"They're gonna have to if you're going to marry me someday."
He pulls me down on the bed with him. "It's not if but when." He kisses me. "When I marry you, in five years, or maybe three, then yeah, they need to learn to get along."
I smile. "I still haven't said yes."
He smiles back. "You will."
He's right. I definitely will. I love Reed and can't imagine being with anyone else. He's sweet and thoughtful and talented and makes me laugh. He's pretty much the perfect boyfriend, and I know someday he'll make a great husband. And a great father. He's really good with kids. Garret's kids love him.
We find ourselves kissing again, hands moving under clothes, just as someone knocks on my door.
"Lilly?"
"It's my dad!" I whisper.
"Lilly, I just wanted to—" He stops and I turn back and see him standing at the door.
Reed and I scramble to get up.
"What do you need?" I ask, adjusting my shirt back in place.
My dad crosses his arms over his chest. "What have you two been up to?"
"Talking. Listening to music." I rush the words out, sounding out of breath.
"I see." He gives the death stare to Reed. "Perhaps next time you could talk and listen to music in the living room."
Is he serious? I'm in college. I've been dating Reed for almost a year. And I'm not allowed to make out with him in my room? This is so stupid. I wish the summer was over so I could go back to school and do what I want to do.
"Dad, if I want to be in my—"
"Sorry, Mr. Kensington," Reed says, his eyes moving around, avoiding my dad's death stare. "So did you get everything for the party?"
"Yes," he says. "And then Rachel and I stopped at the shooting range for our weekly target practice." He has a sports coat on and lifts one side of it, revealing the gun on his belt.
I can actually hear Reed gulp, then he coughs a few times. "And how did it go?"
My dad smiles. "Very well. Hit the bullseye every time."
I roll my eyes. "Dad."
Rachel appears beside him. "Pearce, could you put the extra chairs on the patio? I want to get everything out tonight instead of waiting until the morning."
"Certainly, sweetheart. And if you need help in the kitchen, I'm sure Lilly and Reed would be happy to offer some assistance."
"Sure," Reed blurts out. "We can help."
She smiles. "Great! Just come out when you're ready."
My dad opens my door all the way, then follows Rachel back down the hall.
"Holy shit," Reed says when they're gone. He's breathing hard, like he'd been holding his breath that whole time and is finally getting air. "I seriously think your dad's gonna kill me. Was he like this with your other boyfriends?"
"I didn't really have other boyfriends. Before you, the longest I'd ever dated anyone was a month."
"Meaning you have no idea if he'll kill me. It's entirely possible it could happen."
I laugh. "Reed, for the last time, my dad is not going to hurt you. He's just messing with you."
"Did you see how he looked at me? He showed me his freaking gun! And told me he has perfect aim!" He scrubs his hand over his face. "What the hell? Why does he hate me so much?"
"He doesn't hate you. He's just overprotective. I'll talk to Rachel. She's the only one who can talk some sense into him."
"We better get out of here before he comes back." He takes my hand and pulls me out of the room.
We go to the kitchen where Rachel is putting the groceries away.
"What'd you get?" I ask, eyeing all the sacks.
"Pretty much everything." She laughs. "We cleaned out the store. Your father didn't want to run out of food. You know how he loves the Fourth of July."
"It's his favorite holiday," I say to Reed.
"Because of the fireworks?"
"I'm not sure," I say, glancing at Rachel.
We both know the real answer but it's not something my dad wants people to know. The truth is that, growing up, the Fourth of July is the only holiday my dad didn't have to spend with his parents. He didn't get along with his father so holidays were always stressful because my dad would have to spend an entire day with his family. But not on the Fourth of July. His parents didn't care about that holiday so they let my dad go to his friend's house or wherever he wanted to go.
Reed starts unloading one of the sacks.
"You don't have to do that," Rachel says to him. "Pearce was just kidding. You two can go outside or do something else."
"That's okay," he says. "I don't mind helping."
My dad walks in, changed into his casual clothes, which for him is a pair of light colored pants and a crisp white cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He doesn't wear shorts, even when it's really hot outside.
"I'll be out getting the chairs," he says.
"Reed, maybe you could help him," Rachel says. "Lilly and I can handle the groceries."
My dad and Reed look at each other as if they think that's the worst idea ever, but then my dad smiles briefly at Reed and says, "Follow me." He walks past Reed and out the back door.
Reed sets down the potato chip bag he was holding and glances at me.
"Go," I whisper.
He leans over and talks in my ear. "If I'm not back in five minutes, go out there and search for my body."
He's totally serious so that shouldn't be funny but I burst out laughing as he leaves.
"What's so funny?" Rachel asks.
"Reed thinks Dad is going to kill him."
She sighs. "Now what did he do?"
"He showed Reed his gun and told him you guys had been at the shooting range."
She shakes her head, smiling. "I'll have a talk with him."
"Why does he act this way? I thought you said he likes Reed."
"He does. This is just what fathers do when their daughters get serious with a boy. They test him to see how much the boy will put up with in order to be with his daughter. My father did the same thing."
"He did?" I stop unpacking groceries and sit on one of the stools along the kitchen island. "What did he do?"
