“I’m sure Tank will be more than willing to help you.”
My heart aches for the distance between us. I will never take my dad’s hugs for granted. “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t come with him,” I add softly.
I can practically hear the smile in his words as he responds, “Try to keep me away.”
“Never.”
“Good,” he states, clearing his throat. “Now, when she arrives tomorrow, how about you shoot your old man a text, letting me know she made it safely. Heaven knows she won’t send one.”
“Of course.”
“Now, the other reason I called. What’s going on between you and the firefighter?”
My face flushes bright red and my mouth drops open. “What? Who told you?”
Again, silence.
“Well, no one. It was a hunch, but now you’ve confirmed it.”
I growl in frustration. “Walked right into that one.”
“You did. Now, what’s going on with you two. Is it serious?”
“I don’t know. We’re just…hanging out.”
“I see.”
“I’m fine, Dad.”
“I know you are. Your mother raised an exceptional young woman.”
I can’t help but grin a little. “You had a hand in that too.”
“Yeah, but she’s the rock star. I was just lucky to be beside her through it all.”
“And it all started at work.” I knew that will get him.
He groans. “Yeah, yeah.” Clearing his throat, he adds, “Anyway, if this thing ever becomes more than just hanging out, I want to meet him.”
“You’ve already met him.”
“No, I want to meet him as the man who loves my daughter. That’s different than meeting him as her employee.”
“Dad,” I groan, closing my eyes and taking a few deep breaths. This is not the conversation I want to be having now, especially since whatever this is with Collin is so new. We’re having fun, not that I want to say that to my dad.
“I know, I know. I get it, believe me. Just…you’ve only ever brought one guy home, and it was the asshole right after college.”
No need to ask who he’s referring to.
The asshole is Jason.
“I’m not bringing this one home,” I remind.
He huffs out a deep breath. “You’re being difficult.”
I bark out a laugh. “Just like my dad.”
“Your mother,” he mutters. “All right, I’ll let you go, and I won’t bring him up again. I’ll text you when Em’s on her way, and then if you’ll let me know when she arrives, I’d appreciate it.”
