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“My what!?” Dare’s eyes widen like saucers. “My dad!?”

I start to laugh. I don’t know why I’m so worried about this. We’re both fully grown, adult men. I spent the night with my boyfriend, and—

Woah. Boyfriend?

I shake my head quickly and sit on the edge of the bed. The mugs are hot, and I hand Dare’s to him, then take a cautious sip from mine.

“Yeah,” I say. “You know, just half naked, making coffee in your house, and your dad comes in.”

Dare laughs. “Oh my god. What did he say?”

I recap the very uncomfortable conversation, and just as I finish, we hear his father call his name. My heart sinks, and Dare hangs his head, letting out a frustrated growl.

“I guess now is better than later,” he says, dragging himself out of bed. He quickly gets dressed in sweats and a T-shirt, and I put my coffee on the bedside table and pull on my shirt, too. He stops at the door, me right on his heels, and turns to me. “You don’t have to do this,” he says seriously.

“If you have to face him, I’m coming along. We’re in this together, little lycan.”

The smile that spreads across his face is worth every awkward, uncomfortable, ridiculous moment that has transpired. Dare opens his door and leads the way downstairs. His father is sitting in the living room, his own cup of coffee in his hand. His ankle is crossed over his knee, and he’s looking between the two of us.

“Good morning, boys.”

I can’t tell if his tone is teasing or scolding. Maybe a little of both. I nod at him, and Dare rounds to the back of the couch. I join him.

“Hi, Dad. Didn’t know you were coming by today,” he says, a clear tension in his voice.

Without hesitation, I reach out and press my hand to his lower back. My thumb starts moving up and down involuntarily. Mr. Archer looks between the two of us again and clears his throat.

Dare doesn’t give him a second to say anything else. “Dad, you remember Lev Richardson, right?”

Dare’s dad answers, his face emotionless. “You’ll excuse me if I didn’t recognize you immediately. It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen you, Lev.”

I take my hand off Dare’s back and grip the back of my neck. “Yes, sir. I’ve been away. Just came back a few weeks ago.”

“We’re seeing each other, Dad.” Dare blurts it out, and his dad winces.

Mr. Archer takes a sip of his coffee. “I figured as much,” he says. “Don’t you think it’s a bit odd that you’re—”

“No,” Dare cuts in. “Nope. We’re not doing this. Lev and I are adults, and what we choose to do is on us. You’re never here, and had I known you were coming home this morning, we would have met at his place. You don’t get to tell me what company to keep.”

My eyes shoot to Dare, pride swelling in my chest at how he’s handling this.

“I-I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, Mr. Archer,” I manage.

His dad looks at Dare. “I would just like to ask that you give me the courtesy to let me know when you’re having company so that I don’t, you know, walk into someone in my house that isn’t you.”

Dare pinches his nose. “I live here by myself ninety-five percent of the time, Dad. I think that I would like the courtesy of knowing when you are coming so that I can plan accordingly.”

His father doesn’t know what to say to that, so he sits quietly. The air in the room is thick, and my eyes are trained on the coffee table in the middle of the floor. Mr. Archer takes another sip of his coffee and stands.

“Until we sell, this house still belongs to your mother and me. You live here, but it’s our home.”

Dare scoffs.

“I came to exchange some things,” his dad continues. “I have a business deal, and I’ll be spending the time in Dallas. I won’t be home until after Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, this year—”

“Unfortunately,” Dare interrupts, “this year, you’ll be out of town on business, and it couldn’t be avoided. Did I remember that right from last year?”

Mr. Archer’s face flares with anger, and he lets out a short huff of frustration. “I don’t appreciate your attitude, Darian.”