“Don’t get me wrong; I wouldn’t hurt an animal. I’m just not a fan. I know they serve their purpose and all but, you know. For me…meh.” He shrugs coolly. I think he looks like a pompous ass, but like I said, I can’t determine if he’s a good enough guy for Tina, not yet.
“Hey, there you are,” I hear Dylan calling from behind. Zhen turns, and with his tail wagging, steps toward him. “Hey, buddy.” Dylan squats, and gives Zhen a good scratch behind the ears, and Zorro trots over. “You’re not going to pee on me again, are you?” he asks Zorro.
“Dude, did he really piss on you?” Preston asks.
Preston is either a jerk, or he’s trying too hard. Dylan stands and steps forward. “Hi, you must be Preston.”
“Yeah, I am. Dylan, right?”
“Yeah.” Dylan holds his hand out to shake Preston’s. Preston extends his and they shake. “Hey you,” he says to me, leaning down and giving me a soft kiss on my forehead. “Tina, we meet again.” He moves forward, and gives Tina a quick kiss on the cheek.
I keep an eye on Preston, and can tell he doesn’t like Dylan’s familiar gesture. He puffs his chest out slightly, and hugs Tina closer to him.
Maybe my gut reaction isn’t off.
Tina seems oblivious to his behavior. But to me, something is certainly not right.
“Should we head down to the clearing?” I ask.
“Wait, I forgot.” Dylan holds a finger up, before running back to the car. Zhen watches him.
“I suppose we’re waiting,” I say.
I see Dylan jog up to his car, open the passenger side, grab a bunch of flowers, and what looks like a half-gallon plastic bottle. He jogs back, and Zhen starts wagging his tail. “These are for you,” he hands me the flowers. It’s a beautiful arrangement of lilies and roses with various shades of greenery. “And this is for us.” He holds up the bottle.
“What is it?” I ask as I place the flowers in the picnic basket.
Dylan puffs his chest out, all proud. “It’s homemade limeade.”
“You made this? For us?” I ask.
“I did.”
“Why?” Preston asks.
The smile on my face immediately disappears when I hear Preston ask that question. I’m trying really hard not to form a negative opinion about him, but his attitude isn’t helping. “Because I wanted to,” Dylan replies.
“Cool. Well, I brought a picnic blanket.” He holds it up, as if he’s earned praise.
“Thank you, Preston,” I say.
“Let’s go, guys. I’m hungry,” Tina says, as she slides her hand into Preston’s and they walk ahead of us.
Zhen and Zorro walk on my right, and Dylan walks on my left. “Let me,” he says as he reaches to take the picnic basket.
“Thank you.”
Tina and Preston are a good twenty feet away before Dylan says, “You look beautiful.”
“And you’ve won brownie points with me by bringing flowers and limeade. Did you really make it?”
“I’ll have you know I can cook. And I can cook well, too.”
“Can you? What can you make?”
“I can cook enough meals that you won’t go hungry for a month. And, if I might add, I like cooking too.” He’s pleased with himself.
“Well then, I think you should cook for me one night so I can judge these supposed cooking skills you claim you have for myself.”
“I would be happy to cook for you. Just name the day, and I’m all yours.” He quickly looks over at me, seeing if I caught what he said.
“All mine, huh?” I tease.
He clears his throat, and turns his head. “I…uh…you…um.”
I can’t help but giggle at how uncomfortable Dylan is. “It’s okay.” I place my hand on his arm, then slide it down so our fingers entwine. He looks down at our hands. “Is this okay?” I ask.
“I was about to ask you the same question. I don’t want to rush you, Molly. In anything. However long it takes you to be comfortable with me, I’ll wait.”
He makes my heart swell with happiness. There’s something comforting about him. He makes me feel grounded and safe whenever he’s close. He’s kind of like a security blanket.
“Is this spot good?” Preston calls.
It brings me back to the now, and I nod my head. There are four other groups of people picnicking at various places in the park. We’re far enough away from the others that we’re isolated, but can still see each other.
“Yeah, this is great,” I say again, confirming the spot is good.
