“Want a beer?”
“No,” I tell her, glancing over at the girls, who are drooling over a table filled with desserts. “I’ll take a water, though.”
“On it,” she says before stalking away from us with a sway of her hips that has me thinking all the dirty thoughts.
“So,” Vinnie says, leaning closer to me. “You two a thing?”
“We’re friends.”
“Mm-hm,” Daphne mumbles. “Whatever you say, Wylder.”
“I’m older.”
“And?” Bianca asks as she leans into Vinnie.
“We barely know each other.”
“She’d be good for you, and you her,” Daphne replies.
“Daphne, I have a lot of baggage.”
“Who doesn’t, Wylder?”
I have no response. I’m shocked and stunned into silence that Tate’s aunt is basically giving her blessing.
“Wylder,” Angelo, Tate’s dad, says as he approaches our group. “How are you?”
“Good. You?” I ask, keeping the conversation short because the last thing I want is to piss him off.
He’s a big man. I know how protective I am of my girls, and I’m sure he feels the same way about Tate. I don’t think my girls will ever be too old for me to worry about them and their happiness.
“I’m well. Can we talk?”
“Sure.” I swallow, wishing Tate had come back with my water.
“Ohh,” Daphne whispers, teasing me and getting a scowl from her brother.
“What’s up?” I ask as we move a few feet away from the group.
“I don’t know what’s going on between you and Tate…”
“We’re friends,” I repeat. I think it is a statement I am going to say dozens of times before the end of the day.
“Sure,” he mutters, staring me right in the eyes. “Just don’t break her heart. I know you’ve been through some shit, and so has she. You two could use a break.”
Is he giving me his blessing? For the second time, I’m stunned into silence.
“And you have two young girls to think about too. I’ve done the single-dad dating thing, and it’s not easy. You have a lot of people’s feelings to worry about in that situation, both big and small.”
I nod, not sure what to say.
“Take things slow.”
I blink as it finally hits me.
He is giving me his blessing.
“And if you hurt her, I’m going to hurt you.”