"Soon after your father and I met, we took a trip to Indiana to see my parents. We'd only been there an hour and my dad was already quizzing your father, seeing if he was good enough. He took him outside by the wood pile. It was dark and there was an axe right behind him." She laughs. "I can't believe he did that. Poor Pearce. Then my dad made him chop wood, which your father had never done. The next day, which was Thanksgiving, he had Pearce out there again, chopping wood and doing chores in the barn while my mom and I made dinner."
"And then your dad liked him?"
She nods. "Yes, but his wood chopping skills weren't the reason why. It's because my dad could see how much your father loved me. That's all he really cared about. And your father is the same way with you."
"But he knows Reed loves me. He doesn't need to test him."
She closes the fridge and turns to me. "Just give him time. He won't act this way forever. Right now, he's just having a hard time letting you grow up. In his mind, you're still his little girl and he's not ready to give you away to someone else."
"He's not giving me away. It's not like Reed and I are getting married, at least not next week."
Her eyes pause on mine. "Have you two talked about that? Marriage?"
I don't know if I should tell her, but then I do. "Don't tell Dad this, but yeah, we've talked about it. But we're not in any hurry. We'd finish college first and then maybe get married a few years after that."
She's quiet, which means she disapproves. Why would she be against this? She likes Reed. I know she does.
"You don't think I should marry him," I say, a touch of anger in my tone. It's not like I need my parents' approval but it would make things a lot easier.
"Lilly, that's not what I was thinking."
"Then what were you thinking?"
"That it's best not to make plans that far out in the future. Yo
u still have three more years of college and a lot can happen in three years."
"But I'll still love Reed."
She comes around the island and sits next to me. "When I was in college, I dated a boy I thought I loved. We were even engaged for a short time. But then he changed and became someone else. Someone I didn't want to be with and definitely didn't want to marry."
"So how did you know you wanted to be with Dad?"
She smiles. "From the moment I met him, I felt something between us. Something I hadn't felt with anyone else. He's very handsome, so of course I was attracted to him, but it was more than that. When he held my hand, I felt like it belonged there, like it was a perfect match to mine." Her gaze shifts down to the counter as she thinks back. "We could talk for hours and never get bored. If I had a bad day, just being around your father would make me feel better. He always knew the right thing to say, but he also knew when it was best to say nothing at all and just be there for me. And when he wasn't with me, I felt like there was this huge hole in my heart that could never be filled by anyone but him." She tears up as she says it and I know it's because it reminds her of the years they spent apart, when he thought she was dead. That was a long time ago, but she still tears up when something reminds her of it.
"Mom." I put my hand over hers. "I didn't mean to—"
"It's okay, honey." She smiles and wipes her eyes. "I only told you all that because I want the same thing for you. I want you to know for sure that Reed is the one before you make plans for your future."
"He is the one. I love him, and just like you said, when he's gone, I feel like something is missing. He's the one I want to be with. I can't even think about being with anyone else."
She hugs me. "Then I'm happy for you. Your father and I just want you to be happy."
"Then get him to leave Reed alone."
She laughs. "I can't promise you that, but I'll see what I can do. Now should we finish up with the groceries?"
"Yeah."
She goes back around the island to continue putting the food away while I unload the sacks.
"What are your plans for next week?" she asks.
"I don't really have any. Why?"
"Kelly's organizing a fashion show to raise money for one of the local animal shelters and she wants us to come. It's Wednesday afternoon but I thought we could go down early and do some shopping first. Or if you wanted to, we could even spend the night there and maybe go to a spa on Thursday. We haven't had a spa day forever."
"That's sounds fun. Let's do it! Do I get to stop and see Reed?"
"Yes," she says, laughing. "I assumed the trip would include a visit to see Reed."
I rip open a bag of mini chocolate chip cookies and pop two in my mouth. "I love these."
"So do Miles and Ethan. We have to keep the bag away from those two or the cookies will be gone within minutes."
The twins love cookies. Doesn't matter what kind. They love them all. I call them my little cookie monsters.
Reed walks in. "We got the chairs out."
He's still alive, so that's good. And he's smiling, also good.
I go up to him. "Guess what?"
"What?"
"I'll be down in L.A. next Wednesday and Thursday. We're going shopping and having a spa day."
"Sorry, but I'm not really into either one of those things," he says, trying not to laugh.
I kiddingly punch him. "I meant my mom and me. You're not invited, but we'll stop by and see you. Are you going to be around?"
"I should be. Just call when you get there and we'll figure out a time."
Reed is designing album covers all summer. He did it during the school year too, but with classes and homework he was only able to work on a few. This summer, he has eight lined up and they take a while to do. But he can set his own hours, which works out well for when I make these last minute trips to L.A..
"What else can I do?" Reed asks Rachel.
"Could you get the lawn games out? Ask Pearce to find them. They're either in the storage shed or the garage."
I think Reed was hoping he'd get to stay in the kitchen, not be sent back outside with my dad, but he does what she says and returns to the back yard.
My phone rings just I'm popping another cookie in my mouth. I pick it up and answer, "Hello?"
"Hello, Lilly."
