Love Rekindled (Love Surfaced) (26 page)

Dylan walks in and stops, holding the door open. “Whoa, call the police. There’s been an invader.”

“Funny. Where’s your latch on?” I drop the pen and sit back in my chair.

“She’s packing. We leave Saturday.” He drops his computer bag on the back of a chair before sitting down in the one across from me.

“What’s that?” He nods toward the strewn papers on the table and my open computer.

“That Aquatic Center I go to, I’m looking at their profit and loss statements. They’re struggling badly, and I can’t figure out why. They were doing great their first year.” I stare down at all the red, shaking my head.

“Hmm . . . and you say business isn’t for you.”

I’d like to knock his cocky smirk off his face.

“I’m doing it as a favor.”

“You might be doing it as a favor, but I think you’re enjoying it, hence the reason you’re here.” He stands and ventures into the kitchen.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’ve been completely occupied with Taylor and Emerson, and haven’t shown your face around here. I have no idea what you’re going to do about rent. Honestly, you should just move in with her or down there. But this guy asks you to help him, and here you are willing to spend time away from them to do it. I just find it all interesting, that’s all.” He cracks open a beer, holding one up for me.

I shake my head and he places it back in the fridge.

“I won’t be able to concentrate over there, but I’m trying to finish up so I can surprise them.”

He comes back over and sits down, oblivious to the fact I just told him I want to finish.

“What’s the deal with you guys? Are you one happy little family now?”

“Taylor and I are together, but I’m not about to move in with her. We have to consider Emerson.”

“They coming to Thanksgiving?” he asks, and my head falls back.

“Shit. My mom called me today, asking me about coming. I think I might stay at Taylor’s. She usually has her family and a few friends over.”

“Why don’t we all go on down to Mayberry?”

“It’s Roosevelt, idiot,” I clarify and he narrows his eyes.

“I know, but the town is like fucking Mayberry. I dated this girl down there once. Not sure where I met her.” He looks up at the ceiling, still coming up empty. “Anyway, I picked her up and they say there’s only one cop. It’s creepy.”

“Whatever. Mayberry had two cops by the way.”

“Look at you knowing trivia shit.” He downs the rest of his beer. “Let me know if you need any help. I’m in for the night.”

“Okay. See you.”

His bedroom door shuts and I focus back on the paperwork.

Two hours later, I’m in my truck on my way to surprise my girls. Thank goodness for that A in Accounting. But even with me being able to pinpoint where all their money is going, the mystery to fix it is still running through my head. The only person I know who could tell me how they’d be able to profit without spending an arm and a leg would be Tanner.

I dial him up on my car’s Bluetooth, fully expecting my sister to answer his phone, which seems to be the norm nowadays. Not that he has a ton of time between practicing and the endorsements which are starting to come in for him. It’s not a secret that he’s the up-and-coming, and I guarantee after the Olympics next year, his face will be everywhere, including a Wheaties box.

“I’m seriously going to beat your ass.” My sister, Piper, answers the phone. I’ve been meaning to call her. “I’ve given you space to call me and announce that I’m an aunt. So, expect an ass kicking come Thursday.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve had some shit going on and I thought it would be a good surprise.”

“What, were you going to have her wear a sign when I walk in the door, saying, ‘You’re my aunt’. You can tell Taylor I’m thoroughly pissed at her, too.” I can hear Tanner urging her to calm down in the background. Then there’s some muffled voices and what I assume is a tug of war over the phone.

“Go take a bath, baby,” Tanner says. “What’s up?” I can just imagine him on the couch with his legs up on the coffee table and remote in hand. He’s so different to me. He takes everything in stride, nothing truly excites him. Well, with the exception of my sister.

Piper yells in the background.

“Yeah, I’ll tell him.” He gets back on the phone. “She says she fully expects to spend all Thanksgiving vacation with Emerson.” I guess my mom talked to her in detail. “You should have called her.”

“I’m busy. Plus, she never was a big fan of Taylor’s.”

“Still, I shouldn’t be talking to you either, because you left me on the receiving end of her wrath.”

I release a breath, turning onto the highway. “Sorry. I’ll take you out for a drink this weekend.”

“And Piper.” He laughs and I can hear the humor in his voice.

“And Piper.”

