“And you don’t have to ask me what I want, because you already know I want to share a platter of wings. And I don’t have to worry about getting wing sauce on my face and looking like a slob in front of my date because, well…you’reyou.” She winked at him.
“Good to know.”
Their waitress approached, a girl named Tina, who often served them. She glanced between them, one eyebrow raised, as she took their order. Small town like this, they were certain to get plenty of raised eyebrows, but Emma didn’t mind.
“How’s Trent?” she asked once Tina had left. “I haven’t seen him around much lately.”
Ryan frowned. “He’s spending too much time at that damn club, if you ask me.”
“It’s not the best use of his free time, but really, there are so many worse things he could be doing.”
“Believe me, I know. I guess I just want him to be more mature than I was at his age. I want him to realize he’s making a dumb-ass mistake by not sticking with college.”
“College isn’t everything.”
Ryan looked down at his hands. “Hell, I know that. I never went, and I turned out okay. But Trent had a four-year education at a great school just dumped in his lap, and he’s throwing it away.”
“I know.” She knew because, at Trent’s age, she would have given anything for the opportunity to attend college. “I get it. But he has to decide for himself, and if you push too hard, it’s going to backfire on you.”
Ryan scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Know that, too.”
She laid her palm over his. “You love him. You want what’s best for him. But you guys just found each other. Try to enjoy having him here and let his parents worry about kicking his butt when he’s stupid, okay?”
