“Lex.”
“I guess for the same reasons Ryan got so mad about that woman. He didn’t say it outright, but he must think she’s been involved with Lark.”
Rafferty narrowed an eye at me. “You don't know that.”
“You're right. I suppose it’s how he doesn’t mind so much attention from young women…Muchyounger women.”
He dragged his fingers down the sides of his mustache and down his chin. “Mickayla said he doesn’t act on it, though. That doesn’t reassure you?”
I shrugged. “Not sure that matters. It isn’t my business, is it?”
“True.”
“But it doesn’t mean I can’t be a little weirded-out.”
He came closer to me. “Fine. I take it you aren’t going to brunch, then.”
I shook my head. “I knew I forgot to tell you something. I ran into Mickayla in the bathroom before we left. She asked about brunch. Seems Mom and Dad are going, so she already texted them, and they’re my ride.”
He didn’t quite frown, but he stayed very quiet.
“You seem annoyed.”
He shook his head. “No. Not annoyed. Just realizing some things about my dad.”
I shot him some side-eye. “Care to elaborate?”
A patient grin spread on his face. “I used to think he was too accommodating of Mom and her crazy ways.”
I turned my face to the side at the word ‘accommodating.’
He continued. “Now I’m seeing you and the other women are a separate force to be reckoned with.”
I arched a brow at him. “That soundsalmostcomplimentary.”
“I’m not being critical of you… I’m recognizing I was too hard on Dad. I expected you to be around here tomorrow, but Mickayla found a way to get you out there. I see I’m gonna have to adjust to that sort of thing.”
“Okay. Or, more likely, you and I will get more in tune with one another, and I’ll know you’d prefer me to be here.”
He shook his head. “No, it isn’t that. I can see that Lark makes you uncomfortable. Figured that would keep you home, but I’m guessing your Mom will make for a great buffer.”
I nodded and smiled. “Yeah. Is it wrong that I really want that girl to show up during brunch?”
His hands went to my hips and he pulled me to him. “We don’t do drama in this house, babe.”
I grinned. “Wouldn’t bemedoing the drama, Raff.”
“Let’s hit the hay. It’s been a long-ass day.”
I put my hand on my forehead. “Oh, that reminds me! I know I agreed to stay here until the semester started again, but something slipped my mind.”
“What would that be?”
I pressed my lips together. “Text books. One of them can’t be ordered online. So, I need to get to the campus bookstore on Friday or Saturday because they’re only open until noon on Saturday and closed on Sunday.”
One of his hands on my back drew a spiral pattern. “Can’t you get by without it the first day?”
A rueful chuckle bubbled out of me. “You’d think that, but this professor hits the ground running no matter what. People a year ahead of me told me that having the book and the companion workbook are a must on day one. No mercy for anybody.”
