"Hey, Dad," I chirped after clicking the Accept Call button on my laptop. "What are doing up so late . . . or early?" Germany was nine hours ahead of us. I had just returned from a run and beating thoughts of Lauren, Madoc, and everyone else out of my head. It was after six, and I'd heated up a ham and cheese Lean Pocket for dinner.
"Hi, Mija, I just got off a flight from Munich and am heading to bed now. Thought I'd check in to make sure you're doing alright without Grandma."
He looked weary and disheveled. His gray hair stood in half a dozen different directions as if he'd spent the last twenty-four hours running his hands through it, and bags hung under his blue eyes. His white collared shirt was unbuttoned at the top with his tan and blue tie loosened.
"Munich? I didn't know you were going there," I said with my mouth full.
"Just a spontaneous daytrip for a meeting. I took the red eye back to Berlin. I have today free, so I'll sleep late."
My dad's idea of sleeping in was seven o'clock in the morning. If he didn't emerge from his room by then, something was wrong. "Okay, well make sure you actually sleep late. You work too hard, and it's showing. How will you get a date looking like you do?"
He laughed it off, but there was sadness in his smile. I immediately felt guilty for bringing up dating. Since my mom died, my dad had kept as busy as possible. He worked a lot, and when he wasn't working, we were both on the go. We never stayed home on vacations, and he rarely spent any free time at the house. We were always off to one event or another: basketball games, dinners, camping trips, and concerts. My dad never wanted to have too much time to think. I was sure there had been casual "girlfriends" over the years on his travels, but he never considered anyone seriously.
"Hey, Mr. Cabello," dinah called out as she came out of my bathroom and plopped down in my chair next to the double doors.
She'd come over right when I got home, begging for details about Madoc asking me to Homecoming today, but I got saved by the call from Dad.
"Dinah?" Dad questioned me, since he was unable to see her.
"Yep," I slurred, taking another bite of my dinner. I still wore my black compression shorts with a white tank top and blue jacket. The smell coming off of me would definitely repel any guy. I should go visit Madoc right now and throw my arms around him, but even I wasn't that cruel. The fatigue in my muscles filled me with relief, though. I couldn't think or worry about anything right now even if I wanted to.
"Camila Cabello. That is not your dinner." The shock in my dad's eyes made me roll mine.
"It's food. Now be quiet," I commanded comically. I looked over to see Dinah smile and shake her head.
"I'll be home in two and a half months. Do you think you can keep yourself alive until then?" Dad said sarcastically.
"People can survive on water alone for weeks." I tried to keep serious, but I started laughing when his eyes widened.
We chatted for a few more minutes. I told him about my experiments, but left out how preoccupied I'd been lately. He listened while I gave him a rundown of my upcoming meets, and he reminded me to get all of my college applications ready by Thanksgiving. Even though I couldn't entertain the idea of not getting into Columbia, we both agreed applying to other schools was smart. I suggested a few places, and he suggested Tulane, my mom's school. I agreed to add it to the list.
"So," Dinah taunted as soon as I'd hung up with my dad, "Madoc, huh?" I knew she'd been itching to ask as soon as she'd knocked on my door. She dug into me with her stare as she pulled her long, dark brown hair into a ponytail.
I climbed off my bed and took off my jacket. "Oh, it's not like that, and you know it. You should've seen how he ambushed me in the cafeteria." I walked into my newly redecorated bathroom.
Grandma had done it for me last week. The once off white bathroom walls now boasted a calming deep gray. A black shower curtain was accented with matching accessories throughout the room. Black and white pictures of bare trees adorned the wall opposite the mirror, and a radio with an iPod dock sat on the sink counter. My Scentsy warmer contained My Dear Watson, my favorite scent.
This was my oasis. As silly as it sounded, the bathroom should be revered
more. It's the one place where absolute privacy is respected.
For the most part.
