He nods, but the way his face is scrunched up, I’m afraid he’s getting ready to cry.
“What’s Centipede? Have you ever played that?”
He looks up, suddenly interested in me. “A couple of times.”
“Can you show me how?”
“You hate video games.”
“I don’t hate them. I just don’t know them. I didn’t grow up with them like you did.”
“I guess I can show you,” he says.
“Are you going to get all butt hurt when I kick your ass?”
He gives me half a smile. “As long as you don’t act like a bitch when you lose.”
My heart warms a few degrees as a follow him through the arcade.
34
Kylie
Today is definitely the second worst day I’ve had since I’ve been here. After two months, I should be over Brett. What’s the rule? One month grieving for every two months in a relationship? By those rules, I should’ve been over this weeks ago.
But I guess I’ve got to give myself a break. This is the first time I’ve seen him since that awful night. I tried to keep from looking, but I spotted him with Tori, his mom, his little brother, and some man hanging out by the ring toss a while ago, and I’ve been completely flustered since—not that I didn’t start the day a wreck as it was.
Another family steps up, and I smile, directing them to the backdrop. I snap their picture and ask them to put their email address or phone number into the tablet so that I can send them their pictures. I was thrilled to be able to do this job since I have no family here. But this whole day has made me see just how alone in this world I really am.
I don’t have to be alone. I can be in my mom’s life, where I feel like a phony, and I can be in my dad’s life, where I feel like a child. But even in this life, where I pretty much only have one loyal friend, I have my self-respect—something I realize I never had until now.
I hear Tori’s voice before I see her, and my stomach backflips. I turn to find her walking my way with Brett and his family. I plaster on a smile. “Please,” I say, motioning them to the backdrop.
Tori stands back. “You guys go on.”
“Come on. I want you in the picture,” Brett’s mom says.
“I’m going to sit this one out.”
The man I don’t recognize says, “Why don’t you do one with just you and your boys.”
Brett’s mom shrugs, and she, Brett, and his brother go and stand at the backdrop. She’s in the middle, wrapping her arms around each of her sons, grinning like a proud mama bear.
Brett’s brother won’t look at the camera, but I get the feeling that’s not anything unusual. Brett focuses on me with his expression impassive. His mom squeezes them both to her. “Y’all can at least pretend you love me.” Both men soften, and Brett gives the smallest of smiles, but one that reveals his love for his mother.
My hand is so shaky I can barely take the picture. I snap several, hoping I get one that’s not blurred. “That’s it,” I say, almost dropping the camera. “Um, please list your phone number or your email address in the tablet, then I will send these to you.” Brett takes the tablet and taps into it.
“Thank you so much,” Brett’s mom says.
Tori stands by her, watching Brett like she’s waiting for him. He sets the tablet down and then walks over. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Kylie.”
His mom’s face brightens. “Oh. Kylie. I’m so glad to meet you. I’m Melody.”
Brett and Tori exchange a glance, and Tori looks like she’s sorry, not sorry. It makes me wonder which one of them told his mother about me.
“Are you the resort’s photographer?” she asks.
I give a nervous giggle. “Just for today. I work in Outreach.”
“Oh, very good,” she says, and by the look on her face, I may have scored a few points.
“You work at the hospital, right?” I say. “You’re a patient care technician?”
She smiles. “I am.”
“That sounds like rewarding work,” I say.
“It can be. It can be exhausting work, too,” she says, rolling her eyes but keeping her smile. She turns to the man. “This is Scott.”
I shake the man’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
Another family walks up to have their photo taken.
“We’ll let you get back to work,” she says. “I hope I’ll see you again though?” She glances between Brett and me.
It’s almost more than my heart can take. I just nod and say, “So nice to meet you.” I retreat to my duties.
I can feel the toll the day has taken on me as we break down all the games and stations. My phone rings, and I shake my head because it’s my dad. Of course he would call me on Family Day. I think the universe just wants to drive home the fact that I don’t have one.
I answer. “Hi, Dad.”
“How’s my favorite daughter?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m fine.”
“I hear you’re better than fine.”
I still, thinking about Joshua. We ended on a good note, but who knows what he went home and told my dad.
“I hear you’ve advanced to outreach director.”
“Coordinator,” I say.
“You’ll be a director soon enough.”
I’m so shocked from his positivity that I have to re-orient myself.
“I see that you’re having Family Day down there today,” he says.
“Oh, yeah?” I ask, a little confused.
“I’m on the resort’s website.”
I nod, even though he can’t see me. “They do it once a year down here.”
“While I understand why you didn’t invite me, for the record, if you would have, I would’ve come.”
I step farther away from the busy people cleaning up the area. I don’t say anything, wondering if there’s a trick coming.
“Kylie, honey, I’ll admit that I’m not the most gracious loser. I’m used to getting what I want. You’ve always been so agreeable. When
