“Penny likes frogs,” Zella tells me, not noticing my flinch at her name. “Can she come to my frog party?”
She’s asked multiple times to see Penny, but I always change the subject. It hurts denying us both. Some days, I barely feel like I have the strength to deny us any longer.
“I guess,” I mutter. “She might be busy, though.”
Zella jumps up and down. “Can we call her, Daddy? I want her to come.”
Hollis and Roan exchange an amused look. I roll my eyes at them. They know how it is. It’s hard to deny your kid something when they want it.
“Yeah, Mello Zello. We can call her.”
“Right now?” Her grin undoes me.
“Sure.” I sigh, flashing Hollis a “help me” stare.
“Why don’t you two go inside where it’s quiet?” Hollis offers, only encouraging this phone call I’m dreading.
“You’re a real dick, rat,” I mumble.
“Dick rat!” Sebban agrees, making Zella giggle.
“On that note, we’re going inside,” I say, quickly ushering Zella inside before Hollis bitches at me for my language. Not my fault his kid is a parrot.
Once inside, I sit in the recliner and pull Zella into my lap. I fire off a warning text so Penny won’t be caught off guard.
Me: Warning…Zella and I are about to FaceTime you per her royal highness’s request.
Penny: Can’t ignore the request of a princess. I’ll be awaiting the call.
Her response warms me. I dial her number on FaceTime and turn the screen so Zella and I are both in it. Penny answers on the first ring.
As soon as her face fills the screen, my heart squeezes. Fuck. I miss her. Each time at practice or at games, I try my hardest not to pine over her. Because people are watching and we’re in basketball mode, I can usually manage.
Not today.
Today it’s just us and Penny.
Penny’s blond hair is in a high ponytail and her pretty features seem sadder than usual. Blue eyes that once seemed hard are soft, maybe even a little teary. Goddamn. I want to pull her through the phone right into my lap.
“Hi, Penny.” Zella waves at her. “Will you come to my birthday?”
Penny grins. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
“We’re going to catch frogs,” Zella tells her, giggling.
“Looks like you already caught one,” Penny teases, pointing at me. “Or is that roadkill?”
A chuckle rumbles past my lips. “Funny, mean-ass. Real funny.”
“I missed giving you crap, Smash.” Her smile falls in an instant, taking my heart with it.
Tierra, the little traitor, appears in the screen beside Penny. “Do you want to come to Penny’s birthday, lil’ Z?”
Penny shoots Tierra a pained look, but my meddling cousin ignores her.
“Yes!” Zella shrieks. “Can I, Penny?”
“She’s not doing anything but sitting here feeling sorry for herself,” Tierra tattles, pinning her pissy stare on me. “I bet she would have way more fun with a couple of visitors.”
“You don’t have to,” Penny mumbles, darting her eyes my way.
“I don’t know, Mello Zello. You’re already having a playdate with Sebban. Maybe we’ll see her another day or at your party.”
Zella deflates and Tierra gives me the stink eye. Penny forces a brave smile on her face and nods.
“I can’t wait to see you on your birthday,” Penny says, her voice cracking just slightly. “See you soon.”
We all say our goodbyes and then the screen goes black. I lean my head back and stare up at the popcorn ceiling that Roan already told me he wants to tackle after the kitchen.
I miss Penny.
Fuck, I miss her.
She’s just this gaping void in the center of my chest. I thought I’d fill it up with Zella, devoting all my love and attention her way. Turns out, there’s still room for Penny. Zella misses her just as much as I do.
“Hey, Zella?”
“What, Daddy?”
“You want to go on an adventure?”
“Yes!”
I may have a hole the size of Texas in my heart, but Zella’s happiness sure echoes beautifully inside it.
“Say goodbye to Sebban, baby. Our adventure awaits.”
Penny
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
I try not to focus on the way Tierra taps her nails on the countertop as she grins at Dad. But I can’t help it. She does it with just enough force that it echoes loudly inside my skull.
Again.
Again.
She won’t stop.
“Tell me,” Tierra says, taunting Dad for the millionth time.
“No.” He folds his arms over his chest and shakes his head, earning a laugh from Jace, who sits at the kitchen table. “It’s none of your business.”
“How am I supposed to help if you don’t tell me?” she sasses, her black eyebrow arched high on her forehead.
“No one asked for your help,” he bites out, irritation in his tone.
“But you still need it.” She scoffs, finally stepping away from the counter where she’s been incessantly tapping. “Face it. You strike out a lot.”
“I don’t strike out,” Dad grinds out.
“Gary’s more of a home run kind of guy,” Jace offers. “He doesn’t mean to hit a grand slam every time and have these bitches planning their wedding by the end of dinner. It’s not his fault he’s a total package that every single female in this goddamn town wants.”
“Aww,” I tease. “You sound bitter, pet. Jealous?”
“Not jealous,” Jace clarifies. “In awe. He gets marriage proposals and I can’t get a chick to commit to dinner. I mean, I like getting my dick sucked as much as the next guy, but give a man a break. At least let him buy you dinner first.”
I roll my eyes and pretend to gag myself with my finger. “Maybe you should move on to guys. Haven’t you tried dating everyone in Hood River?” I snort. “Remember that time you accidentally got yourself matched up with Aunt Karen?”
Dad chuckles. “That date lasted all of three seconds.”
“Fuck you all,” Jace grumbles, making sure we all get to see his middle finger. “Maybe a guy will appreciate me for my fine conversational abilities.”
“Nah, but he might switch it up and want his dick sucked,” I throw back.
“Enough dick talk,” Dad groans.
“I’m eighteen, Dad,” I say, grinning wickedly at him. “I can talk about all the dick. I’m an adult now.”
“If you start dating guys, Jace,” Tierra chimes in, “don’t tell Loden. He’ll totally stalk you.”
Jace rolls his eyes, grumbling. “If I ever did date guys, it sure as hell wouldn’t be him.”
“Maybe he needs a daddy,” I taunt, unable to hold back a laugh.
“Ground your kid,” Jace says to Garrett.
“You can ground me,” Tierra says to Dad, batting her lashes.
“Stop flirting with my dad.” I poke her in the stomach. “He’s old.”
“So? David Beckham is old. Still hot. I’d do Beckham any day of the week.”