I frowned. I knew my daughter’s moods, and the tone right there—she wasn’t happy.
“Yes, one thing,” some guy replied. “You know, I can totally picture you in my bed.”
The fucker saidwhat? I turned cold in an instant, and I gnashed my teeth and strode?—
“That’s so funny,” Hallie giggled, “because I can totally picture you in a ditch.”
I stopped short and swung around, almost knocking over a display with my basket.
Fucking hell!
Not a goddamn word in the English language could describe how fucking proud I was, all of a sudden.
“Excuse me?” Oh, the guy wasn’t happy now either. “Look, bitch?—”
“Whoa, we got a problem over here?” Was that Noa? It sounded like Noa.
I was ready to come running again. Nobody called my daughter a bitch and got away with it. But I was too curious to see how Noa and Hallie would work it out. I had to let my girl do this her way. She was clearly brilliant at brushing off idiots already.
“No,” the guy responded sourly. “Fuck this store anyway.”
“Yeah, okay,” Noa said, way more cheerful. “Have a blessed day, fucknut.”
I grinned to myself.
The guy must’ve walked off.
“Store policy—we have to be nice to customers,” Noa explained. “That’s why I like to bless their day.”
I stifled a laugh while Hallie let hers out.
“You did great,” Noa added. “Never take their shit.”
I made up my mind. I walked back toward the entrance and left my basket, then headed over to my truck.
This was her moment. Goddamn, I was proud of her. And when I saw Noa tomorrow, I’d give him a big hug.
Maybe I glanced around to see if I could spot a guy who might’ve insulted my baby girl, but unless it was that eightysomething-year-old over there in the motorized wheelchair, the blessed fucknut had already escaped.
It didn’t take long before Hallie appeared from the side of the building, and I couldn’t stop smiling at her.
“Hi, Dad! Why aren’t you in the truck?”
I shrugged. “The sun is nice. How was work?”
“It was great! Noa is like the big brother I wish I had.”
I chuckled and winced. “Baby, whatever war you and Dylan are waging on each other needs to fucking stop.”
“Whatever,” she sang.
I opened the door for her, but before she could climb up, I pulled her in for a hug.
I had to.
“I love you,” I murmured.
“I know, Daddy,” she chuckled awkwardly. “I love you too. Are you okay?”
