FROTHIN' FOR A SURF

"That's a very important thing" he said grinning. "We don't want that right now" he said nodding his head. "I liked to do upper body, back, and shoulders" he said nodding his head. "Being a dad has been the greatest gift I was ever given. Renata although sometimes difficult, she's amazing, she never ceases to amaze me. It's like you forget what you were like as a kid, but they just amplify the way the world is. Because it's not always so dark and serious and they are never afraid to tell you straight." He said nodding his head "but being a girl dad, wow it's something so special, the bond you share it's so beautiful. I love every moment of it."

"I feel as though I should though" he said shrugging his shoulders. He was conflicted and when he was conflicted he got frustrated. "I feel like the right thing to do is to talk to her, but also I feel as though if I do it's just going to be bad, like nothing is going to go anywhere. I'm sure we both have unresolved issues that need to be spoken about. But I'm still so angry with her." He said chopping vegetables, while looking at his sister. "That's what I was wondering, why just show up here and not like send a letter or an email or something, why just show up?" Aydin said shaking his head "what if Renata was home?"

“You don’t have to be old, old” he said laughing. “Didn’t you know with alcohol, you’re always older than you actually are when drinking it.” He said making that up. “I just had a massive hangover last week, it was bad, I was out for the count longer than I’ve ever been before.” Aydin said looking over at her. “Don’t apologize, we all have those days and moments. Did you have fun though?” He said wanting to make sure that even though she got drunk she still had a fun time. 

x

“I ran until I felt like my lungs were gonna explode.. so pretty well.” Yao chuckled. It had been a while since he’d run that hard, definitely since before winter had crept into town. He smiled at the man as he spoke of Renata. He’d seen plenty of photos to know who she was. “I bet you don’t.” Yao felt a small pang of longing. Since his last conversation with Dylan about kids, family had been on his mind. He felt like he was missing out. “Mind if I ask you a personal question?”   

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“Well that’s....good?” He said looking at the guy, to his cup of coffee. “I’m actually not sure that’s good” he said laughing. “I’m totally kidding, I hit up the gym often, but I hate cardio, so I give you props for running like that” he said nodding his head. Quirking an eyebrow upward, he smiled softly. “Yeah, of course go ahead.” 

—

“You know,” Cas smirked after taking another blessed sip of her coffee, “if you ever decide to quit your day job I think you’d have real promise as a professional flatterer.” She didn’t have to fully agree with his compliments to appreciate them, right? 

A few quiet chuckles followed (the idea of Aydin sobbing while she catapulted over the counter in a fit of rage was honestly too funny) before she nodded. “But yeah, I have time.” So she pulled a menu forward, diverting her attention between the pages and his face. “Hangovers, sleep depravation, and caffeine addictions aside… how’ve you been?”

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Aydin smirked at the girl, shaking his head “Ha, I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. I’ll start my own company, call me up when you need a pep talk or something.” He said shrugging his shoulders “but really, I meant every word I said” he said smiling at her. Aydin smiled at her nodding his head, “cool” he said also picking up the menu to look at what to eat. “I’ve been good. Renata is five acting like a teenager” he said laughing. “I don’t know where she gets the attitude, cause it certainly isn’t me.” He said smiling at her. “What about you, how have you been?” 

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There was never a time that Leila would complain about dinner and she nodded enthusiastically at Aydin’s suggestion. “Sounds good to me,” she agreed, bouncing a bit on her toes. Her head shifted to the side slightly as he mentioned Renata’s godmother, a curious look in her eyes. “Oh?” It wasn’t at all what she’d expected to hear from Aydin. From what she understood, the woman hadn’t been around in years, had all but abandoned Aydin after Lucia had passed away. “Did you know she was going to show up here? Did she even let you know?” It was obviously a big, emotional thing for Aydin and she hated to see her brother as upset as he was about it all. Admittedly, she wasn’t the biggest fan of the woman herself, so she wasn’t keen on seeing her back around, but it was far more important to make sure her brother was okay.

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“Alright I’ll start cooking, if you want to sit at the counter” he said pointing to the island across from the stove. Taking out vegetables, and all the things he needed to make a white wine pasta cream sauce with fresh vegetables. “Yep” he said looking from her to the onion he was cutting. Aydin hadn’t spoke to the girl since she dropped some things off at his house in Los Angeles. So her showing up to his home was surprising, because that means someone back in LA had to have given it to her. “No, I didn’t” he said shrugging his shoulders. “It was very much a surprise, that was not wanted” he said shaking his head. “But I feel like we should talk I don’t want to.” Aydin said looking at his sister, turning to the stove to cook some chicken “but she was the only one who knew Lucia like I did and I feel like Lucia would be mad if she knew this is where we stood.” 

***

After the words of confirmation had fallen from his mouth, Verda fell back into the comfort of the bed and sucked in a deep breath. A soft smile spread onto her mouth as a warmth dared to consume her whole. Of course they hadn’t slept together; Aydin wasn’t that kind of a man. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she exhaled as her gaze landed on him. As much as she wanted something to settle her stomach, she liked the comfort of his bed even more. “Like I was hit by a truck, but I’m managing. I think I just want to lay here for a little longer if that’s okay?” She paused, her smile fading away slightly. “Want to join me? I promise I don’t bite.”

