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“Stop saying it like that,” he says, laughing.
“It’s true. Yuck. Okay, I have to go home and scrub my mind’s eye with a hot poker.”
“Okay, drama girl. Thanks for being nice to my kid.”
“Yeah, well, I like her. A lot more than I like you right now.”
“I can live with that,” he replies and follows me to the door. He opens it for me, and as I walk past him, he pulls me against him into a strong hug, his arms folding around me firmly. I wrap my arms around his middle and breathe in soap and sunshine.
He smells the same as he did all those years ago.
“I missed you,” he whispers against my hair before pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
Tears spring to my eyes, and before I make a fool of myself, I nod and pull away.
“I missed you more.”
And with that, I hurry across the yard to my dad’s house, feeling Tucker’s eyes pinned to my back the entire way.
It’s been almost a week since I took Chloe shopping. Her dance should be tonight, and I’d love to go help her get ready, but I haven’t been invited, and I’m hanging out with Dad tonight.
I’ve spent the last five days shuffling him to and from therapy, watching way more reality TV than I thought possible, and enjoying spending time with him while trying to get glimpses of our ridiculously handsome neighbor.
Chloe came over to see us after school until Tucker got home from work. It seems that’s her usual routine and has been since her first day of kindergarten. I kind of love that my father has had such a strong role in Chloe’s life, and sad that I didn’t know her at all until now.
I never would have imagined that I’d miss out on so much here in New Hope. Which I know makes me sound like a self-centered bitch.
“Hi there, Lexi,” Dad says when my sister walks through the front door. She’s carrying a bag of groceries in one hand and a baking pan in the other.
“Hello,” she says, smiling at Dad. When her eyes turn to me, the smile doesn’t fall from her face, which shocks the hell out of me. “I thought I’d come over and hang out for a while.”
“Well, this is a nice surprise,” Dad replies.
“I brought chicken cordon bleu with me,” she continues, marching into the kitchen. “Scarlett, will you please come in here?”
So you can yell at me again? No, thank you.
I don’t move, and Dad gives me the look.
“Sure.” I walk into the kitchen and stop short when Lexi smiles at me. It’s not a fake smile, either. It’s a real one. She must be drunk. “What’s up?”
“Look, I know you’ve been putting in a lot of hours around here. You’ve done a good job with Dad this week.”
I narrow my eyes, wondering when the other shoe will drop.
“Why don’t I spend the evening with Dad, and you go take some time for yourself?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but am I talking with Alexis Jean Kincaid? My little sister?”
She shrugs. “I’m in a good mood.”
“I like it.” Without overthinking it, I rush over and give her a hard, fast hug, startling both of us. “Thank you. I’ll be home by midnight.”
“Have fun,” she calls as I walk into the living room with Dad.
“Do you mind if I go out for the evening while you and Lexi hang out?”
“Not at all. Go spend some time with Tucker. Make him take you somewhere nice.”
I laugh and shake my head. “I had no idea you were such a romantic, Dad.”
I hurry up to my bedroom and change into a pair of jeans with a black button-down top, slip into my cowboy boots, and run a brush through my dark hair. With a few swipes of a makeup brush, I’m ready to go.
I wave to Lexi and Dad, then set off across the yard to Tucker’s house.
And just as I approach the front door, I hear yelling inside.
“Just a little makeup!” Chloe yells.
“I said no makeup,” Tucker replies. “It’s bad enough I’m letting you wear that dress. Don’t push me on this, Chloe.”
I open the door without knocking and smile when both heads turn my way.
“Hi.”
“I’m not going,” Chloe says, stomping her foot.
Tucker sighs, and before he says anything, Chloe runs upstairs to her bedroom.
“So, this is going well,” Tucker says and rubs his hand over his mouth before climbing the stairs after his daughter. I follow behind and listen outside the door.
“Chloe.”
“You just want me to look like a baby.”
“No, I want you to look like an eleven-year-old.”
“It’s just a little makeup.”
“Um, guys?”
Tucker sighs and looks back at me. His eyes are defeated, and maybe a little sad.
“Can I please help?”
“He won’t listen,” Chloe says and throws herself over her bed dramatically. Tucker’s jaw clenches in frustration.
