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James had again asked me to join him and his family on the surprise picnic that he had planned for them. He assured me that he asked me only because of Caleb and it would really make him happy. And I agreed to go on this trip only to see Caleb.

Okay fine! Now that the hard part is over, almost. I thought that maybe James and I could sort some things between us. He said he missed me and I didn’t say it back and I want to, but I am too proud to say it.

I put on denim overalls and a white shirt and tie my hair in a ponytail. Isn’t this the classic picnic dress? James is supposed to pick me up from my house and then we are going to head to his house and then to wherever he planned the picnic. Mom and dad were staying with me and Maura and Keith had left for New York again.

“What do you even see in that guy?” Dad asks me. He has been at it for days. He thinks that James could have manned up and stepped up.

I roll my eyes at him and mom tells me to ignore him. “Dad…I stopped him. He was about to kill Jake. If I hadn’t intervened, he would’ve killed Jake.”

Dad sips his whiskey and rolls his eyes at me. I see that I probably learned how to roll my eyes from him.

I tie my shoelaces and put my jacket on the shoe stand. “I’m just saying.” Dad shrugs. “He could’ve done something to show us that he will take care of you after we are gone. If he wants to take you out on a date and date you, that’s the least he could do after everything that you’ve–” dad goes silent and I freeze in place. I blink away my tears. Dad has always been overprotective over me.

Like I said- I am a spoiled brat. My dad has never denied me anything, fulfilled my every wish. When I’d asked him and mama to come to meet me, he’d dropped everything and gotten on the first flight to Boston. No questions asked.

He held out a box of Belgian pralines and a box of Swarovski in his hand as he greeted me.

I had hugged him so tight that it scared him. I’d broken down in his arms. I had cried to my heart's content. “I am going to kill that motherfucker.” My dad had said with tears in his eyes.

That was the first time I had heard my dad use an English cuss word and see him cry. I’d asked dad to swear on my life that he wouldn’t do anything reckless that would take him away from me. Only then did I go to bed. Even then I was scared that he would do something.

Mama had fallen to the ground. They held me in their arms for 5 hours. I timed it. That night, I had put my head in mama’s lap and she had stroked my hair until I fell asleep.

I had woken up that same way. Dad had slept on the couch and that was the first night in weeks that I didn’t have any nightmares. I’d informed them about my entire plan so far and they’d told me that they were proud of me for being so strong. It was probably the first time I’d heard it since the incident.

I tighten my shoelace angrily. James has done a lot for me and it hurts me how my dad makes such comments on him. “Well, if you have so much to say about him, maybe you should just ask him then, dad!” I grab my jacket and bang the door close behind me. I take a deep breath, but it’s just…ugh! I go back inside with my shoes on and say sorry to my dad and come back out.

James texts me just on time that he is here.

I rush downstairs and find him waiting outside his car in baggy jeans and olive green shirt and a Chiefs cap. It is not cold outside, in fact it’s very warm, but I still get chills on my body. He looks too good. And his stubble definitely suits him. It draws more attention to his sharp jawline and it’s not too shabby.

“You look beautiful.” he says as he opens the door for me. I just smile at him awkwardly, knowing that I should’ve said it back. But he’s just looking too beautiful right now.

“Music?” he asks me as he drives us both to their house. I won’t lie that I am not nervous. I am sweating in all the places possible. I know that his father was some big football player, but I don't see him as a fan. I am meeting him as James’ friend. Or what if he introduces me as his girlfriend? What do I say then? I am not his girlfriend. Yet.

“Sure.” Maybe the music can help me relax a bit. And what does James do? He puts on hip-hop and the speaker was so high that I’m sure I just had a mini-heart-attack.

◆◆◆

I wish I loved football. I really wish I did because I have run out of all topics to make conversations with Mr Williams. And although he told me to call him by his name, the Indian in me just can’t!

“So did you also have a phase where you got those gold braces, Mr Williams?” He laughs in the same way that James does. And I have to admit that for someone his age, he looks too fit and too handsome. I wonder if James will also look the same way when he’s that old.

A gush of warm wind washes over us and sends ripples through the pond. I can tell that James is really putting in effort in everything. He is busy skipping stones with Caleb while Mr Williams and I have been making small talk for the past 30 minutes while sipping champagne. I either need Caleb here or I need to be drunk. I just can’t make small talk anymore.

“You mean the grills?” he chuckles.

I nod at him as I empty my glass for the 4th time and he fills it up again. “Yes. I did for a very short time. And my wife told me to lose either one of them, so the grills had to go.” He talks about his wife with a smile. And his crows feet crinkle as he smiles. His eyes shine too.

“Riya…” Caleb comes running towards me and I quickly put my glass down and catch him as he jumps into my arms. I feel Mr Williams stiffen next to me. Caleb still only talks to me but he giggles with both James and Mr Williams. Mr Williams pulls Caleb in his arms and starts to tickle him. Both of them break out into laughter and James comes and sits next to me.

Thankfully Mr Williams hasn’t asked me anything about my relationship with James, because I really don’t have an answer right now.

“Ri…ri…” Caleb chuckles “Help me.” He is laughing so much that his eyes tear up.

“Here comes another tickle monster.” James joins in and tickles Caleb even more.

“James…No…Please…stop. James.” Caleb chuckles loud. And James freezes in place. Caleb talked to him! He picks up Caleb in his hands and stands up and spins him in his arms.

“James. Stop. James…” Caleb chuckles. Caleb also calls him James…