to meet my father, but I have it all bass-ackward. The beach terrifies me more.

The doorbell rings and we all freeze.

“I’ll get it!” Haley and I shout at the same time.

We take off racing toward the door, reverting to our childhood years and shoving one another the entire way.

She beats me—barely.

“Hudson! Hello, hello. Come on in!” Haley says, moving out of way.

He looks at me over her shoulder, fear written all over his face. Joey follows him inside.

“I’m Haley, Rae’s sister.” She shakes Hudson’s hand.

“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard great things,” he says with small smile, because I tell him almost daily how crazy my sister is.

Haley bends down and sticks her hand out to Joey next. “And you must be Joey. Such a pleasure to meet you.”

Joey stands tall and takes Haley’s hand, shaking it once before dropping it. “Hi.” Then she spots me and makes a beeline into my waiting arms. “Rae! I am so excited to go to the beach! Dad says that even though we can’t swim, we can still stick our feet in. Right, Daddy?”

“That’s right, bug.”

“Daddy?” my father says, standing in the kitchen doorway. He’s rocking his “dad stance” too.

I clear my throat and set Joey down. “Dad, this is Hudson, my boyfriend. Hudson, this is my father, Ted.” They exchange an awkward handshake. “And this is Joey, Hudson’s daughter.”

My dad looks at Joey and scrunches his nose up. Joey mimics him.

“You’re short,” my dad tells her.

Joey shrugs. “At least I’m not old.”

Hudson, Haley, and I are frozen, unsure how my father’s going to react.

Then, my Dad bursts into laughter and holds his fist out to her. Joey bumps it. “Nice job, kiddo.”

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