I shrug a shoulder. “You’re messing with my playlist algorithm.”
Her eyes study me. “Or you are just secretly a Swifty fan.”
With the racoon running into the woods, Brielle stumbles her way to the table because she is ridiculously happy in this very moment.
I love that.
Joining her at the table, I bring her to my arms because the rumble of her laughter against my skin is therapy.
“Seriously, what the hell was that, right? I mean, it’s never happened,” I note.
She places her hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay. Most guys are into Taylor Swift, you can admit it now. It’s cool to like her.”
I roll my eyes. “Not that. The raccoon.”
“Oh, that. Yeah, I’m positive it’s an omen.”
“I’m going to be researching this all morning now.”
Her laughter subsides, but it’s still there.
“Dad, your tablet in the kitchen is going off. It’s the front-gate app,” Connor calls out from the door.
I wave to him in thanks then check the app on my phone. I see that we have a visitor at the security gate, as the app sends a notification.
I curse under my breath when I see who is on the other side. I show Brielle the screen.
And there goes any morsel of happiness on Brielle’s face.
She straightens her posture. “Why is my father here?”
“I don’t know.” I turn to Connor. “How about you take your pancakes and go watch some TV or read your book.”
Connor doesn’t protest.
Checking with Brielle, I know our great morning now took a sharp turn. We were not expecting Brielle’s dad, that’s for sure.
We both give one another a look of recognition and confirmation.
We’ll face him.
And a few minutes later, we do just that.
Brielle’s father appears from around the corner of the house, since I told him we were out back.
“Was the raccoon an omen for this?” I mumble as Brielle leans into my arm.
Her father slows in his approach, pausing at a distance from us. “I guessed you would be here.”
“You could have called and asked if you really wanted to find me,” she mentions.
“It’s okay, it’s just the proof that you haven’t been thinking clearly the last few weeks.”
I stand tall and my shoulders roll back. “What the hell does that mean?”
“She’s so blinded by your charm that she fails to see she is always following your lead.” Jim is coming out swinging, clearly.
Brielle waves her hands in the air between us, doing her best to break the tension. “I’m right here, you know. I think I can speak for myself.”
