“Good,” Rachel said. “That’s what a parent is supposed to be, and trust me, I have a very annoying mother who texts me all the time. Just a word of advice, if he texts and you don’t answer him right away, be prepared for him to call in the National Guard after about an hour.”
I laughed. “He promised to give me two hours and only after he texted the guys. He has all of their numbers now too.”
She chuckled. “He is such a dad.”
A grin stretched my mouth wide. He really was a dad and he was mine, and I was loving having one that it still made me want to pinch myself. “I love him, Rachel. I want him to be as real as he seems to be. It’s like a Hallmark movie moment, and I don’t want it to turn into some made for TV true story turned into a Lifetime special.”
“I think you’re in good shape, besides, Archie hasn’t lost his shit, right? And if I know Rich Boy, he’s done a full background check and crossed all his t’s and dotted all his i’s. Besides, if he turns out to be at all fake, I’ll kick his ass.”
I wasn’t even going to argue that point. Archie was gonna Archie. We finished our queso and chips, drained our drinks, and left the bowling alley and laser tag center arm in arm. “I’m kind of jealous, though.”
“About your dad?”
“No,” I said, bumping her with my hip. “Of you, and by jealous, I mean envious. I love that you’re going to go to Europe, that you’re going with you, and that you’re going to do the pictures and the touristing. You’re gonna be this independent woman, and I love that so much for you.”
“Then plan your own trip,” Rachel told me. “You have the money and fuck knows you have the intelligence.”
“I would, but…”
“You don’t want to be away from your guys for that long.”
“It’s less not wanting to be away from them as much as wanting to share it with them. Kind of like I want to share it with you.” I made a face. “I guess I’m kind of a greedy bitch.”
“Yeah, but you’re my greedy bitch, and I’ll cut anyone else that calls you that.” She pressed a smacking kiss to my cheek, and we both laughed, pulling apart when we got to the car. “Ice cream, you bottomless beauty?”
“Hell yes, and drive out to the lake?”
Head back, Rachel let out a little whoop. “Hell yes.”
We’d taken Rachel’s car, so she drove. I checked my phone when we got to the store. The guys had all checked in subtly via our group chat by rambling in it.
Cute.
It also let them see when I read their messages.
Amused, I let them know Rach and I were heading out to the lake and promised to text when we were heading back.
“You are so hopeless,” Rachel teased when she caught me and read some of their messages over my shoulder. “Why do they have to put the furniture back where it goes?”
“They probably moved the sofa and the chairs to set up for optimal video game playing.”
“Uh-huh. Like I said, hopeless.”
I chuckled, tucking my phone away as we headed back out with our purchases. “You know what, I’m okay with being hopeless. They picked me, and I picked them. It works.”
“Yes, sickeningly so,” Rachel agreed. “And for that, I am beyond grateful.”
We drove out to the lake and found our way to the same picnic table we’d sat at before. This was so much nicer than that night we’d driven out here after Ian and I broke up. Well, after I broke up with him. It might have been the first time I’d really leaned into the friendship with Rachel, but I was happier with where we all were now as opposed to then.
“How are you really doing?” Rachel asked, turning the question back on me that I had been asking her all day. “With everything? Your mom? Archie’s dad? The arrival of Hank and his ready-made family that seems too good to be true? Graduation? College? Four boyfriends? Did I leave anything out?”
I considered it. “Relocating?”
“Right, moving.” She bumped my shoulder. “And discovering that you’re basically an heiress with wealthy grandparents who want to give you everything? I mean, there’s gotta be a psychological malfunction related to that.”
I laughed. “I’m doing amazing. Every time I get nervous or scared, the guys are there and they listen. They talk to me. Archie sat me down about finances this week. Ian has me singing. I’m running with them. I’m doing all kinds of things that I never thought possible. I mean, Jake and Coop keep giving me tips about being the oldest sibling. Course, I’ve been around their sisters forever.”
“You’re happy,” Rachel said with some satisfaction.
“I am. Even when I’m scared, I’m happy.”
She grinned. “Cool. That’s the best, really.”
“I’m gonna miss you, Rach.”
“Not for long,” she promised. “Come autumn, we’ll be in New York together. Broadway. Central Park. The Statue of Liberty. We’re gonna have a great time, and we’re going to catch up on everything we did over the summer. And like your new dad, if you don’t answer my texts, I’ll do more than call out the National Guard. I’ll come hunting you myself.”
“Hmm,” I said as I spooned out some more ice cream.
“Girl, you do not want me coming to find you just because.”
“I don’t know,” I said. “It might be fun.”
She laughed. “Bitch.”
“Yep,” I agreed, and we pretend clinked our pint cartons together.
We sat by the lake and talked for hours. It was almost midnight before we went home, and my boys were waiting up for me. There were exclamations and side-eye over the blue streak, but Archie summed it all up with a, “Huh, I kind of love it.”
Jake grinned
