Summer

Chapter 65

When we get home, the house is empty, and I'm not surprised. Mom's at the country club and dad's at work. It's only 3 pm but I head straight to my room. My body feels exhausted, so I don't think twice about leaving my stuff in its suitcases. Unpacking can wait until tomorrow.

I immediately plop myself onto my bed and bring the covers over my body. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I fall into a deep sleep. I pass out for two hours and wake up to a knock on my door.

"Sophia, sweetie, you up?"

"Just a second," I shout in a raspy voice.

On my way to the door, I stop in front of my vanity and fix my hair so that I don't look like a hot mess. I grab a few tissues and wipe away the dry mascara that's stained on my cheeks from crying so much.

When I open the door, my dad's standing there in his plaid suit.

"Dad!" I exclaim as I go in for a hug.

"Hi, sweetie. It's so good to have you home. We missed you so much." He kisses the top of my head before walking into my room. "I want to hear all about your trip. Mom's doing dinner with the girls tonight, so I was thinking we could grab a bite at L'Escale. Your brothers are in. What do you say?"

"That sounds so nice, and I would love to, really, I would, but, um, I'm so wiped from the flight. Why don't you guys go, and we can grab lunch tomorrow?" I hate to turn down dinner with my dad considering I haven't seen him in a while, but I'm just not up for it.

"You sure?" His forehead creases, and I can tell that he's confused by my response. "I'd hate to leave you home alone."

"Positive. I wouldn't be much fun anyways."

"Okay," he skeptically says, squinting his eyes at me like he knows I'm hiding something. "If you change your mind, just let me know. Reservations are at 7:30."

"Thanks," I smile, which causes him to smile back. "Oh, and dad," I stop him before he can reach the door, "I missed you, too."