Page 20 of Casita Casanova
Danielle hisses in a breath and I realize what I’ve done.
My daughter’s face falls. “What?”
Shit. I wasn’t going to tell her about my intentions to sell the beach house until it was absolutely going to happen. She loves this place. She grew up spending every summer here. Half of her memories take place on the coast, and the other half take place in Temecula, in the home her father still lives in. Losing either of these houses would be like watching us separate all over again. Somehow, even though she’d determined that I couldn’t afford the beach house without a renter, she hadn’t made her way to the obvious conclusion. Eventually, I’ll have to sell.
“Honey, I—”
Ari stands so quickly her chair squeaks across the tile, backing away from me when I reach for her. “You can’t sell the beach house.”
“I don’t want to, but—”
“Then don’t.”
I look at Danielle, who offers me a sympathetic smile.
A lot of help she is.
Turning back to Ari, I shake my head sadly. “You’re a smart girl, Arabella. I know you understand that sometimes we’ve got to do things we don’t necessarily want to do.”
Ari scowls, shaking her head. “I’ll talk to Dad, have him give you some money.”
“That ship has sailed.” And asking Eddie for anything is a hard no, a line I refuse to cross.
She tugs her bottom lip between her teeth, eyes narrowed on me as she works through her thoughts. “Okay, then I’ll move back down here and get a job.”
I bark out a laugh, then quickly cover my mouth. “I’m sorry, honey, I didn’t mean to laugh at you. But absolutely not. You’re not quitting school so we can keep the beach house.”
“Why not?”
My eyes widen.Is she serious?“I’m not even going to entertain this idea. You’re staying in school.”
“And you’re, what, going to work seven jobs?” She scoffs and, in an instant, that petulant teenager she used to be replaces the young adult she’s becoming. “That’s insane. You’re too old—” She cuts herself off just a second too late.
I raise my eyebrows.
“Sorry. I mean, like, you’re too old to have seven jobs. That would makeanyonetired.”
I chuckle and give her two thumbs up. “Great save, kiddo. I wasn’t always so old, you know.”
“Bitch, you’re not old now,” Danielle interjects. “We’re in the prime of our lives.” She raises her beer toward me, so I extend my arm and clink mine against hers, then she levels her gaze on my daughter. “You justthinkwe’re old, sugarsnap, because you’re too young to know better.” Danielle winks, then sips from her beer.
“Let’s get back to unpacking.” I push my chair up and stand, trying to change the subject. “Apparently, I need to have a fully furnished and move-in ready casita by Monday.”
Ari smiles smugly. “You’re welcome.”
“I don’t know what you’re smiling about… that’syourroom.”
Ari shrugs. “I’ll stay with Dad some nights, and other nights I’ll sleep in bed with you.”
“Unless hot manifested guy is in bed with your mom—”
“Danielle!”
“Gross, but…” Ari shrugs. “I guess those nights I can couch it.”
“Oh wow, stop. Both of you. There will beno onein my bed but me”—I look down at the mass of golden fur at my feet—“and probably Ribbit.”
His ears twitch and his tail thumps the floor, but he doesn’t lift his head.
