The-Lucky-List-Rachael-Lippincott

21
When we pull up to my house, I’m surprised to see that my dad is home, his truck sitting in the
driveway.
“That’s weird,” I mutter as I slide into a zip-up hoodie from my backpack.
It’s a Monday afternoon. He should be at work. He’s always at work.
I feel my stomach flip-flop with nerves, the worst-case scenarios inevitably swimming into my head.
I hope everything is okay.
“anks, Blake,” I call as I throw open my door, scooping up my enormous teddy bear. I pause to
meet her warm brown eyes, my stomach flip-flopping for a dierent reason. I glance toward the house
and let out a long sigh. “I kind of… don’t want to go.”
She flashes me a smile that lights up her whole face, the gap in her teeth showing. “You could hop
back in and I’ll head right back to Sycamore Street Tattoos. Turn that sunflower into a whole sleeve.”
I laugh, the two of us falling silent as we look at each other, the same energy from last night filling
the air.
“See you at the lake trip?” she asks.
I nod. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
I close the door and wave before jogging quickly up the driveway and the porch steps to throw open
the front door.
“Dad?” I call as I kick my sand-laden flip-flops o and cross the threshold. “You here? Is everything
all right?”
“Em!” He pops his head out of the kitchen, like he’s been waiting for me to get back. I study his face,
relieved to see he’s fine. Everything is fine. “Drop your stuff! I’ve got a surprise for you.”
I drop my backpack by the stairs like he said, placing the bear on top of it, but narrow my eyes at
him, suspicious. “A surprise?” I ask, watching as he grabs his car keys o the entryway table. He opts
for his nonwork boots instead of his work boots, the only dierence being distinctly less mud, yet
another weird sign. “You have off today?”
“Took the aernoon o,” he says, spinning the key ring around on his finger, like this is totally
normal. He’s still in his white Smith & Tyler T-shirt, a smattering of dirt on his chest, but an enormous
smile is plastered on his face. He tilts his head eagerly as he pushes open the screen door. “Come on.