Anything Goes on a Friday Night (33 page)

I smiled and looked down at the ring. “We’re crazy aren’t we?”

“Yeah, but I think you have to be to embrace this love thing. It’s the strangest and most exhilarating feeling in the entire world. I think we’ve found something most don’t. We’re lucky.”

My eyes found his, and if eyes could smile, his were definitely cheesing hardcore.

“YOU’VE LOST YOUR MIND!”
Dad yelled, pacing the perimeter of the living room. “And what kind of man is Finn, not even asking your father?”

“Father? You’ve been anything but that for some time now! You aren’t very approachable, Dad!” I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth, even though it was the truth. I stood from the couch when Dad stopped, and his expression turned from anger to hurt. “Dad, I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No, you should have. You’re right.” He looked at me and then inhaled and exhaled heavily. “Are you sure you want to do this? You’re going to college, and there will be so many opportunities, Elena. I’m not sure I like the thought of you being tied down to Finn when he’s here.”

“You don’t have to like the idea, Dad. It’s
my
decision. My life. And we aren’t setting a date yet. We could stay engaged for years before we ever get married.”

He walked over to the couch and sat down. “Well, I guess a congratulations are in order.”

I sat next to him. I hated the way I felt when I was around my dad now. I used to be so close to him, and now I felt like I barely knew him. “Thanks. I’ll let you tell Nancy.”

“She wants to change. You know that, right? She was talking to me last night about getting help and seeing someone who can help her be a better person. I love her, Ellie. I know you don’t understand it, but when you love someone, you love them through all of the hard times.”

“Then why did you leave Mom?”

“I loved your mom once upon a time, and I fell out of love with your mom. Things became so hard with her. It was like we were playing a game of charades. I couldn’t even be myself around her anymore. And then I met Nancy and was reminded of what it felt like to love again. I don’t expect you to understand it or ever forgive me for all I’ve done, but I hope that you can one day.” He put his arm around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze. “I love you, Sweetie.”

“I love you too, Dad. I hope one day I can understand all of this too.”

“Invite Finn over for dinner tonight. It’ll be just me; Nancy works the night shift.”

I wasn’t sure that’d be a good idea. There was So. Much. Tension. But it would be unfair if I said no. Dad and Finn needed to get to know one another. Aside from all of the bullshit with Dad and Nancy, it was the right thing to do.

I nodded. “Okay, I’ll tell him.” I hugged him before standing. “I’m going to wash my car. Need anything while I’m out?”

“No, just going to rest. It’s rare I have a Saturday off.”

“Okay.”

I grabbed my purse and left the house.

T
HE CAR WASH WAS
broken in Kerrville, and since it was the only one, I had to go to Fredericksburg. I was bent over vacuuming the floorboard when I felt my door close slightly on me.

Damn wind.

I continued vacuuming when the door did it again. I stood to open it all the way again when I saw that it wasn’t the wind. It was Channing. Boy, did he has some nerve.

He smiled. “Hey.”

“Channing, what are you doing? You can’t keep showing up like this. It’s not okay.”

“I was driving by and saw you. I wanted to come apologize for that night at Alyssa’s. I was being stupid. Hell, I’ve been stupid. You’re right, Ellie. I have to stop doing this. I have to move on. But before I can, I need closure. I just need to sit down and talk to you without you yelling at me and pushing me away. Please, let me give you a proper apology, and I promise after you do, I’ll leave you alone forever.”

I cocked a brow. “Promise?”

He made an X over his heart with his index finger. “Cross my heart.”

I looked around and saw familiar faces. I didn’t want to do this here. “Can we go somewhere else?”

“Yeah, we can take my truck.”

I shook my head. “No, I’ll follow you.”

He chuckled. “Okay.”

We got in our vehicles, and I followed him out to his house. No one was there, as expected. I got out of my car. Channing started to go inside the house, but I stopped him by grabbing his arm.

He pulled his key back and looked at me. I shook my head and said, “No. We need to stay out here, keeping a distance between us.”

I was over Channing, but you just couldn’t shake your first love. I trusted myself, but I didn’t trust him, and this was already causing my emotions to spiral out of control. Being too close would make it worse.

He put the keys back in his pocket and walked to his truck. He put the tailgate down and sat on it. I stayed standing. His eyes went from my head all the way down to my toes. He still looked at me the same, but by the disappointment in his eyes when they reached mine, he saw that I didn’t look at him the same anymore.

“You love him, don’t you?”

I nodded. “I do.”

