Page 136 of Safe With You

A few seconds passed.

That’s cold, Bennett.

I stared at the last word.

Bennett.

I had no reason to like the way it looked coming from him.

I did anyway.

“Luna.”

I looked up.

Mama pointed toward my plate. “Eat your food before it gets cold.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Daddy’s mouth twitched as he reached for another rib.

I ignored him and picked up my fork, making it through approximately four bites before my phone vibrated again. This time, I left it where it was, only reaching for it once the conversation moved on.

She says she’ll revise and resubmit.

A second message sat beneath it.

Hope I’m not interrupting your Sunday.

My smile softened.

You’re not. I’m at my parents’ for dinner.

I hesitated before adding:

Daddy finally figured out his grill.

His reply took less than a minute.

Finally?

I glanced toward Daddy.

He was wiping barbecue sauce from his beard with a napkin, completely unaware that his grilling abilities had become a topic of conversation with a man he’d never met.

Long story.

I’ve got time.

I looked at the message for a second before locking my phone and setting it beside my plate.

So did I.

But Mama was already getting up to cut the first peach cobbler, Daddy was claiming hers needed ice cream before he’d even tasted it, and I wasn’t ready to trade one good thing for another just because both were available.

One thing at a time.

“Which one we trying first?” Daddy asked.