Sitting in the diner, I spun on the stool aimlessly.
Mr. Grisham sat at his usual table, and I heard Becca slide a pie into the oven while Mitch fried what smelled like potatoes from the grill. I stared at my phone, scrolling through the pictures before I glanced up, almost like they were on a big screen, lining the diner walls. Pictures of Lexy and I, of the beach, and the waves softly hitting the shore.
“When's go time?” I heard Becca call, snapping me out of my reverie. I looked down, checking the time.
“Twelve hours.”
She nodded, “Your dad's all set?”
“Yep.” I could feel myself bitind down on my curled lips in frustration. Becca walked out, seeing me sulking on the counter.
“What's the problem?” She asked, sliding open the case of deserts and pulling out the last piece of marion berry pie “Not ready to say goodbye?”
I sighed, “I guess so. But I can come back, right?”
“Of course.” agreed Becca, smiling “How's your boy doing?”
“He's home now.” I smiled, “Lexy's happy as a clam to have him, of course, but he's still stuck to the couch and needs help getting up sometimes. The doctors said the soreness should be gone in another couple weeks.”
She lowered her voice, “And is Miss Stewart still in town?”
“Yep.” I replied, keeping my answer short. Indie's been avoiding her, considering the fact that she's decided that talking will fix everything she'd done wrong. But I couldn't keep him away forever; eventually, he'd have to listen to whatever it is she had to say, or they'd turn into the Capulets and the Montigues, sans the romantic element of mystery.
The boys had dispersed to their separate quarters, visiting family and spending time apart before they had to take off. They'd keep Indie from jumping too high during sets, they'd promised, and have him in bed by a reasonable hour (which meant before four a.m.).
Becca reached for my hand “He loves you, Dawson. Anyone with common sense worth a damn can see that.”
I nodded, hearing the door open as my dads strut in proudly. I shook my head again, stifling a laugh as Papa hopped up beside me.
“Well, baby doll.” He smiled, reaching for my hand “How's tomorrow evening sound?”
I looked at him, shrugging “Fine.”
Becca walked back, her face puckered. I stood up “Do you need me to help?”
She assured me, “No, but thank you. Take yourself back home with that piece of pie, buy some ice cream, and tell him to get well from me, okay?”
“Sure.” I smiled, walking to the other side of the counter, laughing as she squeezed me tight “Bye, Becca.”
She sighed, “Goodbye, Dawson. Be good, okay?”
I stepped back, wiping my eyes before heading out the door. Clenching the keys in my hand, I stared at Charles in the parking lot. Indie said I could take him to Ann Arbor, and that if I left the keys in the tires, I could drive to Detroit and leave him there so Indie could drive him back to me when he had an off day. We'd planned it that way, and we were making it happen.
Through the dark woods, I drove. My heart pounded, and I felt more afraid than I had in a very, very long time. Charles kept me safe, carrying me over every bump and shake without much resistance, and I knew I needed to take advice accordingly; this wasn't the end of the world. We'd be together again, and I knew we would.
YOU ARE READING
Hometown Hero
Teen FictionDawson Bennet never had a permanent home. Traveling from restaurant to restaurant with her dads, no town held her in one place long enough to get comfortable with anyone. And signs don't look good, now that she's become acquainted with Indie, the to...