His eyes fell to the ring on my finger. “Oh God, baby. Please tell me that’s not what I think it is.”

“Don’t call me that, and yes, it is. He proposed last night.”

Channing sneered and gave a condescending snort. “Wow. Have you really thought about this? Aren’t you leaving for Stanford soon?”

“I thought we were here so you could apologize, Channing.”

“Right.” He rubbed his forehead. “Sorry. It took me by surprise, that’s all.”

“I’m happy. Really happy.”

“I’m happy that you’re happy. I just wish you were happy with me. We were getting so serious, and it scared me a little. In my mind, I thought I needed to act like a teenager instead of being so serious. I never once stopped and thought about how it would affect you. I was such a horrible boyfriend. I learned from it, though. One day, I’ll find someone, and I’ll love them right.”

My eyes got watery. Channing would always be my first love. We had such good times together. Losing him was like a death. One minute he was in my life every single day, and then he wasn’t. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss him. But I also knew how toxic it would be to let him back into my life. Closure. This is what this was. When we parted ways this final time, we’d have the closure we both needed.

“Did you decide on a college?”

“Yeah. I’m going to Fort Valley in Georgia. I’m going on a baseball scholarship.”

I smiled. “That’s great. And how did you know I was going to Stanford?”

“Alyssa,” we said in unison and both laughed.

He bowed his head and rubbed his bottom lip with his thumb before looking at me again. “I hope life is good to you, Ellie.”

A few tears fell down my cheeks. “You too, Channing.”

He stood and inched closer to me. “Is it okay if I hug you?”

I nodded.

We held onto each other for several seconds before letting go. He pressed his lips against my forehead and brought my hand to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on the top of it.

“Bye,” he said quietly.

“Bye.”

I got in my car and left.

I OPENED THE FRONT
door when I saw Finn pull up. I leaned against the door jam and smiled at him. When he got up the steps, he kissed me.

“Hey,” he said smiling.

“Hey.” I moved so he could come in. My dad came out of the kitchen and held his hand out to Finn. Finn took it and gave him a firm shake.

“I’m glad you could make it tonight,” Dad said as we followed him to the kitchen table.

“Yeah, me too.” Finn looked at me while my dad’s back was turned and winked.

Finn sat next to me, and Dad sat across from us. I was so nervous. This night could go so many ways.

After the food was passed around and our plates were full, Dad looked at Finn.

“Elena tells me that you two are going to be apart for a year.”

“Yes, sir. The school I want to go to near her has a waiting list. They said for sure I can attend next year.” Finn took a bite of his food.

“Elena got into colleges around here too. Did she tell you that?”

I furrowed my brow. “Of course I told him.”

Finn smiled and set down his fork. “I know, and I refused to let her settle for less just to stay here with me. One year won’t kill us. We’ll make it work, and that will give us time to make a plan.”

Dad smiled. “I appreciate that. Elena is smart, and I feel like Stanford is going to be great for her.”

“I agree. And I should apologize for not asking your permission before I asked her to marry me.”

Dad laughed. “It’s okay. I’m sure Elena has filled you in on all of the gory details about our life. I wouldn’t have asked me either. Congratulations, though. I hope it works out for the both of you.”

Finn found my hand under the table and laced his fingers in mine. He smiled at Dad. “Thank you.”

The rest of dinner went well. Dad and Finn talked about Finn’s plans to open a welding shop wherever we decided to settle down one day. Dad seemed to thoroughly enjoy talking to Finn, and if I was correctly reading into how this night was going, I’d say he liked Finn.

I walked Finn out to his truck and kissed him. “Thanks for coming tonight.”

“Of course.” He tucked loose hair behind my ears and kissed my forehead, which reminded me of seeing Channing earlier today. His lips were there only a few hours ago.

Tell him, Ellie.

I closed my eyes before looking at Finn again. “Finn, I have something to tell you.”

“Okay?”

“I saw Channing today, and by choice, I went to his house so we could talk. He needed closure, and so did I. Things have been shitty between us, and he needed to apologize, and I needed to hear it. We talked, I told him about our engagement, and he’s happy for us. Truly. Please don’t be mad. I needed this to happen. We said our goodbyes, and that’s it.”

Finn was pissed. The look on his face said it all. “You went by choice to talk to him? What the hell does that mean?”

“It means he saw me washing my car, he stopped and asked if we could talk, and I said yes. You have to understand that he was a huge part of my life, Finn. Saying goodbye to him on good terms was important to me. You can either be pissed, or you can just let it go. I don’t want to fight with you.”