“That was quick,” I squeaked as Dad leaned in the doorway.
“Didn’t need much,” he said with a shrug.
“I was just asking Olivia about her high school prom,” David blurted, sweat dotting his upper lip.
Oh, come on. This was theonemoment where he couldn’t be cool? I shifted on my feet when an uncomfortable feeling came over me.
As I cursed under my breath, David caught my eye and mouthed, “What?”
“Ah, yes, the Harper boy,” my dad remarked, nodding at the prom photo. “Gretchen’s brother still causing trouble?”
Fuck.I fought the urge to adjust my panties as they dampened with David’s semen.
“Olivia?” David asked.
“Um, I don’t—not sure.”
I grimaced as David furrowed his brows at me. Suddenly, I understood why he’d tried to me fend off—almost getting caught wasnotsexy. When my dad turned to David, I quickly pulled at my crotch.
As it dawned on David as to why I was so uncomfortable, a lewd smile crossed his face. “Should we get started on those leftovers?” David asked, putting down the photo and crossing the room to my dad. “Come on. I’ll help.”
I silently thanked him for rescuing me and ran to the bathroom to clean myself up.
Once I’d changed, I rejoined them in the kitchen. They were already each a beer deep, so I grabbed a Heineken and sat back as my dad showed David how to make steak enchiladas. David gave my dad his undivided attention, seemingly eager to acquire this new skill. I sighed. If he learned to cook, then he reallywouldbe perfect, and where would that leave me?
Tired from my day in the sun, I let them talk about work and other things as I ate. David glanced at my empty plate when I sat back in my chair and smiled at me. When I offered to do the dishes, my dad shooed me away, so I flopped onto the couch, completely sated. I wondered, as they cleared the table together, if I should be worried that my dad was treating David more like a peer than his daughter’s boyfriend.
I flipped through the channels until they’d finished and put on ESPN at their request. David sat on the couch with his long legs spilling in front of us. I lay my head on his lap and tuned out the sounds of football replays while he played with my hair.
At some point, I heard David’s distant voice. “You awake?” he asked.
I opened my eyes. It was dark except for the TV screen, andSportsCenterhad been muted.
“Did I fall asleep?” I asked.
“Yeah. Your dad just went to bed.”
“Mmm, sorry.”
He stroked my hair, and I closed my eyes again.
“I’ll take you upstairs,” he said.
“Not yet,” I said softly.
David lifted me to pull his legs up lengthwise on the couch. Because it was a tight fit, I climbed atop him to rest my cheek on his broad chest. He slid his hand under my hair, freeing it from my neck.
“Are you having fun?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “It’s nice to take some time off work for something important.”
I smiled to myself. Most people just wanted an expensive, indulgent vacation, and here, David thought making a good impression on my dad was important. “When’s your flight?” I asked.
“I don’t have one.”
I sighed with gratitude. That meant more time with him. “Why not?”
“I’ll buy it when we get to the airport.”
