Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 139147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
“Right, Dream, Luna said what Luna had to say, and part of that was she can’t do this here. So if you have more to say, text her and set up a time to say it.”
Dream looked at me, muttered, “Whatever,” and wandered out.
As she went, Dusk waved at us from his place at her back before he did that cute kid thing of smooching his splayed hand and flinging it out to throw kisses.
Luna and I watched her leave, and although neither of us was in the mood after that confrontation, since that wasn’t Dusk’s fault, we both threw kisses back.
When Dream and her brood were out of sight, Luna turned to me. “Whoa. That was easy.”
“I think the intervention worked, kinda sorta,” I remarked. “I still don’t get why she blames you for everything.”
“I don’t know, and I’ve been putting up with it all my life. Though, it’s gotten worse lately.”
We both stood and contemplated this until we heard Tex shout, “What do you mean you don’t have cinnamon syrup? What kind of operation is this?”
We then smiled at each other, because he was loud, but he was hilarious, and it was fun having him around.
After we stopped smiling, I dug out my phone.
My heart started beating faster when I saw who the text was from.
“Dad,” I said to Luna.
She crowded close, and we read it.
Happy to give you time, darlin’. But Deb and me were shopping at this outdoor mall close to our hotel and I saw an ice cream joint. Thought I could buy my girl an ice cream. Just you and me, unless you want someone with you.
Which meant, he wasn’t going to bring Deb.
I felt bad for pointing in her face and getting in her shit last night.
But I had my own shit to deal with first.
My dad…
And ice cream.
I texted back, I think that’s Frost. 4:30?
And Luna asked, “Are you sure?”
I looked at her, “I’m nineteen-years-and-counting-for-us-to-be-beyond-this sure.”
She nodded understandingly.
I hit send.
Dad texted back, It’s a date!
The exclamation mark was cute and sweet, and full of hope.
My heart beat faster as I dropped a heart on his reply.
I texted Cap to tell him what was happening and got back to work.
Within two minutes, though, Cap texted back, I’m glad you’re doing that. Available if you need me. He ended that with a red heart.
The red heart was just cute and sweet.
I glanced at Tito, who had sunglasses aimed at the coffee cubby even though now it was quiet.
He didn’t seem to mind he had a guest barista.
And if he didn’t mind, why should I?
I knew the answer to that.
So I headed to Byron to see if he needed his mid-morning dirty chai refill.
I drove to the Biltmore mall spotting the tail.
It was hard to miss, seeing as it was a bronze El Camino, and behind the wheel was Tex, and, get this…
Sitting next to him was Tito.
I had no clue how that unholy alliance sprung up, since I’d been in their presence all day, and I hadn’t seen them in the same space once.
But in that current moment, the meetup with Dad looming, I didn’t have it in me to figure it out.
Though, I did give some time to wondering how that old El Camino made it all the way down from Denver, and if the grenades were still in the back.
I parked.
They parked, not close, not far.
I got out and walked to Frost.
They got out and ambled to a bench outside True Food Kitchen, which was situated next to Frost. And it should be noted they were about as incognito as Tom Cruise would be strolling the mall in his Top Gun flight suit and mirrored aviators.
Dad was hanging outside Frost.
I hated that it was awkward, but no way around it. The hug we exchanged when I made it to him was awkward.
We walked in, and I knew why he picked this place. The sight of vats of creamy deliciousness and the smell of sugar and waffle cones took me back to a place I missed so bad, it was like intense chronic pain you get used to and just lived your life dealing with.
Dad, Macy and I didn’t just sneak bowls of ice cream when Mom wasn’t looking.
Dad took us, including Mom, to the local ice cream parlor as a treat, and he did this a lot.
“Wild guess,” Dad murmured, looking down at the gelato on display. “Bubble gum.”
Okay.
Right.
So he didn’t forget I existed.
He knew his little girl.
“Double scoop?” he asked me.
Totally knew me.
I nodded.
We ordered, got our gelato, and he firmly shoved in to pay.
We then walked outside and sat at a table.
Tex and Tito still sat on their bench.
Dad glanced at them.
“I didn’t ask them to come,” I informed him. “They followed me.”
“Who’s the demented Santa Claus-looking guy?” Dad asked.
I grinned at him. “That’s my boss, Tito. And that’s not his name. No one knows his name. We just call him that because he likes Tito’s vodka. He’s weird and quiet, and has a very interesting sense of style, but he’s a really good guy.”