Tempting Him by Isabel Lucero

33

After I leftAlek’s room, I rushed ahead of my dad, finding my family’s hotel room before he could catch up with me in the elevator. I was only able to find it because my sister texted me. She’s the reason I knew my dad was here before Alek opened the door.

Just as he was about to see who had been knocking, I checked my phone and saw a few messages from Janae. She told me they were in town and staying at a hotel, and mentioned Dad leaving to see a friend who stayed in the same one. I read them all a second too late.

Once I made it to the room, Dad showed up a minute later, and Mom and Janae could tell something had happened. Mom pushed it aside, instead focusing on seeing me for the first time in several months. We talked about graduation, work, their new puppy, and how she’s happy to be on vacation. Dad fumed silently, grunting responses, and I avoided looking at him. He didn’t mention Alek, so I didn’t either. I only stayed an hour before needing to flee, promising Mom and Janae that I’d be back tomorrow morning so we could go have breakfast.

I wanted to go straight back to his room and plead with him to stay, but I guess it wouldn’t do any good. He’s made up his mind, and he’s right, it was always going to end. I just hate that it’s ending right after our first kiss. We could’ve had two weeks of kissing. We could’ve had more.

After leaving the hotel, I drove around for hours before finally making it home and dropping to my bed. The desire to text Alek was high, but I didn’t, and I never heard from him either.

Now, as I’m getting ready to go meet my family for breakfast, dread knots up in my stomach. I’m not ready to face my dad again. I don’t know if he told them anything and if I’m about to be met with three people telling me how wrong and stupid I was to sleep with Alek.

I pull up outside the IHOP my mom told me to meet them at, and as soon as I step inside, I spot my mom waving me over to a table near the window.

“Hey, baby.”

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hi, ugly,” my sister greets, barely looking up from her phone.

“What’s up, snitch?”

She looks up, tucking a long braid behind her ear. “What?”

“I know you’re keeping Mom and Dad up to date on my social media posts.”

She snickers. “Oh. I was mad at you.”

“For what? I’m all the way over here.”

“I think it was when you said you wouldn’t buy me those shoes I wanted.”

I shake my head and Mom laughs. “We told her no, too. She needs to learn to save up some of her allowance, plus who pays over two hundred dollars for shoes?”

Dad’s quiet in the corner, not chiming in like he usually would.

“So, what’s been going on, baby?” Mom asks, looking over the menu. “How’s life? Are you excited to be done with college?”

“Yeah, I am excited, but I also can’t believe it either. Now that it’s almost over, it feels like it went by really fast.”

“That’s how it goes,” she says with a nod. “And your internship? How’s that been?”

Both me and Dad stiffen. Clearly he hasn’t mentioned anything to her. “It’s been really good. I’ve learned a lot. It’s definitely been more hands-on learning than in class.” Dad scoffs but hides it by clearing his throat before drinking his coffee.

“That’s good. When do they choose who gets the job?”

“The end of next week.”

“You’re working with Mr. Drakos, right? I really like him. Kind of stiff, but friendly.”

Dad pins me with a glare. I look away and notice Janae watching us. I give her a forced smile before responding to my mom.

“Yeah. He’s nice.”

I keep it simple, hoping to keep my dad from popping a blood vessel.

Once we start eating, Dad begins to join in on the conversation. We’re able to act like we’re not avoiding each other by responding to the same questions, giving our responses one after the other, however, we’re still not actually communicating. If Mom notices, she doesn’t bring it up, but Janae seems to be more aware.

After we’re done eating, we all go to the zoo. My mom likes to visit the zoo no matter where we visit, so we walk around looking at animals and feeding the ones we’re allowed to. At one point, me and Janae are left alone while Mom and Dad wander around a gift shop.

“What’s up with you and Dad?” she asks.

“Nothing. Why?”

She scoffs. “Stop lying. It’s so obvious.”

“He’s mad at me. Well, I’m mad at him, too. It’s not a big deal. Don’t worry. We’ll get over it.”

“I’m just confused, because we hadn’t been here that long and as soon as we saw you for the first time yesterday, you’re already pissed, and then Dad comes in pissed, but he was supposed to be seeing his friend, and you know, shit doesn’t add up.”

I peer down at her. “Are you supposed to be cussing?”

“Don’t change the subject. But also, don’t tell Mom and Dad,” she says, looking over her shoulder.

“Don’t worry about it. Me and Dad are fine. But we do need to talk about you snitchin’ on me. What’s that about?”

She allows me to change the subject, and eventually our parents catch up to us, so I never have to answer her question. We finish our day with a trip to the mall and then dinner before they retire to their room and I go back to the frat house.

Sunday is full of stuff my mom wants to do—breakfast, taking family pictures at a park, then going back to the hotel to swim. Unfortunately, all that does is remind me of the times I got Alek in the pool. I wonder if he’s still here.

As I lounge in one of the chaise chairs, Mom gets out of the pool and sits next to me.

“What’s goin’ on, baby? You seem down.”

I force a smile. “I’m fine.”

“Mmhmm. You know your momma knows what that means. I’ve said it many times in my life, and I almost never mean it when I do. Especially when you plaster on that fake smile.”

I laugh, shaking my head while I watch Dad and Janae in the pool. “It’s nothing.”

“You and your dad seem to be on shaky ground. He won’t tell me what happened, but it’s obvious something did.”

“I suppose I disappointed him.”

“I doubt that,” she says instantly. “We’re so proud of you.”

“It’s a long story, and one that I guess doesn’t need to be told. We’ll be fine, though.”

She studies me for a while. “You can talk to me if you need to.”

“I know, Mom. Thanks.”

When Monday rolls around, I almost hope to see Alek at the office, but as soon as I step inside the building, I know he isn’t there. Not only was his car not out front, but his presence isn’t felt.

At Linda’s desk, she informs me that Luther is now occupying Alek’s office and tells me Mr. Drakos had to hurry back to Chicago for an important business matter. Only I know the truth.

I didn’t anticipate feeling the way I do with him gone. It started off as meaningless sex but along the way, it turned into more and I didn’t seem to realize it until it was over.