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“Wait. When were you in jail?” Mike growls at me.
Oh shit.
He might tolerate me because I’m dating Presley, but he’s never been my biggest fan. He thinks I’m too old for his daughter and was livid when Johanna broke the news last year that I’m also Presley’s boss.
“It was just a prank, Dad,” Presley says, trying to defuse the situation. “Harrison, Dylan, and Cash thought it would be funny to have Jack arrested for chopping down a tree on Harrison’s property.”
Mike lets out a chuckle. “That’s my boys,” he says proudly.
I’m not surprised he’d side with his sons, considering their prank was directed at me. Here’s hoping that when the time comes to ask for Presley’s hand in marriage, I can persuade him to give his blessing.
The room falls silent when there’s an unexpected knock at the door.
“Dylan, can you answer that?” Johanna asks with a glint in her eye.
She’s up to something, and if it’s what I suspect, Dylan won’t be happy about it.
“Why me?” he complains.
“Don’t worry; Mom, I can get it,” Cash chimes in.
“No!” Johanna exclaims in a panic, reaching out to stop him. “Let Dylan do it.”
“Okay, fine.” Dylan sighs. “If it’s that important to you, I’ll answer the door.” He gives Johanna a wary gaze as he crosses the room.
Anticipation fills the room as he swings open the front door to reveal a woman in her twenties. She’s wearing a fluorescent-pink puffer jacket, a corduroy jumper, tights with a heart pattern, and white snow boots. Her golden-blonde hair falls in waves to her waist, framing her distinct, mismatched eyes—one blue, the other green.
This must be Marlow, Dylan’s neighbor. I haven’t met her, but Dylan complains about her any chance he gets. That hasn’t stopped Johanna from trying to set them up. She mentioned a few days ago that she thought they’d make a cute couple, and I suggested that she invite Marlow over sometime during the holidays. It looks like she took my advice.
“Marlow?” Dylan utters with a hint of confusion. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s nice to see you too, Dylan. Nice pajamas,” she deadpans.
Dylan shoots her a hostile look, and she responds with a scowl. It’s evident there’s more to their mutual animosity than Waffles digging his way into Dylan’s backyard or Marlow not shoveling her sidewalk every time it snows.
How could Johanna possibly think these two would be good together? Considering they’re at each other’s throat the second they’re in the same space.
“Marlow, you came!” Lola squeals with delight. She dashes to the front door, wrapping her arms around Marlow’s legs. “Where’s Waffles?” She cranes her neck to look behind Marlow, hoping to see her four-legged friend.
“He had to stay home tonight,” Marlow says.
“Oh.” Lola’s bottom lip starts to quiver, like she’s on the verge of tears.
“Don’t be sad, sweetie.” Marlow crouches down so she’s on Lola’s level. “How about you stop by to visit him after Christmas? He helped me pick out your present, and I know he’ll want to be there when you open it.”
Lola’s frown turns into a smile, and she throws her arms around Marlow’s neck. “Oh goodie, I can’t wait!”
“Waffles is just a dog,” Dylan mumbles.
Marlow fixes him with an icy glare.
“No, Daddy, he’s the cutest dog in the whole wide world, and I love him so much,” Lola corrects him with a toothy grin.
“Yeah, Dylan, Waffles is the cutest, and deserves your respect.” Marlow smirks.
This is even more entertaining than watching season ten of Vanderpump Rules with Presley.
“You never said why you were here,” Dylan snaps at Marlow.
