Page 7 of Coulda

“Dad! What are you talking about? Rio’s worked for us forever.”

“Exactly. He’s an employee. That’s all.”

Amber shook her head and looked down at the letter in her hand. Only a small zing of excitement zipped through her now at the triumph of landing the exclusive spot in the challenging nursing program. She still wanted to go, but now she was torn.

“I know, Sparky. It’s tough growing up and making the right choices. Going to North Carolina will be exciting and scary at the same time. I have a feeling you’ll find a new posse of friends and maybe even someone special there,” her father suggested, as if he’d read her mind.

“I like my friends here,” she argued.

“They’ll still be your friends. The only person who I haven’t heard is going somewhere after graduation is Harper,” he reminded her.

When Amber nodded, he added, “Don’t you want to share your news with them?”

“I guess. Dad, I don’t understand. You told me to stay away from Rio when I was younger. I get that. I didn’t want to cause problems for him. But I’m eighteen now…”

“And you’re still too young. Don’t cost the man his job, Sparky. You’ll lose interest too quickly, anyway. What’s the longest you’ve ever dated anyone? Four weeks? Is that worth his livelihood?" her father interrupted to point out.

“Dad!”

“Go tell your friends and think about what I’ve said. I think you’ll decide this old man may be right.”

* * *

“What’s wrong?”Harper asked later that evening as the group minus Colt gathered in her basement. He had run home to shower before coming over. Thank goodness.

Maisie and Beau huddled together, studying for an advanced lit test they had tomorrow. From the number of books scattered around them that they frantically thumbed through, it would be a hairy exam.

“Dad warned me off Rio. I’ve never heard him talk like that.”

“And you couldn’t charm him out of being suspicious? You usually have men eating out of your hand,” Harper said with a meaningful look.

“I do not.”

“Girl…”

“Okay, I get my share of attention, but Rio’s always been Rio. Like he’s a part of the family. Besides, he’s got a thousand women lined up at the bar ready to hook up. I can’t compete with that,” Amber pointed out.

“Of course you can.”

“Can I tell you something to keep between you and me?” Amber watched Harper nod before continuing, “He called me something today. I hadn’t ever heard it except in that book.”

“Really? What was it?”

“Little girl.”

Amber could see from the expression that flashed over Harper’s face that her friend instantly remembered the book they’d shared back and forth until it was literally falling apart. It had disappeared from Amber’s pile of books one evening at the bar.

“Likethebook?” Harper whispered.

Immediately, Beau’s chin lifted, and he tuned into their conversation. “The book?” he echoed. “The one I found in the parking lot on my way into school?”

“Yes,” Amber admitted, feeling her face heat a bit.

“I thought we decided to not talk about that book aloud ever again. We just write our notes in the margins,” Maisie pointed out, drumming her fingers on the literature they were neglecting.

“Rio called Amber ‘Little girl’ today,” Harper shared.

“You were supposed to keep that between you and me,” Amber hissed, throwing her hands up in the air dramatically.

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