Of course guilt always plagues me that they’ve had to put their lives on hold while helping with Ava so I can finish school. I’ll make their sacrifices worth it by graduating at the top of my class.
My parents get home as Ava jumps to me in the pool. We’ve been at this for a while. Jay hung out with us for a bit, but then his girlfriend came over, and they took off.
“Nana! I swimming wiff Mommy.” She smiles proudly.
“I see that, love bug. Are you guys having fun?” Mom looks at me when she asks.
I nod. “Yeah. I’m glad I came home.” Lifting Ava out of the pool, Mom wraps a towel around her. We watch her disappear inside to visit her papa. “How was your night?”
“It was great. We ate at that little crab shack your father loves, and then we hung out in our room.” Mom wiggles her eyebrows, and I shake my head.
Thankfully she doesn’t go into detail because, gross. I mean, it’s not gross, but it is because it’s my mom and dad. “I’m glad you got to get away for a bit. I know it’s not easy…”
She covers my mouth with her hand. “I don’t want to have to say it again, but we wanted this. We wanted you to go away to college and have that experience. We’re able to give you that, and honestly it’s the least we can do after being so blind to what was happening…”
It’s my turn to cover her mouth. “Don’t. I got really good at hiding everything from you.”
I take my hand away. “I know, sweetheart, but we should’ve noticed something wasn’t right. That man preyed on you, and we didn’t see it until it was too late.”
Dad comes out, interrupting us with Ava on his back. “Ladies, we’d like to go out for pizza.”
My daughter thrusts her little fist in the air. “Pissa! Les go, Mommy.”
I grab her from my dad. “We need to shower first.” I smile at my parents. “We’ll be ready in twenty.”
By the time we’re showered and changed my stomach is growling.
“Do you have to go back to school?” Ava asks as I slip her pink sandals on.
I grab her little hands and bring them to my lips and kiss them. “I do, but we talk every day, don’t we?” She nods. “I promise this year will be over before you know it.” I know she has no concept of time, but I don’t know what else to say to her—she’s breaking my heart, I do know that much.
Ava throws her arms around me. I fall down to my butt and hug her tightly to my chest. “Don’t be sad, love bug. In no time at all you’re going to come stay with Mommy and Coco for the week while Nana and Papa go on the big boat.
During our week off in October my parents are taking a cruise, and Ava is coming to stay with me. She loves seeing where her mommy goes to school. I carry her out to the living room where my parents are waiting for us.
The rest of the night Ava is super clingy and being whiney, which hurts my heart. When it’s time for her to go to bed, I watch her sleep for a long time.
***
I follow Nicole into a little bar near campus. The bartender takes our drink order, not even bothering to card us; Nicole’s twenty-one so she’s safe, but I’m only twenty.
Nicole knows I can only stay for one round, but I was so depressed when I got back from visiting Ava that she insisted she buy me a drink or two.
This morning the clinginess was ever present, and Ava was being so naughty. When it was time for me to leave, she cried hysterically, and Dad had to pull her out of my arms. I held it together until I got back to school. Poor Nicole got to listen to me blather on and on.
That’s when she suggested we go have a drink, which leads us to now. The bartender sets our pitcher of margaritas in front of us. Nicole carries the pitcher, and I follow her out onto the patio with our salt rimmed glasses.
She pours each of us a glass, and I grab it and take a healthy sip. “Thanks for suggesting this. I knew it was risky going home because she was already clingy last night, but I missed her.”
“Of course you did. I just can’t wait for her to come stay with us while your parents are out of town. She loves her Coco.”
As we sip our drinks and switch to lighter conversations, the bar gets busier and people are filtering outside. I finish my glass and excuse myself and head inside to use the bathroom.
When I finish, I wash my hands and check myself in the mirror. I tuck some loose strands of hair behind my ear. My summer tan is still dark enough that I don’t need to wear much makeup. I fish my ChapStick out of my pocket and quickly swipe some on before stepping out of the bathroom.
I weave my way through the throng of people that have suddenly shown up. I head outside and see we have company at our table. Chance Bateman and another guy sit in the two vacant seats at our table.
“Hey, short stuff,” he says with a smile. “I saw you get up from the table, and we decided to crash your little margarita party.”
I take my seat. “How are you, Chance?”
“I’m good, better now.” I roll my eyes because he’s so full of shit. “This is my best friend, Trey.”
I reach out to shake Trey’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too. So I hear you and Chance met because he stole your parking spot.” I smile because I like this guy.
“He sure did, and he showed no remorse too.”
Nicole
