My dad raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, the ties could be strangling after a while, huh? And I suspect your liking New York more has something to do with my daughter?”
“Ha!” Price let out a loud laugh before taking another swig of beer.
It was a regular Boys’ Night Out before my very eyes.
“Definitely on the ties,” he said, still chuckling. “Not my thing. I’m thinking about something bigger. Something with an impact on this world. Combining shit—I meancrap—I learned on the farm, and whatever they teach me in school. As for the city, yep, it’s growing on me, thanks to your daughter. I’m sure you have your concerns, but I’ll tell you this. I’m a good guy. I know I’m a bit older than her, but I’m telling you the truth—I’m into her. I really like her for all that is Emerson ... sir.”
“Sir? Cut the crap. Call me Bend,” my dad said as he side-eyed my ... boyfriend? Friend with benefits? Lover?
“Okay, no prob,” Price said.
“So, you got a thing for my girl?” My dad lifted his beer to his lips and polished it off in one swig.
“How ’bout that humidity here in Jersey?” I blurted, unable to stop myself. I didn’t know how we got to this point in the conversation, but I wanted it to stop. Needed it to.
“Quit it, Emerson. You brought this guy home, and I appreciate he’s sharing his intentions.”
“Oh my God! Dad!” I stood up, the swing flying back behind me. Tuck jumped down beside me, scared to death.
“Jesus, Em. You’re freaking the damn dog out,” my dad said as Price sat there watching, smirking, silently laughing.
“Dad!” I glared at him. “Do you remember why I left?”
“Yeah, because of that no-good, piece-of-you-know-what, Robby.”
“Um ...” I tugged at my messy bun and pulled it out.
Another smirk crossed Price’s face—he knew he had the advantage.Jerk.
“Dad, you were the one all buddy-buddy with him when I left. Or did you forget?” I paced back and forth, the small porch not giving me a lot of room to cover.
My father’s lips twitched. “Yeah, better to keep the enemy closer. You weren’t talking to me, and I had to make sure you weren’t running into that little shit’s arms. He’s a piece of work, running up there to see you. Next thing I know, the idiot’s crying in his coffee over you and some guy. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from laughing.”
I turned away from him, my fists clenched. The desire to grunt and stomp my feet was almost impossible to resist.
“Christ. Was I played?” I said without turning around.
“Language,” my dad said, gently chastising me.
“You were, babe.” Price came up behind me, whispering in my ear, his arm around my waist. Then he turned to look at my dad. “There’s no father in America who would like that guy for his daughter, right?”
“You’re my kind of person,” Dad told Price. “Let’s have another beer.”
And ... boom, everything was dropped.
That’s pretty much how Friday evening went. My dad being his straightforward, easygoing self, bonding with Price.
We ordered in pizza, which we ate on the porch, and after my dad went inside, Price asked me to take a walk on the beach. We’d seen it during daylight, dipping our toes on arrival, Price mesmerized by the crowds and the waves. He’d flopped himself down on a beach blanket earlier and declared, “I’m going to have you on this sand.”
My fingers, spine, and the rest of my body tingled at the prospect of that being now.
Earlier, we had to leave Tuck at the house. Now, we leashed him up, stuck our feet in flip-flops, and headed for the short walk to the sand.
“I love it here,” Price said while holding my hand. “Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. Of course, growing up, I wanted to see the ocean, but it wasn’t a huge deal. Now I know what I was missing. Wonder if I would feel the same about Orlando? I’ve never been to see the big mouse either.”
“It’s not as exciting when you grow up here. Town empties out at the end of the season. You learn not to make friends with the seasonal kids. They leave ... like my mom. I guess my dad made that mistake, and lived to regret it.”
Price squeezed my hand. “Not when he got you. Aren’t you glad you came home? See how it wasn’t a big deal? He’s your father ... he’s not allowed to stay mad at you forever.”
