My dad leaned back, laughing. “Word travels fast.”
Austin raised an eyebrow as he stretched an arm out across the back of the booth. “You know how it is when you’re a SEAL, sir.”
“You’ve led an interesting life.”
Austin nodded. “Wasn’t one I would’ve chosen, but I’ve made the best of it.”
“Done more than that, son. Most people in your circumstances would’ve gone another way.”
Son? I turned toward my father, gawking at him. What in the world was happening?
“I wasn’t going to walk down the same path as my father. Luckily, my grandmother and brother made sure my life didn’t go to shit. We all have choices, and I made the one that was best for me and my country.”
Daddy sat quietly, staring at Austin, holding his menu for a moment. “It’s honorable.”
Austin shrugged. “College didn’t feel right when I graduated high school. I couldn’t very well sit on my ass and do nothing. The navy felt right, and once I was in, there was nothing I wanted more than to be a SEAL. Go big, or go home.”
“How did you meet Mak?” Dad asked, changing gears as he often did to my friends. First, he made them comfortable, and then he started the real interrogation.
Austin’s blue eyes slid to me. “Her Jeep broke down. I waited with her to make sure she was okay until they were able to get it fixed.”
“I was more than capable of taking care of myself,” I muttered.
“Maybe other places, but I wasn’t going to leave you at the Rusty Knuckle alone.”
Dad turned his head, glaring at me. “The Rusty Knuckle?”
I gave him an innocent smile. “It’s just a little hole-in-the-wall bar. No big deal.”
“I know what it is, Mak. I’ve been there.”
“How?” I asked, tilting my head. “Is there anywhere you haven’t been? I mean, honestly, Dad, you’re so…”
“I’ve been to this base more than once. That place has been around forever too. The one thing I do know is that it’s not a place for a girl to be alone. Wait.” He paused, his eyes narrowing. “Why were you alone? Wasn’t Blondie or Allison with you?”
I toyed with the napkin underneath my fingertips. “Blondie was there, but he was busy with something.”
Dad raised his eyebrow. “Busy?”
I nodded, but then shook my head because I wasn’t about to tell my dad Blondie was too busy trying to get laid than to help me out.
“I should pay that kid a visit.”
“Dad.” I stared at him. “Stop.”
Austin chuckled, and I shot him a warning glare.
“Blondie can’t be by my side all the time. Anyway,” I sighed, glancing down at the menu instead of glaring at the two men sitting with me, “I could’ve handled everything on my own. I didn’t need a babysitter, even though Austin took it upon himself not to leave my side.”
Dad tapped the table with his finger, slowly and steady. “I taught you how to take care of yourself, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need help from time to time.”
“For the record,” Austin added, “I wasn’t babysitting you.”
I peered up. “You weren’t?”
He shook his head. “I thought you were…”
“A pain in the ass?” Dad said, laughing at his hilariousness.