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Aydin saw the panic, and everything she was thinking just drop. He knew after he confirmed that they didn’t do anything, she was okay, and she was able to get more comfortable. “I’m pretty sure you’d be nursing the absolute worse hangover all on your own” he said laughing softly, nudging her shoulder. Aydin smiled as he saw Verda drop back on his bed. “That’s okay” he said nodding his, scooting back and laying down, he smiled at her. “I think I can join for a bit” he said brushing the hair out of her face. “Thank you, for dancing with me last night.” 

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” she shook her head at her brother. She was certain there were people more loved than she was, for instance, her niece. “Mexico?” Dilan raised a brow at the thought. A trip hadn’t exactly been on the forefront of her mind after finding out she was pregnant, but it might be what she needed. “I’d love that,” she nodded her head, pursing her lips into a thin line. “And speaking of family, I need to tell you something.” 

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“Oh I know that” he said smiling. “Have you met you, people adore you Dil” he said nodding his head at her. “Yeah, Renata needs to see her family from Lucia’s side” he said nodding his head. “Cool, give me a weekend you are free, I’ll let Leila know. See if she is up for it, and then I’ll book some flights” he said smiling softly. “Uhm, okay, what’s up?” He said quirking an eyebrow upward. 

***

She’d let herself have a good night in the hands of someone she trusted more than herself. It had been everything she needed. The immediate smell of a man’s cologne didn’t fill her head until she heard a soft voice calling her name. She sucked in a deep breath and rolled over slowly before a lazy smile spread onto her mouth. Of course, she’d ended up going home with him. Wait. The comfort quickly shifted to panic, her eyes widening as she pulled the sheets tighter to her chest. “Did we…” she hummed as she ran a lazy hand through her hair. She was wearing one of his shirts, but that didn’t mean anything at all. She knew Aydin and while the initial panic was there, she knew that he wasn’t the kind of man who’d ever benefit from her hefty hand of drinks. “Thank you,” she added with a huff of defeat. “Have you already eaten?”

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Aydin looked at the gears turning in Verda’s head. He had two sisters, he knew full well what the panic on her face meant. But he hoped that if she was more awake she would never in a million years think he’d take advantage of her. But he knew she was half asleep and probably very hungover so he understood where it all came from. “No we didn’t, I just wanted to make sure you were safe” he said nodding his head, looking over at her. “I had some toast and fruit’ he said smiling softly at her. As the panic started to fade away. “How you feeling?” 

—

A chuckle rose from the depths of her throat while Cas looked him over from her spot to the right. “If this is what you look like hungover and still asleep I’m gonna need you to spill your secrets, stat.” She hadn’t had nearly as much fun the night before (or that morning) and would almost bet money she still looked ten times more a frightful mess than Aydin.

Waking up at the crack of dawn to scrub toilets and mop floors would do that to a girl.

“Some people just have all the luck.” Grumbling under her breath she knocked at his side with her elbow, then slowly fell into a smile. “I haven’t been here more than a minute, actually. Sadie—” their waitress— “just knows my schedule like clockwork. And, you know, that I’ll go feral without a cup of coffee in my hand once I’m off the job. She always has one ready for me at about this time of day.”

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Aydin looked at Cas and smiled “hmm I’m sure you look beautiful when drunk and hungover” he said smiling. Aydin said looking at her, “I mean you can walk a runway right now” he said nodding his head. “Oh yeah is that so?” He said laughing. “Ahh, that makes sense” he said nodding his head “well I don’t go feral, but you’ll start seeing me cry” he said laughing, but shaking his head as the small bits of laughing he was doing, was even making his head hurt worse. “You have a minute for a bite to eat? Or are you on the run?” 

Sydney has known Aydin for what felt like forever. He’d dome some things for the Royal Oak Inn and she was grateful for him. For his friendship, they’d meet up every once in a while and this morning was one of those mornings where she had some time. Deciding to meet at the Teachers Lounge, Sydney opened the door to the packed little place and saw Aydin sitting there. She smiled softly once the waitress poured her some coffee and then the thirty-four year old looked at her friend, and finally opened her mouth to speak “Just got here. I’m asleep, pissed and hungover too. What are you working on?” Sydney questioned, sitting down across from him and finally taking out her laptop as well, along with her journal “I have some stuff I might need you to fix at the INN. You want to hear the list?” 

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Sydney was one of those people who you just gravitated towards. She had the energy that kept people around, she was always so kind to Aydin. As an Urban Planner he did less of the architecture construction work when on jobs, but being on jobs so often, having gotten his hours in to join the union to be a carpenter he was always someone would go to for help and major or minor fixes in their homes or businesses, and he never minded. “What did you end up doing last night?” Aydin said shrugging his shoulder “Currently I’m working on getting rid of this hangover” he said laughing. “Oh yeah what are they?” 

x

Yao lifted his coffee mug carefully, his attention caught by the man’s greeting before he could take a sip. “Oh hey,” Yao smiled at Aydin, also not realizing they’d happened to choose seats next to each other until then. “Just got here a minute ago.. I was out for a run.. I guess I went farther out than I planned.” Yao laughed softly. “Sorry, can’t relate on being hungover.. the coffee should help wake you up at least.”   

