She groans and sits back against the booth. “Dan, talk to your daughter.”
My dad raises his hands innocently. “It’s her decision not to tell anyone and you have to respect that.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I flash him a grateful smile.
He tips his head at me. “You two are always conspiring against me,” my mom huffs.
The waitress stops back by our table and gathers up the dirty dishes. “Can I get you anything else?”
“Uh, yeah,” I say. “I want a chocolate shake to go.”
“Whipped cream and cherry?”
“Yes, please.”
“Anything for you guys?” she asks my parents. They shake their heads. “I’ll be right back with that milkshake,” she says with a kind smile.
“So, you’re really going to miss us then, Kid?” My dad asks.
I nod, pulling my hair back into a messy bun and securing it with a hairband. “Yeah, I am,” I say—there goes my lip wobbling again.
My mom reaches across the table. “We’re only a phone call away if you need us,” she assures me.
I nod. “I know.” My mom exchanges a look with my dad. She’s worried about me. She’s worried them leaving will set me back and I’ve been doing so much better. I don’t want her to feel like she has to stay because of me, though, and I know that the best thing for me is for them to go. Then I’ll have to rely solely on myself again. “Don’t worry about me,” I tell her. “I don’t want you to go but I’ll be okay.”
“You’re a fighter, Kid.” My dad tips his drink glass up and crunches on a piece of ice.
“Thanks, dad,” I say.
The waitress returns with my milkshake and the check. I try to pay but my dad insists it’s his treat.
I slide out of the booth and we head outside. The sun blazes above us and the humidity is thick in the air.
“Well,” my mom begins, “we have to go.”
I wrap my arms around her neck and squeeze her so tight she squeaks. I loosen my grip. “I love you.”
“I love you too, B.” She lets me go and there are tears in her eyes. She hurries to get in the rental car before she completely breaks down.
“Well, Kid—” my dad ruffles the hair on top of my head, destroying my bun “—we’ll see you soon.”
I open my arms wide. “Come here,” I say. “There’s no way you’re leaving without giving me a hug.” He chuckles and wraps me up in the biggest bear hug ever. A tear leaks out of my eye, absorbed by the material of his shirt. “Bye, Dad. I love you.”
“Love you too, Kid.” He ruffles my hair again and then gets in the car.
I stand in the lot and watch them pull away. My mom looks back and I wave. She lifts her hand too, and keeps it there until they completely disappear from sight.
I exhale a heavy breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
I get in my car and drink my milkshake. I don’t have any meetings with clients this afternoon so I have nothing to do until it’s time for Group. I decide to call Ryder.
“Hey?” he answers on almost the last ring.
“I just said goodbye to my parents,” I say, the sadness echoing in my voice.
“Oh. How are you feeling?”
“Sad,” I answer honestly. “What are you doing?”
“Just hanging out here at the house with Cole. Do you want to come over? It’s pretty boring here but you’ll be with us.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “I’d like that.”
“I’ll see you soon then.”
“Yep.” I hang up and drop the phone on the seat beside me.
I finish my milkshake and get out and toss it in the trashcan in front of the diner. I then decide to stop by Target and pick up a few toys for Cole. I get an assortment of things—like puzzle piece alphabet letters and a talking dinosaur thing—since I don’t really know what he likes.
When I get to Ryder’s house, he answers the door with Cole clinging to his leg screaming bloody murder.
“The Terrible Twos,” Ryder sighs, stepping back so I can come inside.
“What’s he upset about?” I ask.
“I told him he couldn’t hold the fish.”
I snort. “Interesting.”
“Yeah.” Ryder chuckles. “Being a parent is weird sometimes.”
“Maybe this will make it better.” I hold out the bag from Target.
Ryder peeks in the bag and grins at what he finds. He looks back up at me and the look in his eyes makes my stomach clench in anticipation. He looks like he’s about to kiss me, but he quickly shakes his head and the look disappears.
“You got these for Cole?” he asks, even though he already knows.
I nod.
“Me! Me!” Cole cries, having heard his name. He lets go of Ryder’s leg and makes a grabbing motion with his hands.
Ryder pulls out the large size racecar I got. “Here you go, bud.” He hands it to Cole after pulling off the price sticker.
Cole starts driving it around on the floor making car noises. “Vroom, vrooooom.”
“Enjoy the playtime,” Ryder says. “It’s naptime in…” He looks at his watch. “Ten minutes.”