It Takes Two

Chapter 12

“Sweetheart, let’s talk about this. What has gotten you all upset?”

Olivia threw her backpack on the floor, stomping over to her room. “I told you that nothing was wrong. I can’t talk to you about this, Dad. I know what you’re gonna say before you even say it, and I’m really not in the mood.”

Eric let out a sigh. “How can you possibly know that if you haven’t even told me what the problem is yet?”

“I want Sookie!” she yelled, slamming her bedroom door behind her.

He was caught off guard, not expecting that. It was obvious his daughter wanted a woman to talk to, and knowing that Sookie was likely busy, he called the only other person he could think of.

“You’re so completely hopeless,” Pam stated. “It’s obvious that Olivia is having boy troubles. Why else do you think she doesn’t want to talk to you?”

Eric shook his head, refusing to believe that. “No, that’s ridiculous. She’s not even thirteen yet. How could this happen?”

“The girl is growing up fast. She’s always been very mature for her age. Add getting her period to the list, and you have yourself a teenage hormone bomb. I wish you luck with that. I love your girls and all, but I could never have one of my own. I don’t envy you, brother.”

He ran his fingers through his hair. “Should I try talking to her again? I don’t want my daughters to think they can’t come to me with this stuff. I want them to know they can tell me anything, and that I’ll always be here for them.”

“As sweet as that is, you should give her a little time to herself. Wait until she calms a bit, and then have Sookie talk to her. Trust me, Eric, I know your heart is in the right place, but you’re the last person she wants to discuss this with at the moment.”

Eric hated when she was right, but didn’t see any other options. After calling Sookie and explaining the situation as best he could to her, he decided to give his daughter one last chance to come clean with him. “Are you ready to talk now, love?” he said through the closed door, but was only met with silence. “Sookie’s on the phone.” That got Olivia’s attention as she came barreling out of her room, snatching the phone from him, and then slamming the door back behind her.

* * * * *

“Boys suck!”

Sookie laughed. “You sound like me after a break up. What happened?”

“Jimmy was picking on stupid Melissa in school today. He did it right in front of me,” Olivia explained. “He hasn’t even talked to me in two days. Why are boys so confusing? If you like someone, shouldn’t you just tell them? Why do they have to keep playing games? Does this get any easier as you get older?”

“Oh, sweetie, I wish it did. The truth is that boys never really change. Your dad is one of the good ones, but they’re a very rare breed. Does Jimmy even know that you like him?”

Olivia sighed. “I didn’t tell him exactly, but I thought he knew. I shared my lunch with him the other day. I thought that meant he was my boyfriend now.”

Sookie smiled on the other line. This reminded her of when she was a child; doing anything she could to get her crush to notice her. “The world would be a much better place if things were that simple. It takes a lot more than just sharing your lunch with a boy these days. You should tell him how you feel and if he doesn’t feel the same way back, well, at least you’ll know where you stand. He might be playing hard to get because he thinks you’re not really interested. At this age, boys are always clueless. Sometimes you have to spell it out for them, and if he doesn’t want to be your boyfriend, you’ll just have to put your attentions elsewhere. I guarantee it’ll drive him crazy.” She knew that Eric would not be too happy with her advice, but really didn’t know what else to tell the girl.

Olivia thought about it. “I guess I could try that. And if he still isn’t interested, I deserve better. He’s not the only cute boy in class.”

“That’s my girl,” Sookie responded proudly.

“I wish you were here,” Olivia said, sadness in her voice. “I miss talking to you.”

Sookie felt touched by that. “Likewise, but you can call me whenever you want, just ask your dad first. I should only have to be here for another week or so, and then I’m all yours.”

“You’re really coming back?”

It pained Sookie that she doubted it, but was very determined to ease her mind. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, but just do me a favor? Go easy on your dad, he loves you girls very much and just wants what’s best for you. I think he feels hurt that you don’t talk to him as much as you used to. He’s a good man; you don’t have to be afraid to tell him about your situation. It might be hard for him at first, but I know he’ll understand. He’ll just appreciate that you decided to open up to him, he won’t care about anything else.” Sookie prayed she was right about that. If not, it could come back to bite her in the ass.

Olivia nodded. “Okay, but not yet, I need a little more time. Can I talk to you again tomorrow?”

“Of course, whenever you want.”

She smiled. “Cool, I’ll give you back to my dad now.”

Eric was confused to see a now beaming Olivia leaving her room. She handed him the phone, placed a kiss to his cheek, and then headed into the kitchen. After the shock wore off, he held the phone to his ear. “I don’t know what you just did, but when you finally return, I’m never letting you go again.”

Sookie laughed. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“I mean it, Sookie. I will tie you to my bed and never let you leave. You know, that might actually be exciting.”

She rolled her eyes. “Always the romantic, aren’t you? Tell me again why I agreed to this?”

“Because you can’t resist my charm and good looks,” he replied with a grin.

“I knew there was a reason. I have to go now, but don’t forget about our video date tonight.”

That was one thing Eric had been looking forward to all day. “No chance of that, I can’t wait to see you. I feel like it’s been forever.”

“I hear you on that one, but as I told Olivia, it should only be another week or so. I seriously can’t wait to get out of here. I figured leaving my hometown would be hard, but I think it’ll be easier than I thought. At least up there I’ll have a smaller chance of running into my ex everywhere I go.”

“Agreed, let’s hope he finally got the hint after the punch you laid on him. That usually says it’s officially over,” Eric told her.

Sookie let out a breath. “You would think, but he’s always been a bit dense.”

Eric chuckled. “All right, I’ll let you go. Thank you for talking with Olivia, it means a lot that you actually care about my girls. I know I’m a big part of why you’re moving, but it’s nice to know I’m not the only reason.”

“It was my pleasure, and I told her that she can call me whenever she wants, as long as you know about it first. I’ll see you later tonight. Amelia will be putting in a cameo appearance, just so you know. She’s been dying to see what you look like.”

He laughed. “I hope I don’t disappoint her.”

Sookie laughed as well. “No chance of that.”