“How’s work going, Princess?” my dad asked, interrupting my lazy day off. I was sitting on the couch watching reruns of reality TV. I had no plans for the day. No work, no friends, no responsibilities. Just a date with me and a bunch of crazy people competing for whatever useless title the current show had.

I’d worked quite a few shifts at the bookstore this past week. More than the twenty hours my dad had originally promised. It was all right though. I’d worked a couple of days with Jenny and a couple with Rainier.

Jenny and I had worked out a system. We were friendly to each other during our shifts together. She was much more patient with me while I still learned my way around the store. The biggest difficulty was learning what genre each book belonged in. She’d been working there long enough, she just knew. Working with her was easy.

Working with Rainier was slightly more unsettling. We’d stopped fighting with one another after our weird heart-to-heart. He’d started telling me more about growing up in a family so vastly different from most of the people around us. I, on the other hand, hadn't opened up about my family beyond what I told him that night.

I did stop bringing cherries to work though. And making rain jokes.

“Princess?” my dad pulled my attention back to his unanswered question.

“Good, work’s good." I turned the volume down on the television and turned to face him.

“How are Jenny and Rainier? I’ve tried to be careful to schedule you with people your age. Make it a little less painful.”

“You didn’t have to do all that.”

“I think your exact words were ‘You’re ruining my life.’ It’s the least I could do.”

“Well, it’s not been so bad.”

“You don't know how happy I am to hear that. I know it must seem like a punishment to have to work all summer, but I still think it’s good for you to learn some responsibility.”

“I know.”

“Huh,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “This is going a lot better than I imagined. So any big plans for the day?”

“Well, as you can see, I’m swamped with bettering myself this morning.”

“Oh, yes. What’s this one about? Cake-making? Hair-styling? Designing clothing?”

“Picking the perfect wedding dress,” I said quietly. I knew a wedding wasn’t something that appealed to either of us, but there was something so addicting about watching a bunch of women try on gorgeous dresses.

“And for the rest of the day?” he asked, refusing to comment on my choice of show.

“Avery convinced me to go watch her boyfriend play in his band again.”

“Ah, yes. The Band. Did you know, there was a band in the sixties with that same name?”

“Funny you should ask. Rainier started playing with them and said something about that recently.”

“Really?”

“Yep. And they’ve had this contest all week to rename the band.”

“Sounds like fun. Did you enter?”

I laughed to myself thinking of all the names I suggested. I might not be teasing Rainier at work, but that didn’t mean I didn’t have fun with the names I’d entered.

The Rainier Season.

A Bowl Full of Rainiers.

Rainy Day Music.

His name was just too perfect. I couldn’t help it. I even came up with one only he would get.

Volvo Origins.

I knew it wouldn’t get chosen. The name wasn’t edgy enough. If I was honest, it wasn’t even that funny. I just hoped Rainier would see it and know I was thinking about him and that his secret was safe with me.

“If I know my daughter, and I think I do, I’d say that smile on your face is a good indication of whether or not you entered.”

“I did.”

“And I bet whatever you came up with will win. You’re a bright girl.”

I threw a pillow at him. What was it about parents and them thinking you must be the best at everything because you were their child? You’re the prettiest girl in your class. You’re the smartest girl in your school. You are the best at coming up with names for small-town garage bands.

“We’ll see. They plan to unveil the new name at the show tonight.”

“You’ll keep me posted?”

“Sure thing, Captain,” I said, with a salute.

He smiled at that, but his face quickly got serious. “Princess, you know I love you right?”

“Of course. I love you too.”

“I know you think I’m too tough, but it’s never out of anger. I need you to know that.”

“I do.”

“Good. I’ll let you get back to your wedding show then.”

My dad's sudden change of mood was weird, and I had no clue what could have brought it on. I only knew it was essential for him to know I loved him, so I had answered him sincerely, without any of our patented sarcasm. I spent several minutes trying to figure out what was going on but came up with nothing.

Eventually, I went back to my television marathon. I spent the next several hours in a comatose state on the couch. I watched episode after episode of pure garbage and loved it. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. So after binge-watching until my eyes burned, I reluctantly acknowledged it was time to get showered and ready for the day. It was late afternoon, after all.

I straightened my hair, contoured my face and put on my favorite shirt and skirt combo. I opted for cheap shoes that wouldn’t get trashed and headed out. Avery asked me if I would meet her at The Farmhouse before the show and I was running late after my day spent on the couch.