Preston lays the blanket down, then sits before anyone else. “Tina.” He pats the blanket next to him.
“I’ll help Molly first,” Tina says.
“Molly and Dylan can do that.”
Man, I’m really struggling to find anything good about Preston. “Want to go for a walk?” I ask Dylan.
“Sure, let me put these down.” He places the plastic bottle, and the picnic basket down, and turns to me.
I take Zhen and Zorro off their leashes, then reach into the picnic basket to get a couple of plastic bags. “What’s with the bags? Preston asks.
“In case the dogs poop,” I reply.
“Just leave it, no one is going to know.”
“I wouldn’t want to step in dog shit, and I’m sure you wouldn’t either,” I snap a little too forcefully.
“I just meant it really doesn’t matter. Others do it.” He tries to backtrack.
“I know.” I smile, but inside I’m angry at him. “But I’m not like others, I’m responsible for my dogs.”
“Yeah, right.” He nods.
Talk about awkward.
“How long do you think you’ll be. I’m getting hungry,” Tina says.
“Not long. I’ll take the dogs for a walk, then we’ll be back. Ten minutes?”
“Okay, cool.”
Dylan and I start to walk away, Zhen and Zorro follow behind us. “I know it’s not my place to say anything, but that guy is a jerk,” Dylan says when we’re far enough away that Tina and Preston can’t hear.
“I’m trying to keep an open mind.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No, it’s okay. I’m struggling to find anything nice about him too. I’m not sure what Tina sees in him. But he may be nervous around me. I don’t know.”
“So you’re giving him the benefit of the doubt. I get it. But usually first impressions count for something. I won’t be going out of my way for him.”
“I know.” I swallow back and watch as Zhen runs ahead to pee. Zorro stays beside me.
“He’s really well trained.” Dylan points to Zhen. “And I’m surprised how easily this little guy has slotted into your family. I can only imagine the horror he would’ve come from, what with the guy who hit him. If he hit him in public, likely chance is he did worse to him in private.”
“Animal cruelty angers me. It makes me see red. People who hurt animals should get the same treatment as they gave their animals.”
“You should do something with animals. It’s blatantly obvious you love them. And look how these two are. You can see they love and respect you. You’ve got a certain way with them.”
“Animals are easy. They need attention, and boundaries. And if you have their attention and respect, you can set boundaries for them. We’ve been lucky with Zorro. It’s almost like he was looking for a family like us.” I duck down and pet Zorro’s head. He wags his tail. “I’ve got to get him neutered soon.”
“Buddy.” Dylan turns to Zorro. “You’re only going to be a half man.” I laugh out loud. “No grandchildren for you then?” he asks.
“Not from my fur babies.”
“Do you want kids?”
“I’ve never thought of having them. Maybe, one day. But it wouldn’t be for a long time. You have to remember, I’m not in my twenties, like you, grandpa.”
“Hey!” He playfully knocks his shoulder into me. “I’m not that old.” We keep walking to where Zhen has
left a lovely present for me to scoop up. Yuck. “I’ll do that.” Dylan reaches for the bag.
“You don’t have to get my dog’s poop. I do it all the time.”
“Poo doesn’t bother me. I’m good.” He walks over, puts his hand inside the bag, and shovels the poo into the bag. “See, natural.”
“You’re definitely in my good books now.” Zhen wags his tail, proud of his deposit. “Good boy.” I pet Zhen. Zhen gets a pat from me, then goes to Dylan. He waits for Dylan to give him a scratch. Oh my God. Zhen likes Dylan. Not a little bit, but quite a lot.
“Hey boy.” Dylan scratches Zhen, and gives him a gentle slap on the stomach. “Your poo stinks.” Zhen’s tail hasn’t stopped wagging, proud of his smelly poop.
We head toward a trash can so we throw the bag away. “Do you?” I ask.
“Do I what?”
“Want kids?”
“Yeah, I do. One day. I’m in no rush though. I’d like to travel first.”
“You haven’t travelled?” I ask.
“I’ve been to a few states, but never overseas.”
“What country would be your first stop?”
