Page 14 of Just Another Meet Cute
“Thanks, Dad.”
The table got quiet again. So quiet that I almost wished that Aunt Sarah were here. She always knew how to steer the conversation. Or drop a bomb to completely change the subject. She and Linh had that in common.
Clearing my throat, I passed Dad the bread plate. “I know Linh had to work late today, but where’s Aunt Sarah?”
“Oh, she had a meeting with the homeowners association tonight.” Mom reached out to clasp each of our hands. Her fingers tightly held on. “I thought it would be nice to have dinner together. Just the three of us. Isn’t it nice?”
What was she talking about? We always ate together. Even though Dad had his own place, he slept over practically every night and hung out onweekends. His other apartment was basically a giant storage unit that he left his stuff at.
As usual, Dad nodded. “Sure, honey.”
She turned her expectant gaze toward me, so I offered her a weak smile that wasmyusual. “Sure. Nice.” I struggled to tug my hand out of her tight grasp. “Uh, Mom? Could I have my hand back? I still need to finish eating.”
“Sorry!” She dropped my hand like a heavy weight. “I am surprised that you’re home for dinner, Nina. Didn’t you have a date today?”
Oh, crap. I forgot that I told Mom that the date was today. After spending so much time at the coffee shop, I barely knew what day it was.
“Uh, we decided to go out next week instead. Ryan had a family thing.” I jabbed at the carrots on my plate until they turned into mush. “It’s not a big deal.”
Mom nodded, but Dad leaned against the table with a frown. “I thought his name was Ian?” he asked. “I mean, that’s what your mom told me.”
Ducking my head, I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Uh, no. His name is Ryan. Maybe Mom heard me wrong. Or she didn’t remember.”
Dad still looked confused, but Mom waved her hand and laughed. “Ian. Ryan. It doesn’t matter what his name is as long as your date goes well. And remember, you promised to bring him home sometime.”
“Uh, right.” My appetite was definitely gone now. I picked up my plate and stood up. “Can I go? I need to … call Ryan back.”
Thankfully, she nodded. “Go ahead and leave the plates. Your dad and I will clean up.”
Once I was safely in Linh’s room, I let out a heavy sigh and sat down on the edge of her bed. My fingers poked at the lacy holes in her cream quilt.
To be honest, I hated lying to Mom. We used to be really close before Dad came back into our lives. Sometimes she would even sign me out of school early so that we could hang out. Whether it was spending the afternoon at the bookstore or going to the movies and staying for two or three of them. Sometimes we just went home to bake cookies and talk.
And she was so easy to talk to. Sheunderstoodme, almost better than I understood myself, without any judgment. Back then Mom would have easily been the first person I told about Ryan. Heck, she would have been on her laptop next to Linh helping me track him down. Before Dad, we had each other.
Before Dad …
Sometimes I still couldn’t understand how she adapted so quickly from our life with Aunt Sarah, Bá, and Linh to a life with Dad and me. How she could forget everything he did to her. To us. She just rewrote history and was happy. Because she wasreallyhappy.
Somehow.
And that was the only reason I went along with everything. Why I kept my mouth shut and smiled as, day by day, the two of us became the two of them. And I was left on the side like a forgotten, wilted side salad.
Maybe it was better this way. I’d be going to college soon (hopefully), and it’d be Mom and Dad together anyway. They’ll retire to some beach condo where Mom can do yoga on the balcony during the sunrise. And they’llcontinue their traditional Friday date nights when they’re not hanging out with their new neighbors.
And I’ll be … well, I had no clue where I’d be or what I’d be doing. As usual. The uncertainty seemed extra heavy tonight. My stomach churned, and I didn’t know if it was the usual nerves again or if I was hungry. Probably a bit of both. I didn’t really eat much dinner.
Letting out a tired sigh as I pushed the doubts out of my mind, I shoved my laptop, charger, and noise-canceling earphones into my bag and set my alarm for seven a.m. The laundromat opened at eight, and I didn’t want to risk missing Ryan tomorrow. He looked like the type of person who woke up early.
Honestly, I didn’t really feel like going back to the coffee shop. I’d had so much coffee the past couple of days that it was practically seeping out of my pores by now. I could sweat caffeine instead of, well, sweat.
Just one more day left. Ryan was bound to be there tomorrow.
Hopefully.
As I watched the sun set over the trees behind the laundromat, I finally accepted defeat and shoved my laptop into my bag. I wasn’t even sure what I was thinking. This was a horrible plan from the start. Like super senseless. Rash. Moronic. A half-baked plan.
I had time to work on a couple of crossword puzzles while I waited.