“Good. So, what’s going on?”

“I have a daughter.”

“So I hear.” I thought this would get some reaction out of him. “I thought you might have one out there somewhere, but never did I think it would be Taylor’s.”

“Hardy har. We can chat about all the crap going on with that when you get home, but I’ve been swimming down at Creadle’s Aquatic Center.”

“Is it new? I’ve never heard of it.”

“It’s about twenty minutes from me. Anyway, I started teaching swim lessons there. Oh, shit, I forgot to tell you, Greg Mendes died.”

“What?” Tanner’s voice sounds surprised and more alert.

“So, I went to see Coach and Greg’s brother came out and asked me if I’d train him. Greg died in a car accident last year, right after he’d graduated.”

“Oh, man. I’m sorry to hear that. Why didn’t we know anything about it?”

“I don’t know.” I shake my head, thinking about how we both should have been at his funeral. “Maybe they didn’t have a funeral or visitation.”

“We need to get the guys together.” When Tanner says guys, he means the swim team. We’ve all spread out like a spider web across the United States, but at one time, we were one tight group.

“Definitely. Maybe once you become a gold medalist you can rent some island for all of us to party on.”

“Whatever. That island would be for me to screw your sister every which way but missionary.”

“You asshole. That shit isn’t funny when you’re actually with her. Damn, now I’m having visuals.” I hammer my hand against the steering wheel like that can dislodge the images from my brain.

Tanner just laughs in the background. “Seriously though, I’ll have to send something to his parents. I feel horrible.”

“Well, I have two favors, and one might help you with that. The first is come to the center with me on Friday to help me train his brother, Cayden.”

“Done.”

I expected nothing less when it comes to Tanner. He’s always willing to help anyone.

“Second, I’m trying to come up with some ideas on how the center can capitalize their profits. I need to brainstorm because they are in desperate need.”

“You’d be more the man for that than me. Shit, I’m a dumb-ass swimmer. You’re the one with the master’s degree.” He has a point, not sure what made me think he has any expertise in this.

“They could do more lessons, but instructors aren’t cheap.” I begin the brainstorming process myself.

“I’m guessing you’re not. Are they charging enough?”

“They seem to be doing well with the swim lessons, but it’s mostly lane reservations. I met Cayden there Monday and no one else was there.”

“What about parties? Does it have anything for children?”

A light bulb goes off in my head. “See, you’re just good at these things.”

He chuckles. “I don’t know about that, but we can talk at Thanksgiving.”

I bite my lip. “I’m not sure. I might spend it with Taylor and Emerson. I’m going to see if we can do both. I’m on my way to talk to her now.”

“Are you two together?” I hear the apprehension in his voice. Tanner’s the only one who knew I had cheated on her right after it happened. Then my sister found out after they got together, and she cornered me before my wedding to Bayli.

“Yeah.” A smile slowly forms on my lips with the elation that we are in fact a couple again.

“That’s great. So, you’re really trying to make it work?”

“Yeah.” My smile grows wider, especially as I pull off the highway and come that much closer to her house.

“I’m happy for you.” I can hear he’s genuine. Isn’t that the kicker in our relationship? He’s always wanting what’s best for me, and I’m consistently envious of everything he has.

I pass the Welcome to Roosevelt sign and my body itches to see them both.

“I gotta go. When do you get in?”

“Not until Thursday morning.”

“Practice?”

“Yeah.” He’s always short with his answers in regards to his swimming. I know him well enough to know it’s because of me. “Hey, do me a favor? Call her. Talk to her, okay?” I should have known the sister conversation wasn’t at rest. “Try to do it before we leave. She was really upset you hadn’t told her.”

“Okay.” I nod although he can’t see me. The guilt trip he’s laying on me works and I regret not calling Piper right off. “I’ll call her.”

“Thanks. See you Thursday.”

“Bye.”

We hang up at the same moment I pull into Taylor’s driveway. A breath of relief escapes my throat when I spot her car up ahead and the light in the kitchen glowing. I get out of the truck and move around the house toward the front door.

A loud crashing sound emanates from inside. Taylor screams and I run the last few steps. With my hand on the knob and shoulder against her door, I push, ready to go in. The door doesn’t budge, and I continue to throw my body into it until the lock eventually busts, easier than I expected; easier than it should.

