Page 45 of Clueless
“Calm down, sis.It’s not like I’m gonna propose to the girl.We’ve been together, like, a minute.”After polishing off my first slice, I reached for a second.“But I have to admit, this feeling… it’s new to me.”
Her jaw dropped.“Are you saying you’re in love with her?”
I frowned, with the pizza half-way to my mouth.“I can’t be in love with her.It’s too soon.Isn’t it?”
“I knew I was in love with Jared after our first date.”
“Gimme a break.You were sixteen.You thought you were in love with one of the Jonas Brothers too.”
She smacked my arm.“Shut up!I did not.Okay, I may have had a little crush on Nick, but I never claimed it was love.”
I chuckled, shaking my head.“Glad I wasn’t around to witness that.”
But I was sorry I hadn’t been around to intimidate her now husband.He was a good guy, but I had no doubt he’d taken liberties with my sister back then he wouldn’t have, had I been around to put the fear of God in him.
“I wish you were,” she said, quietly.“I wish you were around for all of it, Taz.”
I forced the regret back down, clearing my throat.“I do too, kid.But I’m here now.And I’m trying to make the most of my second chance at life.That’s all I can do, right?”
She nodded, blinking back tears.“And I’m so proud of you.Not just because of the music thing either.I was proud of you before that.How hard you’ve been working, fixing up that house, sending support for Quinn, and now trying to have a real grown-up relationship, with a gorgeous professional, no less.”
If not for the music deal, I probably wouldn’t have had the guts to go for Grace.I would have assumed she was a hell of a lot smarter, sexier, more successful, and could have had any man she wanted.But a little bit of fame and money had a way of balancing the scales some.
“Don’t go getting all sappy,” I warned, pointing at her.“That’s not why I came here.”
“Sorry.”She sniffled and sat up straighter.“I promise, no more gushing.”
“Good.So, I talked to Quinn.”
She stared at me, wide-eyed, before setting her pizza down on her plate.“Why the hell didn’t you lead with that?”
“Honestly, it didn’t go all that well.It’s pretty obvious she hates me, but she’s willing to talk to me because she needs a car and college fund, apparently.”
Rachel winced.“She actually told you that?”
“Basically.”I tried to shrug it off, but it still stung to know she saw nothing more than dollar signs when she looked at me.“I doubt she’d have been willing to talk to me at all if not for this music deal.It was my publicist who talked her into letting me call.”
She shook her head.“I’m still trying to get over the fact you have a publicist.But as for your daughter, she’ll come around once she gets to know you, Taz.Right now, you’re just the asshole who abandoned her.”
“Don’t I know it,” I muttered, before filling my face with more pizza so I wouldn’t have to talk.
“But when she gets to know you, the way we know you, how generous and over-protective and?—”
“I don’t need you to list my attributes, thanks.”I didn’t mean to be a jerk, but I didn’t see myself the way my kid sister saw me, and probably never would.
“What does Grace say about it?She’s the professional.”I frowned and she said, “Please don’t tell me you haven’t told your girlfriend about the call with your daughter.”
“Yeah, I told her.”
“And?”
“She said it’s common to have all this animosity in the beginning, with a situation like ours.But it’s possible to work through it.She suggested therapy.”I rolled my eyes.“But what else would you expect from a therapist, right?”
“Maybe she’s right.It could be a good idea, if Quinn is willing?”
“I doubt she’d be willing to be in the same room with me right now, never mind therapy.”
She sighed.“Honey, from what I’ve heard, it’s never easy with teenagers.But given your history with Quinn, it’ll be that much harder.You just have to be patient.And have a little faith.Speaking of which, has Mama talked to you about going to church yet?”
