We Never Kissed

Chapter 35

Ava

Squatting in front of my dad’s raised-up car, I pushed the pan back under the engine. “Is that far enough?” I called over my shoulder.

“You tell me,” he replied.

I left it there and said, “Yeah, I guess that’s right.”

“No, a little bit farther, honey.”

Thanks .

I pushed it a few more inches, and he said, “Right there. Now you’re gonna have to really get under there like I showed you.”

“Really, Dad? Can’t you just pay someone to change your oil?”

“Sure I could. But you said you wanted to talk, right? We haven’t done anything like this in a long time.”

“Yeah, there’s a reason for that. Because I’m not fifteen anymore.”

“Well, you have a car, and you need to learn how to change your oil.”

Instead of telling him I had absolutely no intention of ever changing my oil by myself, I ducked back under there and looked for the cap. Growing up, I couldn’t get out of all the stuff Dad always tried to teach me, things he’d said I needed to know to survive on my own. But if I were being honest, I did like the special time with him, since he and Sammy were always doing things together. “We have had some great talks doing stuff like this, Dad, but I didn’t have this in mind when I came here.”

“Think of it as helping me out. Now, remember to pull your hand away quickly so it doesn’t get too much oil on it.”

“Too late.” I came out from under the car and my dad had a rag waiting for me.

As I wiped the oil off my hands, he said, “So, you’re having boy trouble, huh?”

Maybe this was a mistake. “Dad, this isn’t about some boy I’m dating on the football team. This is serious.”

“So, what did he do? ”

As I watched the oil drip into the pan, I cringed. “It wasn’t him. It was me.”

Dad helped me to my feet. “What? My perfect little angel did something wrong?” The humor in his voice warmed my heart, even though this conversation was going nowhere fast.

“Yes, Dad, I screwed up.”

“Did you apologize?”

Tilting my head, I gave him the same look from when I was a teenager.

His mouth made an exaggerated O as he said, “Oh…I see.” He took the rag from my hand and gave me one of his tight smiles. “So, this is bigger than an apology?”

“It is.”

“Then I guess you need to ask yourself if this guy is worth it. And if he is, then you need to fix it.”

“That’s the trouble. I don’t know how to fix it.”

He stared at me a moment and then said, “Remember that time you and Sammy took a whole apple pie from the bake sale without paying for it?”

I leaned against the side of the car. “This is hardly the same thing, Dad. We didn’t really hurt anyone, and we ended up paying for it. But what I’ve done… I really hurt his feelings and broke his trust and probably put him in a bad situation.”

He nodded, and I could see in his eyes he wanted to help. But then he said, “You didn’t just pay for it. Don’t you remember?”

I remembered, but I still didn’t see the correlation. “Yes, but—”

“It wasn’t just about the pie. It was about the fundraiser and how hard people worked, and you sort of ruined that for them. So, you and Sammy baked a bunch of cookies to raise money for your own donation. Then, you each wrote a letter apologizing for what you’d done. Sometimes you can show how much you care by putting in some effort instead of just words.”

He was right. I couldn’t expect a simple apology to be enough, but Alex wouldn’t even let me do that without an all-out fight. “I get what you’re saying, but I just don’t know what to do.”

“Or maybe you do know what to do, but you are just afraid to do it, little girl.”

My mouth flew open, and he grinned. “I have faith in you, honey. You have a good heart.” Wrapping an arm around my shoulders, he said, “I’m sure you’ll figure this all out.”

Guilt tainted the warm and comforting feeling my dad’s hugs always brought. He hadn’t even asked me who it was or what had happened. Just supported me like he always did. Hesitantly, I said, “Dad…I need to tell you something. ”

He pulled back, looked me in the eyes. “What is it, sweetheart?”

“Well…” I took a deep breath, praying my dad would continue to be supportive even after he heard my confession. “The thing about this guy… He’s really important to me. In fact, he’s—”

“Hey, you two! Hogging the driveway just so you can chit chat?”

Dad and I turned to find Mom walking up from behind the car.

“We’re changing the oil,” Dad said.

“You just changed the oil last week.” She kissed my dad on the cheek, then gave me a hug.

“Dad!” I said, my eyes wide.

He didn’t hide his wry smile. “We’re bonding, Sue,” he said to her but was looking at me.

“Actually, I was about to tell Dad something, but now that you’re here—”

“It’s going to have to wait,” she said, taking me by the wrist. “I need to speak to Ava inside. Your dad will finish, right, dear?”

“Oh, sure, Dad will clean up the mess.”

With Mom’s grip tightening on my arm, I resisted and gave my dad an apologetic look.

“Go, it’s fine,” he said. “I’ll be in soon.”

Without releasing me, Mom went through the front door and all the way to the kitchen. Then she let go and set her bag down on the counter. “Why don’t you wait to tell your dad until this whole thing plays out.”

My jaw dropped. “You know? Did…Alex tell you?”

She moved to the fridge and opened the door. “He came to see me today, but I already knew, honey. I have for a while now.” After a beat of silence, she shut the door. “I think we’ll order pizza tonight. You staying?”

“Mom!” I couldn’t think of anything else to say, though I had so many questions. Instinctively, I moved closer to her, and she took me into her arms.

“I’m sorry, baby. I know this is hard for you. For both of you. But I just know in my heart you’ll get through it.”

With my face against her shoulder, I said, “Aren’t you mad at me?”

She chuckled. “Of course not. Do I approve of keeping secrets? No.” Then she was quiet, but I stayed in her arms for a few seconds longer before pulling back.

“And?” I asked, sure she must have more to say.

“There’s no point hashing it out. We can’t help who we love, and to be honest, I saw this coming a mile away. Even when you were with Mark.”

I coughed out a laugh, my eyes watering over. “But you know what I did.”

Rubbing my back, she said, “Yes, and knowing you, you’re punishing yourself enough. ”

I should have thanked her, but I didn’t. I knew what she would say, but I asked what I really wanted to know. “So…what did Alex say to you?”

She pulled her lips beneath her teeth, then said, “I’m not getting in the middle of this, honey. All I can say is give him some time.”

Time I could do, but time could also mean… “But what if I give him time, and he gets over me?”

She grinned instantly. “I don’t think there’s much chance of that.”