Page 37 of Crush
But Brynn emphatically shook her head no. “Sorry, Shea, but I don't think so. Showing Chloe was embarrassing enough.”
“You two never tell me anything,” I griped, but with a grin.
The three of us sat, shoulder-to-shoulder, listening to Chloe's music.
“Well, this is nice, isn't it, girls? What's this music?”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “It's Vampire Weekend.”
“Neat. What's that mean?”
“It's the name of the band.”
“Yeah, but whatisa vampire weekend?”
“I don't know! It's just the name they gave themselves!” Chloe huffed. “Is there areasonwhy you came in here, Dad?”
“Well, yeah. I wanted to saybyeto my lovely daughter before I went to play my game.” I kissed her on the top of her head.
“Uh huh.” Chloe stared at me skeptically. She could see right through me. She knew there was more.
I cleared my throat. “And, uh, I wanted to remind you that the players' gala is tonight, and I know you keep saying no—but this is your last chance to be my date!”
Her face scrunched up. “I told you when you first asked me—there's no way I'm going to that lame thing again. Besides, Mom is picking us up soon and we're spending the weekend with her.”
“I can drop you off at your mom's house after the gala. It's atraditionfor us, Chloe! And I thought it'd be a good way for us to spend some time togeth—”
“Dad! How many times do I have to tell you? I don't want to go to that thing! I'm too old for it! And it's so freaking weird that you want to bring yourdaughterto a formal ball that everyone else brings their wives to!”
A silence came over us. Even the music stopped playing as the album reached its end. I could see it in Chloe's face: she resented the fact that she had to use lethal force on me, but I hadn't left her a choice.
With a defeated sigh, I climbed to my feet. “Okay. I hear you. Loud and clear.”
I made my way for the door.
“Dad … wait …” Chloe sounded apologetic.
I kept walking. “It's okay, sweetheart. No hard feelings.”
“No—Dad—wait!”
I started to close the door behind me. “Really, Chloe, it's okay. I don't want you to feel like you have to go.”
“Dad,” Chloe blurted out, “you should take Brynn.”
I froze in the doorway. Iwould'velaughed at Chloe's idea, had Brynn shot the idea down immediately.
But she didn't.
“TakeBrynn?” I repeated, my eyes searching Brynn's for some hint or clue how to feel about that idea.
Brynn's gaze never broke from mine. She looked just as startled as I did—and she was searching my face for an answer.
“Yeah!” Chloe nudged Brynn with her elbow. “You're free tonight, aren't you? Since us kids are going to my mom's.”
Brynn stammered for words. “Well—ah—yes, I'd be free … but—I couldn't butt in.”
Chloe piped right up. “You wouldn't be butting in at all. The food is amazing, there's an open bar—not that they ever let me anywhere near it—and you get to meet all the Brawlers players and their wives. And everyone's dressed up all fancy andblah blah blah. Look, I won't lie; the galaisfun, but I want a break from going. You'd probably have a really good time, though.”
