“Yes, sir.”
With a harrumph, Dad poked his finger in Tristan’s chest. “Now you listen here. These two girls are the most precious things you’ll ever have in your life. You treat them with the respect they deserve... You and I,we’ll be good. You don’t?” He leaned closer. “I’ll kill you with my bare hands. Got it?”
“Dad,” I hissed.
Tristan’s hold tightened. His attention hadn’t drifted from my dad, and I honestly didn’t think he even realized he’d done it.
“I know what they mean to you, sir, and I can assure you I feel the same way. I’d much rather die than cause them hurt of any kind.”
He sounded so serious, so sincere, my entire body went haywire. I couldn’t ignore the wild thrashing of my heart or the butterflies going berserk inside my belly. Nor could I deny the powerful, all-consuming need to push onto my toes and press my mouth against his.
Thank goodness for my dad’s low hum, reminding me where we were. And who the hell I was with.
“In that case,” he said holding out his hand. “It’s good to meet you, son.”
I wasn’t entirely sure why but instead of watching my dad, my attention shifted to the man beside me. Jaw tight, eyes clouded with some unnamed emotion, he slapped his palm against my dad’s. They did that staring thing again, and thankfully, the tension wasn’t nearly as thick as it’d been earlier.
“Let me get back to Millie.”
After he too kissed my cheek, my dad ambled away. I waited until I couldn’t see him anymore before I tried to get out of Tristan’s hold. But apparently the man had a thing for keeping me tethered to him because his freaking arm snaked tighter around my waist.
The only move he made was when his hand slid down to rest on my hip.
“You didn’t tell them we’re married.”
Ignoring his annoyed tone, I faced him and pressed my finger to my lips. “Would you keep your voice down?” I whisper-shouted. I glanced over my shoulder a couple of times then stepped closer to him. “You saw how they reacted when they thought we were just dating. It’ll be so much worse if they know the truth.”
He hummed. “That was quite the speech your dad gave me. Is it always like this when you bring boyfriends home?”
There was a slight edge to his voice. One that made my insides weak and sent my last brain cell packing
“The only other guy I ever brought home didn’t get the third degree. You must be special.”
The guy had been Bryce.
My dad hadn’t gone all caveman on him, but then again, that’d been before I’d had my heart broken and a tiny human to take care of.
“What?” Tristan barked incredulously. Widening his legs, he lowered his head to stare into my eyes. The intensity in those dark irises melted me down to my freaking core. “Explain? Either you date guys you don’t want to introduce to your parents, or you don’t date at all.”
I felt very exposed, very naked under his scrutinizing gaze. “The only real relationship I had was a giant train smash. I wasn’t too keen on repeating past mistakes.”
“He hurt you.” Tristan’s gaze bounced between mine. “What happened?”
“He...uh...” I licked my lips. I didn’t have feelings for Bryce anymore, but it was still difficult to admit what a fool he’d made of me. “He married my sister.”
“The fuck?” The look Tristan gave me was one of utter disbelief. “He leftyoufor the scary one?”
It was hard not to laugh. I could practically see Izzy’s smug smile at Tristan calling her the scary one.
“He didn’t leave me. I left him when I caught him in bed with my sister.” I leaned forward and winked. “Not the scary one.”
Hiseyes widened. “How many of you are there?”
“We’re three.” I smiled. “I’m the middle one. Izzy is the youngest, then there’s—”
“Me. The oldest and most fabulous.”
At the sound of Eleanor’s voice, I squeezed my eyes shut. I’d hoped she and Bryce would skip lunch like they’d done for the past two Sundays.
