“I know. And thank you. But I can be pretty dense sometimes.”
“Not dense,” I said gently. “You were raised differently. And you’re trying to figure out my world.”
“Our,” she corrected. “It’s our world now.”
“Right. Our world.”
She breathed a sigh and began to relax for real. “There are so many things, aren’t there? To figure out. In relationships, I mean. They’re complicated.”
I nodded.
“My mother would probably tell me to get used to it. But… do you think we ever will?”
“Of course. It might take twenty years, but I’m willing to give it a try.”
“Do you really think it’ll take that long? We’ll be old then.”
“No we won’t,” I laughed. “We’ll be my parents’ age. They aren’t old.”
She didn’t want to argue, but she clearly disagreed.
“What?” I teased. “You don’t want to grow old with me?”
“I don’t want to do it at all. What if you get tired of me? Or don’t like the way I look? What if I get fat? What if my—?”
“Do you really think I’m that shallow?” I asked.
“No.” She sighed. “I know you aren’t. But I still worry about things.” She thought about it and sighed again. “God, grant me the serenity…”
“Yeah.”
She leaned against my arm and fell silent.
“You okay?” I asked after a minute.
She nodded. “Only, I wish we weren’t staying with my parents.”
“Why? ’Cause we can’t sleep together?”
“I don’t think you understand,” she said. “How much I miss it when you aren’t there.”
“It’s only two nights.”
“That’s okay. I can sneak—”
“Oh no you can’t,” I said quickly. “Your dad already had a talk with me. He heard us last time.”
She bolted upright, and her eyes grew wide. “He heard us?”
“Not… you know. He heard us talking.”
“Oh my gosh, don’t scare me like that!”
“Sorry,” I chuckled. “Anyway, you can’t do it again. I’m supposed to send you back to your own room if you do.”
She frowned.
“Their house, their rules.”
“I know. Only, I don’t like them. Not anymore. The rules, I mean. Not my parents. I still love them. I just wish… Ugh! I’m not a little girl anymore. Why do they—? Oh my gosh! This is exactly what your mom and Erin were arguing about.”
“Yep. And I had a similar conversation with my dad. This morning.”
“It’s like they don’t want us to grow up or something.”
“They do, but they need time to adjust.” They aren’t the only ones, I thought sardonically.
“How long? They wouldn’t even let Danny and Sabrina spend the night together.”
“Then you and I don’t really stand a chance. We’ll just have to follow the rules.”
“I know. I don’t have to like it, though.”
I let her sulk, and I was about to make a suggestion when she spoke up.
“Maybe we can go for a walk tonight? Down to the beach? What’s so funny?”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“If I can’t sneak into your room, I’m definitely going to need some time alone. With you, I mean.”
“I was hoping,” I chuckled.
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, Paul. You’re so silly sometimes.”
“Yes, but I’m your silly.”
“Mmm, I know.”
* * *
We didn’t get our walk on the beach. Well, we did, but not alone. Rich said he was home for Father’s Day, but he was really there to keep an eye on yours truly. And, of course, he offered to join us when Christy told her parents we were going for a walk. We couldn’t say no without making it obvious what we were up to.
“I don’t need a chaperone,” Christy complained as we left the house. “I’m a grown woman.”
“Twenty-one,” Rich agreed. “All grown-up.”
“I can look after myself.”
“Mmm hmm.”
“You aren’t going to listen, are you?”
“Nope.”
“Ugh!”
He glanced at me. “How’s the hand?”
“Healing. How’s the face?”
“The same. Stitches came out the day before yesterday. How long do you have to wear the splint?”
“Another two weeks.”
“So I got the better end of the bargain?”
“Oh, no,” I said sincerely. “I’d wear a full cast for six weeks if I could do it again. The look on your face was priceless.”
“Mmm. I can imagine. Where’d you learn to hit like that? Not judo or wrestling.”
“Boxing. A guy named Dwayne. Golden Gloves type. Good guy. Really good fighter.”
Rich nodded. Then he eyed me sideways. “You could still join the Navy, you know. After college.”
Christy tried clearing her throat, but Rich ignored her.
“You could do OCS,” he continued. “I don’t think you have what it takes to be a SEAL, but you might make a decent pilot. Sub service is pretty selective too.”
“Rich, I can do anything I want. SEALs, pilots, subs… doesn’t matter. It’s all the same, hard work and pigheaded determination. But Christy and I have other plans.”
“It isn’t because of your mother?”
“No. To be honest, I never knew she felt that strongly about it.”
“Well, you aren’t a pantywaist, that’s for sure. And your father’s a genuine hero. It was an honor to meet him, by the way.”
“What exactly did he do to earn your respect? Your father’s too.”
“You mean you don’t know?” Rich said smugly.
“No. And if I had to guess, you don’t either.”
He didn’t deny it. “I could probably pull some strings and find out, even if it’s still classified, but my dad told me enough. He respects your old man, and that’s good enough for me.”
“He respects Paul too,” Christy said.
“Yeah, he does,” Rich said, albeit reluctantly.
“So why don’t you?” she pressed.
“I do, Sis. I just don’t like him. There’s a difference.”
I spoke up, “I think you don’t want to like me, Rich.”
Again, he didn’t deny it.
“You think I’m trying to take Birdy away from you, that I won’t protect her like you do.”
“Well? Will you?”
“What do you think?” I said. “I stood up to you. Several times. Once when you had a gun.”
“Yeah,” he chuckled. “Sorry about that. The weapon, I mean. I shouldn’t’ve used it. I’d’ve been in real trouble. I’m not sorry about hitting you.”
“I know the feeling.”
“Ha! I’m sure you do.” He fell silent and then snorted a laugh. “You’re a cocky one too.”
“I just about have to be,” I said, “to fit in with you bunch of lunatics and overachievers.”
“Yeah, I’ll give you that.”
We walked in silence and crossed the main road to the oceanside park.
“I think we’re going to walk to the playground,” Christy said. “You can go back now if you’d like, Rich.”
“Sorry, can’t. Orders.”
“Whose? Mom’s or Dad’s?”
“Doesn’t matter. Orders are orders.”
“What if I gave you an order?”
“Sorry, Sis, you don’t outrank me.”
“Neither does Mom.”
He snorted.
“So you won’t leave us alone?”
He thought about it and looked at me. “I will, on one condition.”
“Which is?” I said cautiously.
“You swear that nothing… immoral… will happen.”
My eyebrows lifted.
“Well?” he said.
“Rich, you know we live together, right?”
His jaw muscle twitched.
“And we’re sleeping together,” I continued. “Not just once in a while, but every night.”
Christy stiffened and held her breath.
“I know,” Rich said flatly.
“Your parents do too.”
“So what if they do? Besides, I don’t see how that’s relevant.”
“It’s relevant because everyone knows what’s going on, but none of you are willing to face the truth and admit it.”