Summer of Sloane (23 page)

“Luce, this is between your brother and me.”

“I know. I just thought maybe we could talk about something else for a change. Like…like the fact that Sloane is teaching me how to swim.” She eyes me over her glass of water as she takes a sip, but I don’t miss her smile. “It’s awesome, Dad. And I’m getting good!”

Mr. McAllister clears his throat. “You’re back in the water? When did that happen?” He doesn’t wait for her to respond, but I love the fact that Luce was able to change the conversation just like that. “Does Dr. Klein think this is a good idea?”

“As a matter of fact, he does. He’s even the one that suggested it. Besides, I’m learning a lot, and Sloane’s a really, really good teacher.”

Mr. McAllister slowly turns to me; a scowl creases his forehead. I can actually see him processing what he’ll say next and how he’s going to say it. And now I know exactly how his kids must feel every time they sit here with him.

“So what exactly makes you qualified to be teaching a minor how to swim? Are your parents there? I don’t remember giving permission for this.”

I’m a little taken aback by his tone, not to mention his words.

“Actually, I’m certified in Seattle and have been giving lessons for years. And—” I go to say more when my phone buzzes with a text. My mistake is when I glance down and see that it’s from Mia and it makes me lose my train of thought. “I…anyhow, yes, I am qualified.”

“And I’m the one that said it would be okay,” Finn interjects.

I’m not sure if that’s enough, so I’m surprised when his father doesn’t probe any further. That, or he’s already thought up the next topic he’ll be grilling his kids on.

My phone buzzes again. I take a deep breath, but don’t look at who it’s from.

“Speaking of being out in the water, would you like to tell me why I saw the surfboards left out?” This question is directed back toward Finn. “It wasn’t enough for me to lose one son, but now you’re back at that ridiculous hobby again?”

“We were just tooling around off Waikiki. I’m not
back
at anything.” I can tell Finn really wants to roll his eyes, but he refrains. “And just because something happened to Quinn, doesn’t mean it will happen to me. Especially not in the two feet of wild Waikiki surf.”

His dad doesn’t miss Finn’s sarcastic tone, and I’m pretty sure it’s made things worse. “I’m assuming the ‘we’ in this situation is the two of you?” He motions between Finn and me. “You seem to be having a
very
interesting influence on my children, Miss McIntyre.”

His comment slides down my back like ice. But then he turns back to Finn.

“And I don’t care if you’re surfing in the bathtub. I don’t like it, and I don’t want it to happen again. Have I made myself clear?”

My phone buzzes once more. I feel like I’m being torn in a million directions, and before I can stop myself, everything breaks wide open.

“Wow, I can see why your kids love having dinner with you.” The entire table goes mute. “What? I’m only pointing out the obvious. We all know this is downright miserable. And you don’t even know me, so what gives you the right to speak to me this way?”

Mr. McAllister’s face turns stony, like hard cement. Luce looks like she might actually get sick. And Finn…I wait for him to defend me—to back up what I’ve said, because I know deep down he feels the exact same way. So I’m shocked when he just stares at me in disbelief. In fact, of all things, he looks disappointed. And suddenly my heart goes still.

“So he can say whatever he wants, but when I do, I’m the one being rude?” I grab my phone and my handbag. “Thank you for dinner, but please, you’ll have to excuse me.”

I shove back from the table and rush toward the bathroom, but Finn catches my arm and spins me around before I get there.

“What the hell was that?”

I blink, stunned. “Huh, that doesn’t quite sound like an apology to me.”

“You actually think I should be the one to apologize after what
you
just said back there?”

“After what I just said? What about your father?”

“You’re not the one who has to deal with him at the end of the night!” He rubs a hand angrily down his face, leaving red track marks behind. “Thanks a lot….No really, thanks. Of all people, you’re the one that’s supposed to understand.”

“Wait a minute. Did you really expect me to just sit there and not respond to any of the rude things coming out of his mouth? Did you expect me to be okay with how he talked to you, to Luce, to me?” I stand tall and run my hands over my dress to smooth it out. “I was trying to defend you. Everything I’ve done tonight was for you. I got all dressed up and came to dinner for you. I canceled my plans with Mia for you. All of it…for you!”

And then it hits me. I didn’t see it before, or maybe I didn’t want to, but I’m right back where I was with both Mick and Tyler. Giving everything up for someone else. I even canceled plans with Mia, my best friend on the planet right now—who told me she needed me—for him.

God, how could I have not learned my lesson the first time?

“I’m so stupid. This entire night was stupid. But believe me, it won’t
ever
happen again.” I don’t even let him respond before I turn and storm out of the restaurant.

I’m a complete mess during the cab ride back to my house, as I replay everything over in my head. I’m beyond pissed at Finn and how he reacted, and I can’t believe I ditched Mia for that asshole. What the hell is my problem? Why am I constantly getting so wrapped up in someone else that I stop seeing what’s important to me?

I pay for my fare and stumble into the house, tearing my heels off as I go.

“Penn, is that you?” My mom comes out from the living room, a glass of wine in one hand. “Oh, Sloane, what happened?”

“It was a disaster, Mom—a complete disaster.”

I tell her everything, including what I said to Mr. McAllister, and I watch as her eyes go wide.

“Huh. Well, it sounds like you didn’t hold back, did you? But it also sounds like it’s about time someone told that man the truth.”

“You should’ve seen their faces, Mom. It was bad. And maybe I shouldn’t have said some things, but honestly, out of everything, I feel the worst about bailing on Mia. God, I’m such a shitty friend.”

“No you’re not, Sloane. You just did what you thought was right for another friend, that’s all. But you should go see her. Tell her what you just told me. She’ll understand.”

It’s amazing how quickly things can change. Today started off on a total high, but ended in complete disaster. Hopefully I can at least still fix things with Mia. I send her a text that I’m on my way over and go to my room to change.

