Page 39

Byron

“Lola I need to eat I’m fucking hungry.”

“If you sit up straight and let me finish your hair, I’ll let you eat.”

Let me eat? Who does she think she is?

Lola’s body deflates. I grab her hand and pull her into my lap.

“It’s your birthday. You should be enjoying your day.”

“It’s been a good day but you invited your parents tonight and what if they don’t like me?”

“Why wouldn’t they like you?”

Her hand is nervously picking at the hem of my t-shirt that she stole once we got back together. I take her hands and bring it to my lips.

“Most parents take one look at my tattoos and dark eyeliner and boom their impression of me is that I’m a bad influence on their child.”

The words come out quiet and muffled but every single one hits my chest like a bullet.

She turns her head away quickly, thinking every word she just said is the truth. I pull her into my chest before laying my chin on top of her head.

“I can tell you that my mom was excited that I asked her to come tonight. She told me she can’t wait to talk to you more.”

Lola stays silent.

My back goes rigid. Heat pulses through my body.

How did her parents shatter this woman’s belief in herself?

If you saw Lola out at Jasper’s you’d see the confident and outspoken girl who I was drawn to from the moment I met her, but even the most confident of us hide insecurities. It’s devastating that Lola’s parents perpetuated these beliefs.

“Okay Lo, I’ll play along with you. Say for some crazy reason my mom doesn’t like you. You know what I’d tell her?”

She shakes her head.

“I’d tell her how you went against your parents wishes to follow your dreams. You stood up for yourself even though you knew you’d be alone. To me that’s bravery.”

I rest my middle and forefinger under her chin and lift her face until her eyes meet mine.

“That sounds like a woman I’d want my daughter to look up to.”

I watch Lola stubbornly battle with a lone tear that wants to break free. When she loses the fight I use my thumb to brush away the lone tear.

“You are one of a kind, you know that Byron Andrews.” She uses my thigh to prop herself up and kisses me.

“I think you earned that dinner, want to order takeout from Jasper’s?”

I don’t get word out before my stomach grumbles, answering for me.

An hour later I’m padding down the stairs dressed as Fred from Scooby-Doo with Mia as my much more feisty Scooby. Lola will be our Daphne once she is done getting ready. She was battling with her orange wing and when I offered help she snapped at me.

She broke into laughter. “Why am I letting this wig get the best of me?”

“It’s been a crazy few weeks. I’ll give you some time alone and I’ll go set up the bar.”

I scoop up Mia and on my way back up I kiss Lola on the cheek.

“Remember you get to have fun on your birthday.”

“I’m expecting big things from you tonight Andrews.”

“Oh come midnight, it’s my birthday and that means you have to do all the work.”

Her laughter cuts the tension. On my way out I through her the discarded wig.

“Take your time, I got everything handled downstairs.”

Mia wiggles her way out of my arms once we get to the kitchen.

She roams free while I put the beer into a cooler.

I give the bar a once over to make sure that all the alcohol we bought is out.

Satisfied with the spread I grab a chopping board from the cupboard and pull out some limes.

I’m searching for my favorite knife when the bells hanging on the front door ring.

Mia is sitting in front of the door tail wagging.

“You have to go out before your big Halloween debut?” Gosh if I baby talk like this to my dog I’m concerned about what I’ll sound like when I have kids of my own.

I grab her leash from the coat rack. It’s barely secure on her collar before she leaps up and throws herself out the door. We take a lap around the house and Mia makes pit stops at all her favorite bathroom stops.

Mia prances towards the front door telling me she is ready to go back into the house. When we are about ten feet from the porch, I notice two figures. I’m not sure why they wouldn’t just themselves in. Anyone that would be here this early is a close friend and knows to just let themselves in.

“Just go in guys, Lola and the boys should be in there,” I yell, still not able to make out their faces.

“Well what if we came to see you?”

Mom’s cheery voice puts a pep in my step.

“You guys came,” I say in disbelief.

“I wanted to see where you lived,” my dad says. “And I told you I would come.”

The expectations I had for the weekend were low. That’s just the reality when your dad just stops showing up.

“Well I’m happy you guys are here. Do you want to go in and get a drink?”

Mia is glued to my mom’s side the moment we get in the house. After spending the summer in Brooklyn I’m convinced she thinks my mom is the one that rescued her from a life on the streets. Kids these days are just so ungrateful.

