Brandon
Amalialeanedbackinher chair, tilting her face and closing her eyes as she soaked up the sun and the salt air. It wasn’t often that I got to see her this relaxed as she lounged by the ocean.
We tried to make time to get lunch together once every couple of weeks, but with both of us having careers, it could be hard to find the time. She had her career, and I had mine.
Throw sneaking around with Gina into the mix, and I had even less time than I used to spend with Amalia.
“Okay,” I said after our food was delivered. “How is work going? Do you have any shows coming up?”
“I’ve signed on for New York Fashion Week next year.” Amalia took a bite out of her lobster roll and shrugged. “Other than that, there’s not a whole lot going on. I’m building a new line, but some designs aren’t coming together quite right yet.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out. New York Fashion Week is huge, though. We’ll have to have a party to celebrate. Congratulations.”
“I don’t think that I want to do anything to celebrate. Jaxon and I were supposed to take a trip when I got the invitation and signed all the shit that I had to sign.”
I sighed and ate a couple of my fries. “Why are you going to let him ruin this for you? This is a massive accomplishment, and you deserve to celebrate it. Instead, you’re letting your ex-boyfriend and what you had planned ruin the accomplishment.”
Amalia rolled her eyes. I remember when she was a teenager, and the only answer she would give me was those eye rolls. At least back then, my wife was still alive.
The last five years without her have been the hardest to navigate. Whenever I thought I was getting somewhere with Amalia when she was in one of her moods, it turned out that I was only making it worse.
It seemed like my wife was the only one who ever understood Amalia.
“Dad, I appreciate that, but Jaxon and I were together for a year. We were going to start our lives together, and this was supposed to be our big first event. So I don’t want to celebrate what will be a reminder of how we’re not together.”
“I love you, Amalia, but don’t let some man who doesn’t mean shit in the grand scheme of things take away big moments like this.”
She rolled her eyes again, but a small smile was on her face as she took another bite of her food. “Why don’t we stop talking about my relationships and start talking about yours?”
“Well, that’s part of what I wanted to talk to you about.” I cleared my throat and shifted in my seat. “I know you’ve joked that I should start dating again, but did you mean that?”
Amalia shrugged. “Yeah. I don’t think you should spend the rest of your life alone. Mom would want you to be happy. She wouldn’t want you to be alone and wishing she was still alive.”
I smiled, even though the guilt was eating me alive inside. “Alright, well, I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I just want you to be happy, Dad. If that means that you find someone else to share your life with, then I think that’s great.”
“Thanks, kid. I’ll let you know if I meet anyone special anytime soon.”
Except that, I wouldn’t.
I had already met someone special. I couldn’t tell Amalia I was falling in love with her best friend.
I am still waiting.
There was a part of me that wanted to be honest with her. I had the chance to tell her, but I couldn’t do that to Gina. Not right now. She would need to know that I would tell Amalia before I said, Amalia.