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If Kiera comes home someday with a fiancé she’s known less than a month, I’ll be suspicious too.
Fuck, I hope Kiera never does anything like what I’m doing right now.
The conversation turns to Amelia, and I relax. I drape my arm over the back of her chair, happy to fade into the background while she enjoys time with people she loves.
It’s kind of fun to see Amelia in her childhood home. It makes her look younger, more rebellious. I can imagine her up in her bedroom, wearing those big headphones she likes, listening to her favorite music and plotting her escape to New York.
Unfortunately, that makes me think of where I’ll be sleeping tonight, which is not a thought I feel comfortable having in front of Amelia’s dad.
I try to focus on the conversation instead.
“I’m glad you gave up that idea of running your own company,” Bill says. “That’s too much responsibility for a girl your age.”
Amelia tenses next to me, but she keeps her voice light. “You run your own business.”
“It’s not the same thing. I have a partner. Your uncle shares the responsibility with me.”
“Amelia has a partner,” I cut in. “I may not be her business partner, but I like to think I know a thing or two about making a company successful.”
“I appreciate that, son, but it’s not the same thing,” Bill says.
“No, it’s not,” I agree. “But Amelia’s more than ready for this. She’s incredibly talented, with a killer work ethic. And she’s already put tons of work into planning how she can make her business the best it can be.” I take another sip of my water. “She can absolutely handle running a business by herself.”
“I don’t doubt your talent, honey,” Bill allows. “Just maybe wait a bit. You’re only twenty-six.”
I blink.
She’s only twenty-six?
That’s almost ten years younger than me.
Amelia’s so confident and grounded, I thought she was closer to my age.
“I won’t launch my business until I’ve got the resources to make sure it can succeed,” Amelia says firmly.
That seems to be good enough for Bill. The conversation moves on, and I silently ponder whether it counts as cradle robbing if it’s only a fake relationship.
After a long dayplaying couple for her parents’ benefit, it’s a relief to shut the bedroom door on the outside world. Finally, it’s just me and Amelia.
The relief lasts until my eyes fall on the bed, and I remember we haven’t solved the sleeping situation. There’s nowhere to sleep in here except for the bed and the hard wooden floor.
And I can’t let Amelia take the floor.
I sigh heavily. I’m already stiff from the plane. Might as well embrace it.
I take a pillow and blanket and drop it on the floor.
“What are you doing?” Amelia asks.
“Making a place to sleep,” I say.
“The mattress isn’tthatbed,” she says. “You’re such a snob.”
“I’m not a snob,” I protest. “I’m trying to...you know.” I gesture back and forth between her and me.
“Oh.” She blushes.
God, I love how easily she blushes.
