Page 7 of Obsessed Daddy
“It was embarrassing enough that Clint had to fish me out of the water today while I babbled on about getting attacked. I’m not going back tonight, all ninja-style. With my luck, I’d break my leg trying to jump onto the deck.”
Pepper laughs. “Please! I need a distraction. Let it marinate for a minute. We can buy matching black footsie pajamas and cat masks.”
“And get ourselves killed,” I laugh. “Everyone has guns up here, and apparently, they’re not afraid of terrifying, mythical creatures.”
“What?”
“Nothing,” I laugh. “If I go, I’m going alone. Easy in, easy out. If you want to do something wild, we should hit up Vegas together. Gambling, loads of distractions, and—”
“You’re deflecting.”
“What? No, you’re deflecting! You don’t want to go through with this wedding, do you?”
“Nope!” She offers the answer before I can regret my bluntness. “Not even a little.”
“So, what are you doing then?”
I hear the shrug in her voice as rain continues to pound outside. “I don’t know. Maybe he’s stressed too.”
Part of me wants to remind her that Nathan was pulling this stuff far before she accepted the engagement, but it’s not my place. Not two weeks before the wedding. Plus, every story has a thousand sides. I don’t know the inner workings of their relationship well enough to have an opinion on it, though I’d like to pretend I do.
“Stressed is one thing, but your mom isn’t doing great. You’ve been traveling in and out of town to take care of her. It’s okay to need extra support, and he should give it to you willingly.”
“Yeah,” she whispers low under her breath before a short period of silence. “It’s fine. It’s all going to be fine. Besides, I feel obligated to go through with the wedding now. I mean, everyone paid so much to all these vendors, and we have guests coming from out of town. It’s… a lot.”
“You’re not required to do anything, especially when it comes to marriage. I mean, I’m sure your friends and family would rather you bail now than be miserable for half your life, eventually divorcing because you only got married out of obligation.”
“No,” she laughs, “that’s the furthest from the truth. I think just about everyone I know would think I’m throwing my life away. This whole situation is most people’s dream, and they wouldn’t let me hear the end of it if I didn’t show up. Anyway,” she exhales loudly, “it’s all good. Nathan and I get like this, then things get better again. No big deal. I just have to learn to rely on other people for emotional stuff. That’s all.”
“You should be able to rely on Nathan for emotional stuff, Pepper. That’s the whole point of a relationship. Why would you make his dinner and do his dirty laundry if he can’t even give you support during one of the roughest times of your life? Come to think of it, why do his chores at all? He should be sharing in the responsibilities.”
The sound of metal on tile clamors in the background. “Shoot!” Pepper groans. “That was one of the vases I was giving my bridesmaids. I gotta clean this up. I love you! Be safe tonight. I’m here if you change your mind on needing a ninja sidekick.”
“Noted,” I say with a grin, already going through my closet for something black. “I don’t know why I’m actually considering this.”
“Because you know if you get this over with, it will shut your sister up for a bit, and deep down, I think we’re both people-pleasing golden retrievers, desperate for treats and approval.”
I’m laughing, though as I hang up the line and wait for nightfall, I have a feeling she’s hit the nail on the head.
*****
The feathery swipe of a paintbrush hits my leg as I flatten my back against the side of the lake house. It’s past two in the morning, and the sky is darker than I’ve seen it in a while, but it’s finally stopped raining. It’s the perfect time to get these pictures.
I should’ve given more thought about what shoes I was going to wear. The ground is still wet, and even in the sand, I’m leaving evidence behind with each step.
I’d make a terrible criminal.
In fact, as I slink around to the back of the house, I realize I have no real plan whatsoever. I’m only copying what I’ve seen people do in spy movies. Even then, the spy movies I watch are usually made for kids, so they aren’t trying to capture authenticity. I mean, the kid spies are usually carrying pens with grappling hooks that turn into submarines. I’m stuck out here with a five year old phone and a prayer.
Heck, I didn’t even have black leggings, so I had to wear my black sundress. My two sizes too small black sundress. It’s a mess, but I don’t own much black. Preschoolers love color, and, truth be told, I love color too, clearly, because I grew out of this black dress years ago and never replaced it.
Now, if pink was the preferred color for criminals, I’d have been set. More than set, I could have shown up in a whole pink leotard, with pink sneakers, and a fuzzy pink bow to match.Heck, I even have a hot pink sweater I could’ve thrown over my shoulders.
I tiptoe up the back steps of the lake house and lean close to the patio door. I have no idea what I’m doing, but I’ve seen someone break into a sliding door with a butter knife before, and right now, that’s my plan.
To break into a house with a butter knife, so I can take pictures for my sister.
Yeah, it’s solid.
