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“Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?” Geary asked me, leaning back against one of the counters.
“We didn’t do much. Mom’s been sick, and I haven’t felt too well.” The reality was Mom had gone to Elaina’s the night before and got wasted, so Eli spent the day trying to coax her out of bed.
“Well, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Shall we get seated?” Melinda ushered us to our seats, and I tucked Eli onto the chair beside me. Becca sat to my left with Geary opposite and Melinda to his left.
“I hope you like pulled pork?”
Eli smacked his lips together. “It’s the bestest.”
Everyone burst into laughter. Even Melinda managed a smile, and some of the earlier tension disappeared. We could do this. I could be the guy they wanted for their daughter—the kind of guy who went to dinner and made conversation.
Becca’s leg pressed against mine under the table as she leaned over to serve us. I ran a hand over the curve of her thigh, and her breath hitched. I smiled.
Maybe this would even be fun.
* * *
“Quite a little boy you have there,” Geary said, handing me the last of the dishes.
“He’s a handful, but he has a good heart.”
“It can’t be easy, helping to raise him.”
My hand froze. “I… uh, I’m not…”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to answer to me. You’re doing a good job with him. Melinda said your mom is at work?”
“Yes, she got called in at the last minute,” I managed to reply over the giant lump in my throat. “Our sitter is out of town for a while. She helps out when Mom is at work and I’m at school.”
Why was I telling him this? A man I’d never met before today? It felt oddly comforting to know someone gave a crap.
His hand landed on my shoulder. “I was worried, you know, when Melinda first mentioned that Becca might be seeing someone. She’s my daughter, my everything, but I can see I have nothing to worry about.” He patted me and moved away.
“Dad?” Becca entered the room, but I didn’t need to look. I’d felt her before she even spoke.
“I’m going to check on your mother and Eli.”
“He’s out cold on the couch. Mom looks terrified. You might want to get in there before she has a breakdown.”
Geary let out a throaty laugh before leaving us. Becca came up to me, wrapping her arms around my waist and leaning her head against my back.“Do I even want to know?”
“He told me if I ever hurt you, he’d have to kill me.”
Her body went rigid. I dried my hands off with the towel and turned in her arms. “Hey, what’s wrong? I’m joking.” She looked like a deer caught in the headlights. “Becca, it was a joke. He’s a good guy. I like him a lot.”
Becca blinked, and the tension in her face melted away. “He’s the best. Now we just have to crack Mom.”
Her mom hadn’t been that bad. She’d made a couple of snide comments during dinner. Had asked some questions that I didn’t have the answers to. But on the whole, it had gone okay. Eli kept the mood light. It was impossible not to love the little shit.
“So…” I leaned down, my face hovering millimeters from hers. “Is this the part where we sneak off to your room?”
“Evan.” She gasped, and I couldn’t resist. My lips crushed against hers, and I slipped my tongue into her mouth, drawing her body closer with my arm. Becca’s hand slid up my chest and curled in my t-shirt.
“God, I missed you,” I murmured against her lips, and she responded, pressing closer, moaning softly.
“Ahem.” Someone cleared their throat, and my heart sank. It couldn’t have been her dad.
