“I don’t even want to be serious about Scott. I like him. He’s very talented. And so handsome. But it’s not like I’m looking for a husband. I’m just looking for some no-strings-attached fun.”
“I’m not sure I believe the ‘no-strings’ part, sis. Not from the tears in your eyes. But if you want my opinion, I say ‘go ahead and have some fun’. You only live once. You’re only young once. And Daddy can’t keep you from making mistakes by threatening your education.”
“On the that last part, you’re wrong.”
“Oh, come on. If he doesn’t pay for your last year you can get loans. That’s what most people do.”
“True…”
“Besides, what Daddy doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Hot neighbor is right next door. It’s destiny. And it should be easy for you to hide any hanky-panky from dad, given you’re a genius and all.” My sister couldn’t stop laughing.
“Did you seriously just say ‘hanky-panky’?” I asked, my eyes filled with tears of laughter this time.
“Call it whatever you want,” she said, sharing my laughter. “Just don’t let Daddy cock-block you.”
“Cock-block?” Did you seriously just say that?” I laughed all the harder.
***
When I got home after lunch I found Daddy in his den behind his desk, his television in the corner on the news. I went over and kissed the top of his head in greeting.
“How was Izzy? And the boys?”
“Everyone was great, dad. It was nice to spend time with them. The boys are growing so fast…”
“Good, good.
“Maybe you should think about staying with them this week. It turns out I have to make a trip. Leaving tomorrow and won’t be back until Friday late.”
“Oh? What for?”
“A tradeshow. Carl… you remember him? He was going to go but then had an emergency appendectomy yesterday and so now it’ll be me.”
“Sounds like fun, actually. An all-expenses-paid trip to…”
“Houston. In June. It’ll be hotter than a…”
“Still sound fun.”
“And humid. Bleh.”
“You’ll be all manly and sweaty. Maybe you’ll meet a lady…,” I teased him.
“Anyway, you should go stay with Izzy,” he said after giving me a mock glare.
“Nah. I don’t want to miss pool time. Besides, I need the quiet for my reading. You know it’s loud with those boys. And I’ve been working on my Med School applications. I need to be here.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“Of course. It’ll be nice to live alone for a week. It’ll be good practice for when I am out on my own next year.”
I took Daddy to the airport early Monday morning and then spent the rest of the day lounging by the pool. I was more than caught up with my class reading. I kept an eye out but I didn’t see any signs of life over at Scott’s house all day. I could only assume he was at work.
When it was time, I had a leisurely dinner of cheese and crackers and veggies and hummus then biked over to campus on the trail along the river a bit early for my class. My class was fun, the discussion wide ranging and intelligent, just the way it should be. And then I rode home. The sun was still up, but barely. The air was hot and still. Fireflies dotted the yards, lazily blinking on and off. I smiled feeling peaceful and serene. When I got home I decided to take a quiet swim to cool off before calling it an early night.