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Aydin looked over at the man he noticed from being friends with his sisters, nodding his head “oh well how’d that run go?” He said nodding his head “the idea of going on a run is not something that has crossed my mind in a while” he said laughing. “Renata keeps me busy enough that I feel like I don’t need to work out anymore” he said laughing loudly. “Yeah I’m hoping” he said nodding his head. Aydin said taking a sip of the coffee put in front of him. 

“Awh, well I feel very loved.” Dilan was always in a good mood when her brother and niece came to visit her. Family had always been incredibly important to the eldest Barak. “Oh really?” She laughed, shaking her head, “She’s got good taste, I’d definitely listen to her,” she teased her brow, raising a curious brow as he said he came to ask her a question, “What’s the question?”

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“You are very loved” he said smiling softly. “I don’t think anyone is more loved then you” he said smiling softly. “I’ll make sure to always go to her from here on out” he said laughing, nodding his head. “The question, is would you be interested in going to Mexico?” He said nodding his head “It’s Renata’s grandmas 50th birthday and I really want to take her for the both of them to see each other. But it’s always hard to be surrounded by her family knowing she’s gone.” He said with a soft voice, “maybe if Lei is up to it, make it a family vacation.” 

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There wasn’t much that Leila wouldn’t do for her family. When Aydin had texted to see if she wanted to come over, she was more than willing to put down the project she was in the middle of and head over to his place. It wasn’t like he asked for a lot, so when he did she assumed it was probably something pretty important. Setting Brock up with everything that he needed for the rest of the night and putting on one of his favorite shows, she kissed her pup goodbye and drove over to Aydin’s place. Greeting her brother at the door, she leaned into the hug, nodding her head warmly. “Of course, yeah. Anytime, you know that.” Granted, yes, there were definitely times that Leila got so lost in her work that she disappeared out of everyone’s lives for a time, but not tonight. “What are you thinking, dinner, drinks, movie? What’cha in the mood to do?”

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“Either one” he said nodding his head, just happy his sister was around. “I think we should start with dinner and drinks” he said nodding his head smiling, “and then we can do a movie after?” Aydin just needed to talk and explain what was happening. “Renata’s god mother showed up here” he said looking at his sister. When he moved to Providence Peak after his fiance passed away, he explained that his and Lucia’s best friend who was Renata’s god mother stopped talking to him because the constant reminder of Lucia was too hard to move forward. So when he realized he no longer had her in his corner, he moved to be with his sisters, not expecting to ever see her again. “I know we are going to talk, but like it’s so frustrating Lei, it made me so mad.” 

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Emmy chuckled softly, but she wasn’t surprised in their random meetings, finally coming to realize that, after five years in Providence Peak, that seemed to be just how the city worked. Some sort of weird magic bringing two people together when they least expected it. Thankfully, this time it was just Aydin and not someone she truly was hoping not to run into. “It’s the city, can’t resist the drama,” She joked, offering him a shrug as she plucked a box of chocolates from the shelf and placed them in her basket. Nothing special, but they’d be a good gift for a friend if she ever had a moment away from the restaurant to see any friends. “It seems the only time I have to see my friends is when the universe throws us together, so welcome to the framily.” She snorted at the insanely lame joke, though she did mean what she said. Aydin seemed like a good dude and she was already friends with his sister, so why not? “Sisters, right. What did you say the other’s name was?” She paused, before finally responding to his question. “I’m peachy. Golden. Perfect. Just shopping for a little pre-Valentine’s deal. I haven’t had to worry about… all of this in years, but I went and got myself a girlfriend right before the big day, so now I guess I’m obligated to suck it up and figure something out.”

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Aydin laughed at the corny joke nodding his head “the framily” he said smirking. “Well I’m glad to be apart of it” he said laughing. “Her name is Dilan, she’s an event planner.” He said smiling softly, “you may have met her once or twice” Aydin said nodding his head. Providence Peak wasn’t like Los Angeles when it came to population, but it wasn’t small either so it’s understandable that not everyone knew everyone, but it wasn’t surprising either to actually know more people than you think. Aydin laughed, nodding his head ‘that’s one thing I’m happy about being single, Valentines Day has too much of an expectation behind it. Like why can’t we just do all that throughout the year” he said shrugging his shoulders. “That’s nice, congratulations, did you ask her or she asked you?” 

As Aydin was sitting at the counter waiting for the waitress to pour his coffee, he was going through his laptop looking at designs, but mostly through his email. “Thanks,” he replied as the waitress put the cup of coffee in front of him and the one for the person by his side. The man hadn’t even noticed someone took a seat next to him. Raising his eyes up from his laptop, not too fast as he was still extremely hungover. He turned to his right only to recognize the person. “Hey you,” he smiled, “how long have you been here? I’m totally still asleep, and hungover.” Aydin said laughing.