“The land known as ‘down under.’”
“Oh, Australia. Really? I hear it’s hot. And every dangerous animal in the world lives there.”
“Gemma went two years ago. She loved every moment of it. She said she felt safe, and saw no dangerous animals anywhere, unless she was in the outback, or at a zoo. She can’t wait to get back there. She said she loved Sydney and her favorite was climbing on top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and she’d go back in a heartbeat. I want to go with her.” I smile. I like the relationship they have. It’s what I think family should be. “You’re smiling.”
“I am. I would love to go to Australia one day. But most of all, I love how you and Gemma are close. Tina and I aren’t close with our cousins.”
“Why?”
I shrug my shoulders. “We get on fine, it’s just, they’re kind of snobs. All they talk about is what they’re doing, and how wonderful their lives are. They’ll ask us a question, and find a way to direct the conversation back to them. My aunts are exactly the same.”
“How many cousins do you have?”
“Four on my Dad’s side, and two on my Mom’s. I like one cousin, Jeffery. He’s nice. He’s cool, but we don’t see him much. They live up north. It’s really just us.”
“Can I ask you a question? It might be too personal though.”
“If I don’t want to answer it, I won’t.”
His face instantly cracks into a huge smile. “You’re refreshingly different, Molly. I like how straight up you are. Do you know anything about your birth parents? Where you came from, anything?”
I lift my shoulders. “Mom told me a bit, but she didn’t know much. All I know is I lived with my birth father, and my birth mother was nowhere to be found. I don’t know who she is, or even where she is. I have no recollection of or contact with my birth father. Actually, I don’t want to have contact with either of them.”
“I don’t know how you do it. If it was me, I’d want to know where I came from.”
“Why? For whatever reason, he couldn’t keep me safe, or even offer me something as simple as food. Why would I want to know about that? There’s nothing for me there.”
“I might want to know one day, but for now, I don’t. I actually don’t think I’m in the mindset to find anything out. I don’t know how I feel about them, and I don’t want to feel like shit.”
“I get it. You’re incredibly strong, Molly. I will say this, I’m glad you’re here, and I’m even happier that I met you.”
“Hurry up! I’m hungry!” Tina yells from where she and Preston are sitting.
“Sounds like we’d better head back,” Dylan says.
Dylan, the dogs, and I all head back to the picnic blanket. Zhen sits beside me, and Zorro lays down beside him. “Preston, what do you do?” I ask as I hand Dylan the hand sanitizer after I squirt some on my hands.
“I’m about to graduate.”
“What were you studying?” Dylan asks.
“Food and drink production. I want to make my own beer. Top of the line, expensive beer.”
“Wow, making your own beer. That’s cool,” Dylan replies.
“Yeah, it is.”
Tina leans in and gives Preston a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so proud of him.”
“Are we eating or what?” Preston asks.
He doesn’t try to find out anything about Dylan or me. Instead, he turns the conversation back to himself. I don’t like this.
“Sure.” I hand out the plates and cutlery, and take out the various foods I’ve prepared.
“I’ve made some fried chicken, coleslaw, beef and cheese wraps, a pasta salad, and a potato salad.” I bring everything out and take the lids off.
“Wow, you did all this?” Dylan asks.
“I did.”
“Hmm, it appears I might have competition in the cooking department.” He picks up a piece of chicken, and bites into it. “You made this?” I nod. “This is very good. Wow.”
“Molly, this chicken is really good,” Tina says as she finishes the first piece, and reaches for a second.
I can’t help but notice the look on Preston’s face. He catches me staring at him, and softens his hard features.
“Come here, Sven,” he calls Zhen over.
“It’s Zhen,” Tina corrects.
“Oh yeah. And Zorro, right?” He points to Zorro. “Come here, boys.”
Zorro stands, and wanders over to Preston, Zhen refuses to leave my side. He pets Zorro, but it’s more for my benefit rather than from wanting to touch Zorro. Preston’s lips are downturned, and he looks like he’s repulsed and holding in vomit.
“Zorro,” I call.
Zorro obediently returns to me.
