“This is like old times.” Their Dad remarked, his lips edged up at either end. Sunny looked across the table at him, sitting side-by-side with Clover. “You and your sister taking a week to order while kicking each other under the table.” He filled in.
Sunny chuckled and placed the menu down.
Their father/daughter lunch dates had been a regular thing for years. Something bothgirls enjoyed.
“Sunny is always picking on me, Dad. You should ground her.” Clover sassed with a teasing smirk.
That little heifer loved dropping her in it. For good measure, Sunny kicked Clover’s foot again and stuck out her tongue.
“I don’t think I can ground her, button. She doesn’t live with us anymore.”
Then they were busy tucking into juicy burgers and salty fries.
“Thanks for spending time with your old dad,” he said. “I won’t have many more days like this once Clover heads off to New York.”
“Dad.” She pouted, cuddling his arm. “You’re gonna make me cry, missing you already.”
Sunny frowned. “Wait. You’ve already decided on NYU?”
Clover looked over. Her eyes flickered with guilt. “Eh, yeah, maybe. We’re gonna take a tour in a few weeks before my birthday. Mom thinks I have a good chance of getting a place.”
“No one listens to me,” he scowled. “I told you both to stay home with me forever.”
The sisters shared a glance and then cackled at how grumpy he looked.
“Just think, Dad, it won’t be long before Sunny gives you grandbabies to keep you busy.”
Sunny nearly choked on a bite of hamburger. Hawk’s pale eyes turned almost see-through with shock.
Clover was too busy laughing. “Look how high his eyebrows climbed into his hair.”
“Don’t listen to her. That’s not for ages.”
He only grunted in response. She wasn’t sure he was used to her being married and having moved out without introducing him to the idea of his eldest daughter having kids.
But then he surprised Sunny’s heart into thumping with love.
“I want all granddaughters.”
“Really?”
“I don’t think you can order what you want. That’s not how it works,” chimed Clover.
“I can.” He smirked and sent Sunny a wink. “I need to be surrounded by my girls.”
“Dad.” They said together, emotionally moved by him as always.
Once outside after lunch, their dad pointed down the street. “You wanna get ice cream?” That was a needless question. Ice cream was Sunny’s favorite treat.
He said. “I’ll go on ahead. You girls sort out whatever tension is brewing between you, yeah?”
Colton Hawk could read his family well for a man not known for his conversational skills. He took off a few steps ahead of them, and they followed.
Sunny looped Clover’s arm. “Are you okay?”
“If I say yes, will you finally stop asking me that question? I’m over it and looking forward.”
“I will, if you mean it. I’m worried about you.”