I stumble into the room. Taylor’s hand is on the door, and she’s peering down at me. Across the room, an older, heavyweight man is staring over at me.

“I heard a crash and you yelled.” My eyes inspect the room, finding a broken snow globe in pieces all over the floor.

“Who the hell is this kid?” the guy asks, and all the light bulbs go off in my head.

“Dad.” Yep, that’s what I thought. “This is Brad. Brad, this is my dad, Dean.”

I stand up straighter, looking Taylor over quickly to make sure she’s okay. Once I’m satisfied that nothing happened to her, I walk across the room—stepping over the shattered glass, water, and glitter—to reach her father.

“It’s a pleasure, Mr. Delaney.”

He laughs and stares down at my hand. “Brad? As in the dad?” His eyes are bloodshot and there’s a stain of liquid down the front of his shirt.

“Dad.” Taylor sighs behind me, moving into the kitchen.

“That’s me, sir.” My hand continues to hang between our bodies.

He lays his hand in mine, gripping as hard as I will the day Emerson brings a guy home.

“Why are you here now?”

“Just let it go, Dad. We’re working things out.” Taylor comes into the room with a broom and I release Dean’s hand to help her.

“Working what out? God, Taylor, you make the worst decisions.” He moves over to the couch and Taylor doesn’t grant him a response.

“Where’s Emerson?” I ask her as we bend down to clean up the mess.

“She’s asleep. It’s been a long couple of days for her. Thanks for surprising me.” She smiles and I can’t stop myself from matching it.

“What did I walk in on?”

“Apparently, his tab is due and he doesn’t get paid until tomorrow. So, he has some time to spend with his daughter.”

“What about the snow globe?”

“We got into a fight about my sister. He thinks we should be involving the police to find her. I don’t. Same old, same old. He’ll forget once he can get back to Carolle’s.”

“I’m leaving,” Dean says as he gets up from the couch, weaving over to get his coat.

“You don’t have a car. Sleep on the couch.” Taylor stands and I finish cleaning up the mess while she handles him.

What a crappy hand Taylor got dealt as far as her family is concerned.

“No. I want my own bed. I’ll walk.” His hand reaches for the knob and he misses.

“Dad, you live five miles away.” She looks back at me with panic in her eyes.

“I’ll drive you, sir.” I rise to my feet and move to the door.

“Stop calling me sir. Actually, you call me nothing because you are a piece of shit, leaving my daughter with a baby.” I look over at Taylor and she holds her hands in the air.

“I told you, Dad, I never told Brad about Em.”

“Lies. All you, your mother, and your sister do is lie.” He yanks the door open and stumbles down the stairs.

“I’ll be right back. Text me his address.” I kiss her on the cheek and jog down the steps to catch up to Dean Delaney, aka the town drunk.

I’m able to loosely guide Dean to my truck, and Taylor’s text shows up on my phone as soon I’m situated in my seat. I enter the address into my GPS.

“Fancy car.” He shakes his head back and forth a few times.

I ignore his comment and the fact his seatbelt isn’t fastened. Backing out of the driveway, I spot Taylor’s silhouette in the window. I flash my lights at her.

“Why did you come back?” Dean asks once I drive down the road a bit. There goes the hope of a quiet ride to his house.

“I love your daughter.” I refrain from using ‘sir’ since somehow it offends him, and since he didn’t inform me what to call him in exchange, I figure nothing is the option.

“Where were you two years ago?”

“In a bad spot.” Wish I could say, ‘much like you are now’, but I’m not going to offend what I hope is my future father-in-law.

“Huh,” he mumbles and looks out the window. “So you edged Sam out?” he asks, and I study the GPS, noticing we still have three minutes before we’re due to arrive at our destination.

“With all due respect, they’re my family, not his.” I give him my most politically correct answer.

“I might not be a fan of you, but I hate him. To go from one of my daughters to the next is sick in my book. The fact he tried to get with Taylor disgusts me.”

I’m not sure what to say, so I don’t say anything.

“Not that you’re much better.”

Okay, I’ll take the hit. Isn’t that what one does when the father of the girl they love insults him? I can take this abuse up to a point, and I cross my fingers he doesn’t go over that limit.