“Mom, there is a pitcher of margaritas on the bar in the living room,” I pause, realizing I don’t know what my dad likes to drink.

“I’ll take any beer you have,” he says quickly, his regret clear in his eyes.

I grab two craft beers from a brewery that opened up in town not too long ago.

“These are really good. I have more hidden in the back of the fridge if you want another.”

It’s not until I hand him the beer that I realize he has my sweater on. Then Mom comes and snuggles into his side wearing one.

“You guys couldn’t think of a more original costume?”

“Why bother picking through leftover costumes when we could dress as the birthday boy.”

My mom has always made a big deal out of my birthday. Something about only having one child means every celebration is somehow more important.

“I finally got the fucking wig on straight.”

Lola freezes at the top of the stairs. She looks fantastic in her skimpy Daphne custom. I just want to take her back to my room and forget about this party.

“Oh don’t worry sweetheart, I’m a nurse in New York City. I hear worse than that every shift.”

Lola pads her way down the stairs before making her way to the kitchen.

“Well in that case I think we should all take a shot. It’s amazing that both of you are here.”

She locks eyes with my dad.

“Just one, I’m driving tonight.”

“That means you’re drinking with me tonight Ms. Carter.”

My parents never married so my mom and I have different last names.

“I guess so.”

The amber liquid burns on its way down and warms me right.

“Taking shots doesn’t get better with age,” My dad informs us.

“Well that sucks,” I say.

Giggles fill the room. Lola is pulling my Mom to the couch looking like they have been best friends forever.

“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.”

“Your mom couldn’t stop talking about how excited she was to spend time with Lola. She said you were pretty torn up over your breakup last year.”

“Well we weren’t really together.”

My dad looks at me quizzically.

“It’s a long story.”

“Well I got time.”

From the beginning of the story my dad hangs on to my every word so I make sure I don’t leave any details out. By the time I’m done, our house is full of all of our closest friends.

“That’s quite the story. You two seem really happy together.”

“We are. There is something about being with her that just makes sense. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“She’s your missing puzzle piece,” His words fade as his eyes turn longingly to my mom who is stepping up to the beer pong table with Lola.

“Wanna play?”

“Let’s show what us Andrews’ men are made of.” He pats me on the shoulders a couple of times before rounding the table.

The sign of unity might be a throwaway comment to most people, but when you grow craving being with your dad even at almost twenty-two, it heals your inner child.

We lost. It wasn’t even close. And no I didn’t let Lola win because it was her birthday. I’m too competitive for that shit. That and her gloating is going to make her insufferable.

“Well that was a good way to end my birthday,” she gloats. Her green eyes sparkle cutting through the poorly lit party. Making me believe no physical gift could give her the same satisfaction as winning.

Lola snuggles her way into my side. The guys and I were in an intense debate about the Stanley Cup odds for this season. My dad was laughing at our heated conversation.

“Arie, can we go back to the hotel? I have to go to the bathroom.”

She gives me an apologetic glance.

“Sorry honey, I’m too old to tempt my fate in this bathroom.”

I’m slightly offended. I take deep pride in keeping this house clean. Well clean for a house full of college athletes.

“I’m ready, we should get some rest before driving home tomorrow.”

The clock strikes midnight as I’m grabbing Mom’s purse from my bedroom.

“Thanks for coming tonight,” I say as both my parents trail behind me. Failing to find the perfect words to describe what this night meant to me. “I’m happy that you got to meet everyone.”

“Thank you for inviting me. It was fun to come back to college for a night.”

“Here’s your purse Mom. Text me when you get back to the hotel, okay?” It’s relaxing some of the nerves I normally get when Mom stays in a hotel knowing she’s not alone.

“Happy birthday Byron!” I’m pulled into a hug.

“I can’t believe that my baby is twenty-two and I got to spend the weekend with my family.”

Her eyes dart to my dad whose eyes are looking suspiciously glossy.

My mom pulls him in and now I’m in a group hug with my parents in my college house. I’m sure some people at the party who don’t know my family history think it’s odd. That I’m too old for this, but I’ve been wanting this family unit for as long as I can remember.

“I love you guys.”

“I love you, too, Byron,” my dad says.