Page 62 of Don't Call Me Daddy
“Here, I got you this. Be careful with the straw. I don’t want whipped cream to get everywhere.” He passes me an iced coffee, and I hesitantly take it.
“What’s this?”
“What does it look like? It’s one of those froufrou coffee drinks all you girls love.”
“You got me a coffee?”
“It’s not a big deal. I was already in the drive-through and figured you’d like something too.” He makes a gesture, waving me off.
My eyes go wide as I take a sip, the rich, sweet flavors exploding on my tongue. “How did you know I loved pumpkin spice?”
“It was a lucky guess.”
“You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you might actually be getting a soft spot for me,” I tease.
He shakes his head and smiles. “Don’t count on it. I was just being nice. I am, in fact, capable of being kind every now and then.”
Silence fills the space between us as I fold my legs in my lap and savor my first PSL of the season. It’s the perfect preview of fall and a far cry from the Phoenix summer heat I’m used to. There’s a nip to the air as trees blow in the breeze, and if I close my eyes, it almost smells like fall.
Fall was always Fern’s favorite season while I was more of a springtime lover. We used to fight about it constantly, whose seasonal preference was superior, but every year, on the first day of PSL season, we made it our little tradition to take a long car ride while we indulged ourselves.
Fern was always the driver while I was the passenger princess with the perfect playlist for every occasion. We’d drive and sing our sappy breakup songs until our tank of gas ran empty. When I look back on it now, it was such a small thing. I never dreamed it’d be one of my last core memories of my sister living pain-free. I wish I could go back and make myself enjoy it just a little bit more, play all Fern’s favorite songs without complaining they were too sad. I wish I could go back and have just a few more minutes with her, hear her laugh or ask her for advice on what I should do with my life.
A painful knot forms in my throat, and I take a swig of my coffee to force it down. The flashbacks come so vividly; even the good memories feel like my heart is tearing open. I can’t afford to let myself go there, not right now.
That’s not what today’s going to be about. I’m checking this box on her list, and I don’t want to feel sad about it.
I swipe away the threat of tears with the back of my hand. I need something to distract me.
I glance over at Leo, who looks hot as sin in his sunglasses, hair wavy and messy, and his day-old stubble. He’s drumming his fingers to the beat of the music, and if I didn’t know any better, I might even say he looks a little relaxed.
When I kick my feet up on the dash, Leo swipes them down, giving me a warning glare, but it fades quickly and is replaced with the slightest twitch of a smile at the corner of his mouth.
I narrow my eyes. “What’s got into you today?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re driving seven miles over the speed limit; you surprised me with an iced coffee …”
He holds up his hand. “In my defense, I was already getting myself one and figured you’d whine if I didn’t get you something too.”
I fold my arms over my chest and look out my window. “That sounds nothing like me.”
He laughs and takes a sip of his own coffee.
“So, where are you taking me? We’ve been driving for a while. I figured we’d just go somewhere close since you’re so terrified to be out there alone.”
“About that …”
I spin to face him. “Yes?”
“We won’t exactly be alone … I sort of invited my family to tag along.” He tilts his head side to side. “Well, they invited themselves when I showed up, looking for camping gear at my parents’ house.” He shrugs. “Either way, there was no stopping them. My parents love camping. They used to make us go all the time when we were growing up. Said it was forced family bonding because we couldn’t escape each other out here.” Henods as he pulls off the road onto a hidden path. “We’ve got a spot that overlooks the waterfall. It’s a Kingsley family secret, so don’t tell anyone, or my parents will disown both of us.”
I gesture like I’m locking my mouth shut. “Don’t worry about me; my lips are sealed.”
We go a little farther underneath the trees until Leo’s satisfied that his car is completely concealed, and then he walks around the car to open my door for me.
“Come on. We’ve got to hike the rest of the way. It’s just about a mile or so.”
