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“What’s there to say?” He shrugged. “I don’t approve that stuff.”
“You always have an opinion about it,” I replied.
He reached across the desk and snatched the paper. Leo and I both sat quietly while he read. He put it on the desk and shrugged. “Okay, I read it.”
“And?” I asked.
“I don’t remember you needing so much reassurance,” he said. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m going to kick you,” I said.
He laughed and shrugged. “It looks good. I don’t think it’s going to win a Pulitzer, but it’s good.”
“You’re such a jackass.” I sighed.
He just laughed again. “You’re sensitive.”
“Whatever,” I said. “I’m going home to work.”
“How’s that going?” Luke asked with his tone soft and serious instead of the snark he expressed earlier.
“Fine,” I murmured.
“Do you like your apartment?” Leo asked.
Leo was kind enough to help me find the place when I moved out of my parents’ house. I was doing my best to make it on my own with just the earnings from my freelancing. I was trying to make my father understand I didn’t need his money. I didn’t want to live by his rules. I was a grown woman.
“I do like it.” I smiled. “Thank you so much for putting me in it.”
“I didn’t do it,” he said. “That was all you.”
“Are you settling in?” Leo asked.
I automatically glanced over at Luke. I didn’t know why I was looking at him. I supposed because he was the one who’d helped me move in. He had helped me buy used furniture. He offered to buy me furniture, but I refused. I needed to do it on my own. I wanted to stand on my own two feet. It was the first time in my thirty years I was acting like an adult.
“I am.” I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Have you heard from your dad?” Luke asked gently.
“Only every five minutes.” I snorted.
“Have you talked to him?” Luke asked.
I glanced at Leo. I knew he knew I had to move out in a hurry, but I wasn’t sure how much he knew. It was a little embarrassing to talk about my personal family drama. But Leo knew my dad and me. Just another brother from another mother in my world.
“No.” I sighed.
“I think your dad means well,” Leo said. “He’s from another era. Things are different in his world. Your dad is old school. He thinks the daughters live with their parents until they are married.”
“I’m thirty!” I snorted. “No one does that.”
“In our generation,” Luke said. “Your dad is from a different generation. He’s just looking out for you.”
“Don’t you dare,” I warned him. “You don’t get to side with him. He doesn’t get to treat me like I’m a child. I’m not the crazy one. My dad thinks he is going to pick my husband and marry me off like I was chattel.”
“But you’re out,” Luke said. “Do you need me to come by and help put together your bed?”
“I did it,” I said proudly. “I bought a drill.”
