Page 21 of One Last Time

Dad was in his office, and I poked my head in. “Yeah, it was, um…It was weird, actually. But, hey, I got this baseball glove for Brad!”

“I heard my name! I heard my name!”

Brad came barreling out of the lounge, right into my side, and made a grab for the glove. I automatically held it up above my head.

“Elle, come on! What other cool stuff did you bring me? Lee sent me a picture of a Nerf gun and a pogo stick. Did you bring those, too?”

I looked over at Dad, and we both rolled our eyes. Typical Lee—pawning his old toys off on Brad, just so he didn’t have to feel like he was giving them up or giving them away.

“No, but you do get the baseball glove,” I told him, finally handing it over. “And there isno wayyou’re getting that pogo stick. I’m not looking after you when you break your arm falling off it.”

“You have to look after me anyway.”

“Listen to your sister,” Dad said. “And, Elle, tell Lee no pogo sticks.”

“Way ahead of you.”

• • •

I was sort of expecting Dad to be all dressed up, doused in too much aftershave, looking dorky and like he was trying too hard, in too-fancy shoes and a tie and everything. But once he’d gotten ready, he was just wearing some jeans and a sweater and the shoes he wore pretty much all year-round.

He just looked like Dad.

“All ready for your big date?” I asked, plastering on a toothy smile.

“We’re just getting dinner, Elle.” He rolled his eyes, but looked excited. Happy. He looked like it was more than “just dinner.”

I did my best to mimic how he looked whenever I went on dates with Noah: I planted my hands on my hips and narrowed my eyes, my chin jutting forward, and pretended I was looking at him over the top of glasses—a look I had seenwaytoo many times and knew by heart. “I hope she remembers you’ve got a curfew, bud. Is she picking you up?”

He laughed. “I’ve ordered an Uber. We’ll share a ride.”

“Sincewhendo you use Ubers?”

“Since I finally worked up the courage to tell my kids I’m going on a date, so I can leave my car here and share a bottle of wine with a beautiful lady.”

I groaned, pulling a face and leaning back. “God, you’re so cheesy. Does she know how cheesy you are?”

Dad only laughed, squeezing my shoulder when he stopped. “Thanks for being so good about this, Elle. I know it’s gotta be a little weird for you. It’s weird for me, too.”

I really didn’t think I was being as good about this as he seemed to believe I was, but I wasn’t about to correct him.

“So did you make a decision on college yet?”

I shook my head, a sinking feeling in my stomach at the mere mention of it. “Not really. I’m gonna try to decide tonight and talk to the guys about it tomorrow. But, um, speaking of Lee and Noah…before you go…”

I explained to him quickly about the plan for us to spend the summer at the beach house, helping get it shipshape and ready to sell, being there for the contractors and whoever the hell else needed to come by.

It wasn’t that I’dplannedto tell him when he only had a couple of minutes before his Uber arrived and he had to go, but I would’ve been lying if I said that wasn’t extremely convenient.

“The whole summer?”

“Well, just till the house sells. And obviously I can come back here to help out with Brad and babysit, and go buy milk and run Brad to soccer practice. Please, Dad? I really need this summer with Lee, especially if I’m going to end up at Harvard.”

It was a dirty trick and he knew it, but that didn’t make it any less effective.

Dad sighed. “If I hear oneinklingof trouble or crazy parties or—”

“Cross my heart. We’ll be good.”