Me: He’s insane, and he knows I’m going to see you this weekend. He wants to make sure you’re not a serial killer. Don’t mention where we’re going this weekend.
Austin: So, you want me to lie to him?
Me: Yes!
My phone rang instantly. “Are you freaking insane?” Austin said as soon as I answered. “Lying to your father is like signing my own death warrant.”
I laughed, glancing toward the patio to make sure Dad wasn’t eavesdropping. “He’ll never know. When did you turn into such a pussy?”
“A pussy?” he grumbled. “I know he’s already checked into me.”
“You do?” I chewed on the inside of my lip, wondering how I was the lucky one to be surrounded by so many crazy-ass men.
“Uh, yeah. You start asking questions about a SEAL, and word gets around.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry, Austin. So sorry he’s a bit…”
“He’s a dad, Mak. He loves you. I get it. But asking me to lie to your father is inviting trouble.”
“Pussy,” I coughed.
The sliding glass door opened, and my dad poked his head inside the apartment. “He comin’?”
“Yeah,” I told him, shooing him with my hand to go back outside. “He’s coming.”
“Good.” He smiled, closing the door again, giving me some privacy.
“I won’t tell him, but if he asks me flat out, I won’t lie. I’ve never been a liar, and I’m not going to start now.”
“For me, please,” I begged, not wanting to have to go into a whole song and dance about being only friends and going home with Austin for the weekend.
“I’ll think about it,” Austin told me. “When and where?”
“Huffy’s in an hour.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Don’t get there too early. Don’t seem too eager,” I told him, staring up at the ceiling and wondering how I could control the situation.
“What other rules do you have, Queen Bee?”
I laughed. “Shut up. Just be there.”
“Roger that,” he said before he was gone.
I waved at my dad when he peered through the glass, watching me. “Men are impossible,” I muttered to myself.
An hour later, we were at Huffy’s, my dad sitting next to me, placing me between the wall and himself. Austin sat across from us, looking relaxed and a little too hot with his wide shoulders and blue eyes.
“So, Austin, tell me about yourself,” Dad said as he picked up the menu, eyes on Austin.
“What do you want to know, sir?”
“Whatever you want to tell.”
“What didn’t my background check tell you?” Austin asked point-blank, and I almost choked on my own spit.
“Man, the pancakes sound amazing, don’t they?” I said, trying to break up whatever pissing match was about to go down.