My best friend was already sitting in a booth when I walked in. Thankfully, Katie wasn’t working. In fact, no one I recognized was working. It was more than a small mercy. I let out a sigh of relief when I sat down that Avery completely misinterpreted.

“Okay, so I know you hate The Farmhouse.”

“I don’t hate The Farmhouse.”

“Fine, I know you hate Katie.”

“I don’t hate Katie.”

Avery closed her eyes and cleared her throat. “Well, then I’m glad you didn’t have to overcome any major hurdles when you agreed to meet me here.”

“They have great burgers.”

“My favorite. Anyway, I wanted to meet up before the show to talk to you about Carter. Things are getting pretty serious between us. He’s even talking about living together and getting married. I wanted you to be the first to know.” Her face lit up as she said this.

I felt like I was going to be sick.

“You’re nineteen. You’re still in school. Please tell me you aren’t thinking about it.”

“Would it be so bad if I was?”

“Aves, you know how I feel about marriage. It’s a useless institution. Serious relationships, in general, are a horrible idea. Look at my parents, look at Julian and me. Those are just people in my immediate circle. Now take that and expand it. How many people stay with the people they date when they’re our age? And of those people who stay together and get married, how many get divorced? How many ruin their children’s lives with their drama?” I was breathing heavily by the time I finished my rant.

“Geez, Michelle. I’m not talking kids or anything. We haven’t even had sex yet. I’m just saying I like him. Maybe I love him. In a sea of man-boys, Carter is talking about the future. Call me crazy, but I think that’s pretty exciting. I want you to be excited for me.”

“Fine, I’m excited.”

“You are so full of it, Michelle. You are my best friend, but you can’t keep pushing me away like this. You push everyone away and blame it on your mom cheating on your dad. You blame it on your breakup with Julian. And let’s face it, you two were as perfect for each other as Mitch and I were. You just didn’t see it because you were the popular couple that was expected to be together.”

“I loved Julian,” I said, angry Avery thought she could tell me my relationship with Julian wasn’t real.

“I’m not saying you didn’t. I’m saying you two weren’t meant for each other, and that’s okay. What isn’t okay, is dismissing every other relationship because of that. I’m your friend, and I can see the distance you’ve put between us in the last year or so. I’ve tried to be patient, but you’re going to have to give a little too.”

Avery wasn’t holding her punches. Not even a little. My gut reaction was to argue and tell her she was wrong. She said I’d been distancing myself, but I hung out with her all the time. It wasn’t possible to do both, was it?

As I stopped to think about our friendship in recent months, I wasn’t so sure.

I hadn’t talked about my parents with her, even though I was still upset about it most days. I hadn’t told how I was scared that I was becoming the third wheel to her and Carter. Mostly because I didn’t want to admit it, but also because I was afraid she would laugh and tell me how silly I was being.

But it wasn’t silly to be anxious about the future and the significant changes that were sure to come into each of our lives. I still didn’t know what I was doing with my life other than getting my degree. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go into business, even though that was the track I was currently on.

“Michelle?”

“Yeah?”

“You looked a little lost in thought over there,” Avery said, with a questioning gaze. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, but I think you’re right.”

“What?”

“I’ve been putting a wedge between us. I didn’t even realize it until you said something. I might need some help remembering that.” Avery’s mouth popped open and was almost as wide as her eyes. “Oh, come on. It’s not like I’ve never admitted I was wrong before.”

“I don’t think I can ever remember this happening.” She quickly lifted her phone and took a picture. “I need to make sure I document this. It may never happen again.”

The waitress still hadn’t come over, so the table was pretty bare. I grabbed the laminated menu that was off to the side and threw it at her. Avery lifted her hands to cover her face, but the menu didn’t make it that far. It made it about halfway across the table before flopping to the side and falling to the floor.

Just in time for an older woman to walk up and pick it up. She handed it to me with an impatient grin before greeting us. “Are you ready to place your orders?”

We both got burgers and spent the time at the diner talking about the things we should have been talking about the last few months. It felt good to open up to Avery again. I hadn’t realized just how much I’d been holding back because of the difficulties I had in my life.

I didn't want our conversation to end, but as our bellies got fuller, the hour got later. Soon it was time to leave for the show at Wild Bill's, and I found I was looking forward to it more than I thought I would.