I’m about ready to leave when my phone rings. I grab for it, thinking it might be her, but I’m surprised when the caller ID shows that it’s Tyler. It’s really late in Seattle, past one in the morning. And I’d bet my entire summer’s salary he’s drunk, so I don’t answer it. I’m not in the mood.

I wait for him to leave a voice mail like he always does. But this time, he doesn’t. And a few seconds later, he calls again.

Frustrated, I turn off my phone and grab my bag, when Penn comes into my room. He doesn’t need to say a word for me to know that something isn’t right.

“What is it, what’s wrong?” I ask.

“Slo, you need to talk to Tyler.” He hands me his phone, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to hear his voice. “Sloane,
please
, trust me, you need to take this.”

I grab his phone but only because I know my brother wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. Taking a deep breath, I hold it up to my ear, my eyes never leaving Penn’s.

“Hey.”

“Sloane…it’s…it’s McKinley.”

Instantly, I’m on alert, because I can tell by the tone of Tyler’s voice that something is very, very wrong.

“Tyler, what is it? Where is she?”

I hear the unmistakable suck in of breath, as if he’s trying to contain himself, contain his emotions.

“There’s been an accident. I’m at the hospital, but I have no idea what’s going on. No one will talk to me.” He falters for a second and takes another breath. “God, you should’ve seen her car. There’s nothing left.”

My heart feels like it’s going to break out from my chest.

“Wait, what? What the hell was she doing driving? She doesn’t even have her license, Tyler! And why won’t anyone tell you what’s going on?”

“They won’t talk to me because I’m not family. But I think it’s bad…it’s gotta be bad if they’re not saying anything, right? Please, Sloane, you need to come home. I don’t know what to do.”

I don’t even hesitate. “I’ll be on the next flight.”

I throw a change of clothes in my backpack. Anything else I need will be at my dad’s place. I rush out to the living room, and Penn must’ve already told my mom and Bob because they’re all there, waiting for me.

My mom is on the phone, but she covers the mouthpiece as soon as she sees me. “I’m on with the airlines now.” She hugs me tight. “I’ll call you as soon as I have your flight confirmed.”

Penn drives me to the airport, and I realize I need to call Mia and let her know I’m not making it over. She picks up on the second ring.

“Yeah?”

“Mia, I’m so sorry. There’s been some kind of accident with Mick….God, I have no idea what’s going on. But Penn’s taking me to the airport now to catch a flight home.” I don’t miss her hesitation at the mention of my brother. “Mia?”

“Go, Sloane. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be here when you get back. I’m so sorry. I hope…I hope everything’s okay.”

“Thank you, Mia. I’m really sorry about tonight. I totally fucked up, please don’t be mad.”

“Sloane, don’t worry about that—I understand. Go do what you need to do and call me when you can, okay? Love you.”

“Love you, too, Mia.” I disconnect the phone and immediately it rings again. My mom tells me I’m booked on a red-eye flight and gives me all the information. She also called my dad. Unfortunately he’s out of town at some work conference, but he’s trying to get home on the next flight that he can. I end up texting Tyler and ask if he’ll be able to pick me up. His response is immediate:

So much is swirling around in my head right now, I don’t know what to focus on first, where to start. I feel like things are beginning to close in on me, and I feel my breathing start to waver. I take a puff from my inhaler and suck in a long, deep breath, then push myself to concentrate on one thing at a time, and that starts with what’s right in front of me.

“I take it things aren’t okay with you and Mia?”

Penn glances at me sideways, his focus still on the road in front of him.

It takes about five seconds for me to catch up. “Oh, God. She told him, didn’t she? Mia finally told Shep?” I realize the last time I saw my brother was last night in the pool, when he had Misty high up on his shoulders playing chicken. After everything that’s happened today, that feels like such a long time ago.

“Yeah, she told him and Shep and I are cool. He’s not the problem.”

He coughs to clear his throat, pausing for a few seconds longer, before saying anything more.

“I have no idea what the hell’s going on, Slo. I don’t even remember what happened last night. All I do know is that I woke up with a very naked Misty in my room this morning, and I was hungover like nothing else. So of course why wouldn’t that be the exact moment Mia showed up?”

“Oh, God.” I feel sick to my stomach. That had to have been when she texted me this morning.

“I went over there this afternoon to try to talk to her, but she blew up at me, saying all this shit about how both of us suck because you bailed on her and I can’t keep my junk in my pants. I tried to explain what I could about Misty, but she wants nothing to do with me. And now she won’t answer the phone. So until I can find out what the hell happened, well, I’m as lost as you are.”

He flips on his blinker and begins easing his way over lane by lane for our upcoming exit. I try to absorb everything he just told me, but based on what he’s said, there could be a million different scenarios that happened last night.

“I’m sorry, Penn. I really am. If there’s anything I can do, I will. I promise.”

“Don’t worry about that right now.” He pulls up to the curb and turns to look at me, his face completely serious. “I have to figure this out myself. Besides, you’ve got bigger problems to deal with.”

“I’ll call you as soon as I land, okay?” I hug Penn tight. “P., I hope you figure this all out. I’m sorry I can’t be here to help. And also…thank you for making me talk to Tyler.”

“Don’t worry about it. Have a safe flight.”

I jump out of the car and run inside to the ticket counter. The agent can obviously see I’m upset, and when I explain there’s been a family emergency at home, she reassures me that everything is taken care of and hands me my ticket. My flight departs in thirty minutes, so I need to hurry.

And with that, I’m racing through security. The ride on the Wiki-Wiki shuttle bus to my terminal takes forever, and for a second, I think I’m not gonna make it. When I get to my gate, I’m the last passenger to board the plane, and they seal the doors shut behind me.