Dad swallowed, looking away long enough to nod curtly at Nik before his gaze returned to the waitress.
I froze, watching the strange exchange. Frowning, I studied Raina a little harder, noting the dark shock of her hair, the curve of her lips, and the colour of her eyes. She could easily pass for my father’s daughter, or Calum’s sister.
But she couldn’t be.
That icky feeling in my stomach only seemed to grow with that unsettling thought. But Raina didn’t linger. She collected her child and marched him back out of the shop seconds before my mother came out of the bathroom.
Mom spotted me and walked over, a concerned smile on her face. “Everything okay, hun?”
“Yeah, Mom. I was just looking for you. I wanted to let you know that I’ll be going to hang out with my friend after this.”
“Yourfriend, huh?” Mom teased, a playful smile working her lips up. “All right. Can we expect you home tonight?”
“I’m not sure yet. Maybe not,” I told her. “Can you handle Dad?”
“Of course, I can handle your father.” Mom waved my concerns away with her hand. “Speaking of, I should go get him moving. I’m sure Harper just wants to close this place up and get home herself.”
Mom headed straight over to the table Dad and Asher still sat at.
Harper was about to pass me, and I gently touched her arm to stop her. “Thanks again for inviting us,” I told her when she looked at me. “I think my parents really needed this.” I glanced toward the table, where Calum and Asher now stood with Mom and Dad.
Dad was helping Mom into her coat, and Mom was smiling while Asher chattered away happily at her.
“Of course,” Harper managed, her gaze also going to the small group. She seemed sad and regretful, so I placed a hand on her elbow.
“I understand,” I said, so softly only she could hear. “And so do my parents. My dad’s pissed at Calum for leaving, but that’s nothing new…he always has been. This just added another layer to it, but…I think being a grandpa will be good for him.”
Harper nodded in agreement, glancing back at the table. Calum was actually smiling, something that usually didn’t happen in our father’s presence. Although his smile was for Asher andnotour father, it was still progress.
“Anyway, I need to go. My friend is here to pick me up. I’ll see you guys on Sunday?”
“Yeah, we’ll be there,” Harper answered with a smile. I hugged her again and strolled over to the table in the café my family was still gathered around.
“Happy birthday, kiddo,” I said, hugging Asher once more. After he pulled away, I turned to my parents. “I’m going out with Michelle. I’ll be home later.”
I didn’t give my father time to argue and headed straight out the door. I walked around the block, passing the apartments above the convenience store, where I swore I saw the curtain move.
After almost seven minutes of walking, Dare pulled up beside me and lowered the window. “Hop in,” he instructed, a grin on his lips.
I did as he said, sliding into the passenger seat and closing the door. Hiding how I truly felt all afternoon had been a challenge. I’d clung to anger and suspicion like a security blanket, but I was ready to drop it and face the truth with crystal clarity: Dare hadn’t done a single thing to earn my mistrust.
The situation with the waitress still prickled at me in an unexplainable way, but now that we were alone…I just wanted to forget it all and focus on him and us.
I leaned across the seat and kissed Dare.
His hand came up to cup my cheek as he deepened the kiss. I sighed, falling deeper into it, and Dare reluctantly pulled away.
“Where to?”
“Somewhere where we can be alone,” I replied.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
Connor
I awokefrom a restless night of interrupted sleep on Sunday morning to the delicious scent of breakfast foods wafting up the stairs from the kitchen.
Stretching my legs out, I reached to the night table to grab my phone. After leaving the party last night, Dare took me for a drive along the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Route.
