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She nods nervously.
“Do I know him?”
“...I don’t think so. He’s a freshman...at Seattle University.”
Rage tears through me, all teeth and claws.
“When were you planning to tell me you’re dating a man? How old is he?”
Her cheeks heat. She knows she’s in deep fucking doo-doo.
“Nineteen. We...we haven’t done anything and he promised he won’t until I’m eighteen. He’s a really nice guy. Can’t you just be cool?” Hope strains her voice.
I shake my head like she just pulled out a syringe full of heroin.
“No. Not cool.”
She gives me the saddest pout.
“What the hell? Hypocrite much? Because Eliza is like twenty-six, and you’re like forty. I’m fifteen, Dad. He’s only four years older than me.”
I fold my arms, not amused in the slightest.
“First off, I’m not forty. Not even close. Secondly, how do you know how old she is?”
“She bought me a smoothie in Kona and they asked for her driver’s license when she picked up a beer.”
“When you’re thirty-seven, you can date who you want, young lady. While you’re fifteen and under my roof, you’ll follow the rules. And one of those rules is zero college boys, no matter how 'nice' they may seem. Also, you don’t get to date until you’re a senior.”
“Hypocrite,” she mutters, her face flushed red with disappointment.
“Bull. When I was fifteen, I did what my parents said.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
I sigh. “Are you serious about this boy?”
Slowly, her eyes snap back to me, and her anger fades into a pained grin.
“Gotcha! I don’t have an older boyfriend. I just wanted to see if I could make your forehead wrinkle up.”
I stare at her coldly while her laughter bounces off the walls.
“Brat. I’m calling Sarah’s mother later to make sure you’re really over there. And I have wrinkles?” I glower at her.
Ridiculous.
The women in my life—all of them—are forces of nature and all dead set on turning me into a walking joke. Maybe I should rethink this dating BS after all.
Dess bursts into a new fit of laughter.
“Now what?”
She runs forward and hugs me. “At least we both know the ground rules now...”
I wrap my arms around her. “I’m pretty sure this is the part where I auction you off online.”
“Whatever you want, but no one will bid.” She pulls away with a red-faced smile.
A flash of gold around her neck catches my attention, a small golden turtle dangling on a long chain.
“Did you buy that in Hawaii?” I flick my thumb at it.
“What?”
“The necklace.”
“Oh.” Her smile vanishes. “No, I...I took it from Mom’s room and brought it home with me. Haven’t worn it for a couple weeks since we came back, but I remembered it today. You bought it for her, right?”
I stare at the necklace, feeling a turtle-shaped hole in my brain. I keep it to myself because I don’t want to sound like a jerk, but hell.
I don’t remember buying that thing.
“Yeah. I must have a long time ago,” I mutter.
“Well, it’s beautiful. I’ve got to get going, so ciao, Dad.” She walks out.
When I leave my room, I find Destiny waiting by the stairs. “Do you need a ride to Sarah’s? I’ve got Tom on his way and I can drop you off first.”
“If you insist...”
When we get to her friend’s house, I walk Destiny to the door, still hoping for her sake that this nineteen-year-old punk boyfriend is a bad joke.
“Dad, we’re here, I can go through a door on my own.” I don’t move away. “Um, what are you doing?”
“Meeting the adult in charge of you tonight.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I’m that annoying helicopter asshole of a dad.”
She rolls her eyes. “You said it. Not me.”
After a few minutes of small talk with Sarah’s mother to convince me the kids are properly chaperoned, I climb back in the car.
Twenty minutes later, Tom pulls up to Eliza’s apartment building. I get out and walk to the door, but she’s already outside waiting for me.
“I expected to walk you to the car,” I say, offering her my hand.
She takes it. “The buzzer isn’t working. I figured this was easier.”
I scan the short, snug black dress that hugs her body in all the right places—especially that peach of an ass—and meet her eyes again.
“You’re triple stunning tonight,” I whisper.
She smiles. “Thank you.”
I hold the car door open and help her in, then slide into the back seat. “It’s been weird not seeing you for two days.”
“I know. I felt like I was missing a limb.”
I put up the soundproof privacy guard. “Then why have you stayed away from me?”
She laughs. “Aren’t you the one who’s been busy?”
“Yeah. Sorry I postponed this. Too many annoying meetings I couldn’t push back.” I slip my arm around her, trying not to gasp at the softness of her skin. “Didn’t mean to piss you off.”
She lays her head on my shoulder.