It's my mom. Calling to ruin my holiday. Damn. Why didn't I check the phone before I answered?
"Hi, Mom. How are you?"
Rachel glances at me, a look of concern on her face. She knows it's never good when my mom calls. She's either calling to demand I do something or to tell me I'm doing something wrong.
"Why does your voice sound so muffled?" she asks. "Is your phone not working?"
"I'm eating a cookie." I quickly swallow it and take the water Rachel is handing me.
"You shouldn't be eating sweets. It's bad for your figure. No one likes a fat girl, Lilly. How many times do I need to tell you that?"
Not wanting to fight with her, I don't respond to her question and just wait for her to continue.
"I'm calling to tell you that I'm coming to see you."
"What?" I sit up straight, my heart racing. "When?"
"Next week. I'm flying to L.A.. I have no desire to see your father or that woman he lives with so you'll have to drive down and meet me."
That woman he lives with. That's what she calls Rachel. My mom hates Rachel so much she won't even say her name.
"What day?" I ask, then kick myself because my question implies I'm actually going to meet her when I really don't want to. She's my mother so I should want to see her but I don't. After what she did to me last year and what she tried to do to Reed, I have no interest in having any kind of relationship with her. And yet she still calls me every couple months as if nothing is wrong.
"Wednesday," she says. "Meet me in the afternoon at my hotel and we'll go for dinner. Then you can stay overnight and we'll go shopping on Thursday."
"I can't. I already have plans."
"What plans?"
"Mom and—I mean, Rachel and I are going shopping and to a spa." I slipped and called Rachel 'mom' which was a huge mistake, one I've never made before. I'm always cautious and make sure to use Rachel's name when talking to my mom.
"That woman is NOT your mother!" she says in a shrill tone. "Don't you EVER call her that! Do you understand me?"
My heart is pounding now, and my chest hurts. I feel like I'm having a heart attack. This is what my mom does to me. Just the sound of her voice has my palms sweating, my heart racing.
"I'm sorry, Mom, but I can't meet you next week. Maybe you could come some other time."
Rachel walks over and whispers, "We don't have to go."
But I want to go. I was looking forward to it, and I'm not ditching Rachel for the mom who doesn't even act like a mom; who doesn't care about me and constantly criticizes me and puts me down.
"Lilly, you ARE going to meet me there on Wednesday and that is the end of this discussion."
"I told you, I already have plans with Rachel."
"Which you are going to cancel. Because you are going out with ME, your mother, not your father's whore."
My anger surges. "She's not a—" I can't say it with Rachel standing there. I can't even believe my mom said it. She never uses bad language. It just shows how angry she is right now. She hates not getting her way, and she hates Rachel, so I get why she's mad but I'm not backing down.
"Mother, I need to go. Have a nice Fourth of July." Then I push 'end' on the phone and set it down, noticing my hand is shaking.
Rachel puts her arm around me. "Honey, I'm sorry she makes you so upset."
"She demanded I go to L.A. to meet her next week. She didn't even ask. She didn't care that I already had plans."
"Maybe you should just have dinner with her. I could drop you off at her hotel and pick you up later."
"I don't want to see her." I raise my hand up, which is still shaking. "Look what she does
to me after just a few minutes on the phone."
Why my mother even bothers to talk to me anymore is beyond me. I don't dress the way she wants me to dress. I don't act the way she wants me to act. I don't take part in the high society life she wants me to live. I'm not dating the right guy, or going to the right college, or doing whatever else she wants me to do.
In her eyes, I'm a complete failure. A disappointment. So why hasn't she just given up on me?
Chapter Ten
Garret
"Hey." I chase after Ethan as he runs in the house. Damn, he's fast. So is his brother, flying past me before tripping over his feet and falling straight to the ground. He lets out a loud cry and I snatch him from the floor, whipping him up in my arms and making sure he's okay. "You're good," I tell him, kissing his cheek. His crying immediately stops and he reaches toward the floor, fussing until I set him down.
We're at my parents' house for the annual Fourth of July party. We got here this morning and have spent the day in the back yard. Mom set up some games but the kids have spent most of the day in the pool. They inherited my swimmer genes and love to be in the water.
For lunch, Dad grilled burgers and hotdogs and Mom set out about a million side dishes. For dessert she put out cookies, brownies, and an ice cream sundae bar, which the kids devoured. Now it's late afternoon and they've burned off most of their sugar high and are ready for more.
"Cookies!" Miles yells, running up to his brother.
Ethan is at the kitchen table, standing on his toes, his arm outstretched trying to reach a bag of cookies.
I laugh. These two crack me up. I'd never been around twins before having Miles and Ethan so I wasn't sure what to expect. Before we had them, my mom, who is also a twin, kept telling me twins share a special bond and will often mimic each other. So far, I've found that to be true.
Although Miles and Ethan love their older sisters, they have a different relationship with their sisters than they have with each other. I swear sometimes the two of them talk without even speaking. And they're constantly mimicking each other, doing what the other one is doing, wanting what the other one wants. Ethan is more of the leader. He was born first so is technically older. It's almost like he knows that, which is why he takes charge and assumes the leadership role.
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