“Can I have some of that hand sanitizer? You never know where dogs have been.”
“The boys are super clean,” Tina replies. “Come here, Zhen.” Zhen goes to Tina, and I notice Preston roll his eyes.
Zhen doesn’t like Preston. And that in itself speaks volumes to me.
When lunch is finished, Preston and Tina go for a walk leaving Dylan, the dogs and me.
“I have to say it,” Dylan says.
“Say what?”
“I don’t like him. I’m sorry, Molly, I know it’s not my place. But he’s arrogant, and self-centered.” He holds his hand up as he speaks. “If Gemma brought him home to meet me, I’d be telling her exactly what I thought of him. But like I said, it’s not my business. But he’s…” He shakes his head, tightening his jaw.
“What is it?”
“I saw the way he looked at Tina when she reached for more food. I struggled not saying anything.”
“Funny, because that’s exactly what I saw, and what I think. And Zhen doesn’t like him. He gives me the creeps.”
“You have to talk to Tina.” I look at him, raising my brows. “I don’t mean you have to, ugh, that’s not what I meant. I mean I think you should. I don’t want to tell you what to do. I just get a bad feeling about him, Molly. He doesn’t treat her right.”
“I’ll talk to her on the way home. I’m not thinking highly of him at all. Anyway, enough about him. I don’t want to let him spoil our time together.”
“I’ve got to go interstate for work next week. Why don’t you come with me?”
“Ah, what?”
“Yep, I did just say that out loud. I was thinking how nice it would be if you came with me, but it seems my filter is broken around you.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Thank you for the invitation, but no. How long are you going for?”
“Only two nights. I’m going on Tuesday, and I’m flying back Thursday.”
“Wait? This coming Tuesday?”
“Yeah.” He packs the last of the plates into the picnic basket. “What do you think of my limeade?”
“Damn delicious. Now I’m looking forward to you coo
king for me.”
“Name the night.”
“Did I tell you the owners of the studio I work for offered me extra classes? I’m teaching Monday, Wednesday and Friday now.”
“Are you trying to avoid answering my dinner invitation? Sneaky.”
I was. I don’t really know what to say. “I’d.” I look down, avoiding his beautiful face. “Really like that.” My stomach flips with happiness when I look up to see him smiling.
“Good. How about when I return on Thursday night? I’d like to see you then, if that works for you.” His confidence is suddenly wavering.
“That’s perfect for me.” I want to lean in and give him a kiss. But I stop myself when I see Tina and Preston heading back.
“Hey, Preston and I are going to go to a movie. He’ll bring me home. Can you let Mom and Dad know?” Tina asks. Preston snakes his arm around her waist, and draws her close to him.
“Why don’t you come home, and meet Preston at the theater?” Even to my ears, it sounds ridiculous.
“Movie starts in half an hour,” Tina says.
I wish I could talk to her about him before she does something stupid, like sleeps with him, or gets in too deep. “What time do you think you’ll be home?” I ask, trying to gauge a timeline so I know she’s home safe.
“I don’t know, maybe about ten.”
“Twelve,” Preston corrects her.
I have to think quick on my feet and get her home at a more reasonable hour, so I know she’s safe, and so I can talk to her. “Crap. I forgot. I need help tomorrow morning with the boys. Do you mind helping me?”
She huffs, annoyed. “What time?”
“Eight-thirty.”
She rolls her eyes, but turns to Preston. “I’ll have to be home early tonight. Can you get me home by ten?”
“Sure thing, babe.” He gives her a kiss on the cheek.
Babe.
Ugh. I despise the way that word rolls off his tongue. It’s gross. Just like him.
“Bye.” Tina blows me a kiss. “Bye, Dylan. Be good to my sister.”
“Bye, Tina.” Dylan says as they start to walk away.
“See ya,” Preston says over his shoulder. The fact he doesn’t even turn around to acknowledge us separately, or even try to pet my dogs really grates on my nerves.
I lay on the picnic blanket and look up to the sky, watching as the fluffy, white clouds move rapidly through the vivid blue sky.
Echoes of You Page 11