include him in Elle’s life? If anything, it would have been easier than being a single mother. But, curiously, she hadn’t. And there had to have been a reason why.
“Let’s plan a trip to Indiana. It’ll be fun, said no one ever in the history of evers,” I greeted Elle, who was waiting for me by the baggage claim. She turned when she heard my voice, her eyes cloaked in sadness as she took me in. “No,” I admonished her, pointing at her. “You aren’t doing that here.”
“Aren’t doing what?” she asked.
“You aren’t going to give me your big, sad puppy dog eyes. Just put them away. Close your eyes if you have to.”
Before I could stop her, she flung her arms around me in a tight hug. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m still standing,” I answered, glad she couldn’t see my face and the tears I was fighting to hold back.
“Thanks for coming.”
“Are you kidding me? Like I was going to let you meet your bio daddy without your best friend. Hell, I would have paid you to let me tag along to meet the brave man who knocked up Betsy Sloan.”
She released me from her grip. Her face and the dark circles etched underneath each of her eyes confirmed my suspicion that her anxiety had been in full force since receiving the results of the paternity test. Her nose was red, rubbed raw from a tissue. She hadn’t been sick, so it could only have been from the tears I knew she’d shed. Proof positive that even from beyond the grave, Betsy Sloan was still toying with Elle’s emotions.
“Is that Mena I hear?” I looked over Elle’s shoulder to see Luke approaching us, smiling.
“The one and only.” I met Luke’s outstretched arms. Growing up, my parents had never been much for hugging—or any other form of affection, for that matter. When I became an adult, and anyone would try to hug me, I would just awkwardly stare at their outstretched arms, confused. It took some time for me to get used to the idea that hugging was a way in which normal people greeted each other.
“Thank God,” Luke said, releasing me from his grasp.
“I’m going to pretend that your ‘Thank God’ refers to me being the one and not the only.”
“Then I suggest you keep pretending.” He moved to say something further, stopping himself short.
“If you’re going to ask me how I’m holding up, please refrain from doing so. I’m here. I’m standing. That’s all that matters.”
Luke nodded. “Okay, but I was going to tell you that you were standing on my foot. Then you took a step back, so …”
“Oh. Carry on, then.”
*****
I stepped off the elevator into the lobby of the hotel precisely at our designated meeting time. Directly in front of me, near the entrance, stood Elle, her eyes glued to her phone. A smile overspread my face when I caught sight of her dressed in a cute black cocktail dress with bright red heels that elongated her already lengthy gams.
“Are you meeting your dad or asking him to be your date to the winter formal?”
“Too much?” she asked. “You think I should run back up to the room and change? Because I brought other outfits.”
“I’m sure you did,” I said, grabbing her arm to stop her from running to the elevator. “You look great. Really. You’re going to be the fanciest woman in the sports bar.”
“I’m just … I just want to make a good first impression, you know?”
“You will, because you’re going to be yourself.”
“That has got to be the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.” She turned to me with a familiar gleam in her eye.
“Sorry, my hug quota has been maxed-out for the day.”
“One more time isn’t going to kill you.”
“I’ve heard that one before, but under a completely different context. Oh, hey, here comes your fiancé. Take your hugging out on him.”
“Not that I mind, but why are you supposed to be hugging me?”
“Mena said something really touching.”
Luke looked from Elle to me, feigning shock.
“I’m just as taken aback about is as you are.” I shrugged.
“So, are you ready?” Luke asked Elle, inspecting her face for the slightest sign of hesitation. Like Elle, he had also chosen to dress up for the occasion, donning a nice pair of slacks, button-down shirt, and matching tie with hints of the same shade of blue as his shirt. I guess I was going to be the raggedy one tonight in my basic