Page 60
Story: Fake Lemons Love and Luxury
She follows me inside, bouncing like she’s fifteen again. “Your daughter was starving and living in darkness. Have mercy.”
I smirk. “You could've ordered something or gone out to get your own groceries. And called an electrician.”
I set the bags on the kitchen counter, and follow her toward the back hallway where the fuse box is.
“It went out around nine last night,” she says, flipping on her phone flashlight. “I was watching that dumb new dating show and boom. Blackout.”
“You slept in darkness all night? You didn't think to call an electrician?”
She frowns, squinting at the wall panel as I unscrew it. “Idid. He said he couldn’t come until tomorrow. I slept at Derek’s.”
“I’ve tried to teach you how to do this. You know, it isn't that difficult.”
“That’s what Wren says,” she smirks. “You know she's quite good with stuff like this. I was always calling her to fix the fuse box at my former apartment. One of her weird hidden talents. I’d have called her last night but she’s already stretched too thin. I didn’t want to add ‘electrician’ to her calendar.”
“Yeah, she is quite busy.”
“I know. Product launch and all. How’s it going?”
I grunt, focusing on the wiring. “Going well.”
“That’s good to hear.”
I reconnect a loose neutral wire while Jen watches.
“So… you two good?”
I test the circuit. The hallway light flickers on. “Define good.”
“Oh?”
“She’s quiet these days.”
“Wren does that.”
I don’t respond.
She walks into the kitchen to unpack groceries while I put the tools away. The silence between us isn’t heavy, but it hangs there. Like a question that hasn’t found its shape yet.
“You look like hell, by the way. Did I mention that already?”
“Thanks,” I mutter, returning to the kitchen to help unload organic vegetables into her refrigerator. “When did you start eating kale?”
“Don't change the subject. What's going on with you and Wren?”
I shrug. “Nothing. We're maintaining appearances.”
Jen leans against the counter, arms folded. “Right.”
“It's complicated.”
“No, differential equations are complicated. This is simple. You've fallen for her.”
My stomach clenches, but I don't answer, focusing on arranging yogurt containers with unnecessary precision.
“Dad.” Jen's voice softens. “I see the shift in you. The way you talk about her now, with this careful reverence. Like she's something precious.”
I sigh, leaning against the counter.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60 (Reading here)
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79