“Let’s just say I got some good advice over coffee earlier today.”
“That’s great, princess!”Stan smiled, glad that his daughter was finding her way around campus and making friends so quickly.“I’m glad you are settled in and finding friends.How are classes going?”
“Good.I like my behavioural science professor, Dr.Smith.”
“The bear shifter or the cougar one?”
“Bear, but I heard he’s married to the cougar.”
“He is.Both are great, and you’ll learn a lot.”
Their orders of burgers and fries came, and Jewel took a huge bite of her burger the instant the plate touched the table.She then plucked a Cajun-seasoned fry from her plate and dunked it into ketchup before saying anything else.The two of them always had a comfortable silence between them when they were eating or binge-watchingVillainous Mindstogether, but Jewel still seemed a little uncomfortable as they talked.She wasn’t making any eye contact at all, which was out of character for her.
“What’s on your mind?”he coaxed.
She sighed, obviously reluctant, but finally said, “So, now that we are good, can I ask you to do me a favor?”
“Shoot, princess.”
“Can you treat me like the other cadets and not barge into my room like a father would when his daughter is at home?”
Stan sucked in a breath through clenched teeth.
“In my defense, I knocked—well sort of, but you are right, princess.I should have waited for a reply from you.You’ve got as much right to privacy as I do.I’m sorry, and it won’t happen again.”
“Thank you for understanding this, Dad,” Jewel said as she patted her father’s forearm.“Now, tell me, how was your day?”
Stan smiled as Kalliopi’s smiling face entered his mind.His day was beautiful the minute Kalliopi descended from the private jet.He didn’t realize how much he’d wanted to see her until that very moment.And when he thought about meeting up with her later, every fiber of his being tingled with anticipation.Even so, he didn’t wish to bare his heart to his daughter.After all, he and Kalliopi had set out a plan to just have a short fling—just enough to hopefully get her out of his system.There was no need to tell his daughter about the arrangement.
“It was good.Really good.”
Jewel dropped her fry, her mouth still agape as her gaze pierced Stan’s eyes.Her eyes quickly turned to shock.
“You met someone, didn’t you!”
“What makes you say that?Can’t a guy have a great day without getting the third degree about it?”
“Oh, come on, Dad!You can’t hide this from me because I get you too well.You’ve not been in this good a mood since you came back from SHIT.There’s no way you couldn’t have met someone.You aren’t your normal grumpy self.”
“Okay, okay!I met someone… Satisfied?”Stan took a huge bite into his burger, hoping his chewing would put a stop to this very uncomfortable conversation with his daughter—at least for a few minutes.He had no intention of telling her anything because it would not be a big deal.He was determined to ignore the mate sense and keep things friendly.Kalliopi was a friend of his, after all, and one who he really hoped would come with benefits.But they hadn’t even kissed yet, and having thoughts like that was so foreign to him now.
“I knew it!So, what’s she like, and when can I meet her?”
“Can we switch to another topic?I want to talk about this with you about as much as you want to talk to me about Andy.”
“Wow, you must be serious if you got his name right.”Jewel eyed him suspiciously as she shook a ketchup-filled fry in his direction.“Whoever she is, you clearly have a thing for her, Mr.TLC.You can’t convince me otherwise.”
Damn!I was so hoping that’d work.
“Will you eat that thing already?I don’t need to wear your food, especially when I’m heading out after this to take her for drinks.”
Jewel smiled and clapped her hands excitedly.
“Yay!This is so exciting!My father is finally getting on the dating horse.”
“I’m not getting on the horse.”
“Sure you’re not.”Jewel rolled her eyes as she munched on her fry.“Regardless, I’m so happy for you, Dad!You deserve happiness in your life.”
