“Fancy. How long are you going to be out there?”
“About seven weeks.”
“Wow. Are you on some special assignment?”
I feel Axel chuckle behind me.
Kinda.
“I’m visiting my boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” they repeat in unison.
“Well, move out of the way and let me see him.” My mom is back in flirt mode.
My dad continues to scowl. “How did you get a boyfriend in a different state?”
“Long story, but we met somewhere else.”
Axel slides into full view. My mom smiles and my dad frowns.
“Hello, my name is Axel. It’s nice to meet both of you.”
“That’s a lot of hair, Son. You’re not one of those starving artists, are you?” my dad asks.
Axel grins. “No, sir. Far from it.”
“A surfer, then?”
“Retired. I only surf for fun.”
My dad nods thoughtfully, “What do you do for a living?”
“Make and sell surf gear and equipment.”
“So you work with your hands?”
“Not at the moment, but I’m trying to make it back to that.”
“What’s stopping you?”
“I have to sell my company and get someone else to take over as C.E.O.”
Dad nods again. “What’s the name of your company?”
“Wassergott Surfing Company.”
My dad watches the sports channel all day every day. I know he instantly recognizes the name.
“Okay,” my dad starts. “I’m satisfied with that answer.”
Axel’s laughter vibrates against my back.
“One more thing,” my dad says with a glare meant to look menacing. “If my daughter finds a baby, she finds a husband. Understand?”
“Dad!” I admonish as Axel’s hides his amusement.
“Enough of that,” my mom declares with a hip bump, moving my dad out of the way.
