“Getting involved.”
“I’m just going to go and say hello. It would be rude not to.”
I laugh. “Sure.”
My mother wanders off to embarrass her granddaughter as I turn my concentration back to my casserole, my beer, and my phone, which is lying on the countertop.
After my last message, I haven’t heard anything from her. I’m trying not to think about it too much, but it’s not easy – not when you’re so unsure, after you’ve laid all your true feelings so bare to someone, and you have no idea whether or not they even want you in their life.
“Wow, smells good!” My dad walks into the kitchen from the back door. “What are we having tonight?”
“Stew.”
“You’re giving yourself a lot to think about, here.”
“It’s just dinner, Dad. Don’t make it a big deal.”
“I’m not just talking about dinner. I saw that Skylar has company.”
I smile. “Yeah, but that’s not down to me. Jordan paired them up.”
“Jordan?” he asks, his eyebrow raised.
“The head teacher,” I say, correcting myself. “Ms Hill.”
“But you just called her Jordan.”
“It’s her name.”
“You call the headmistress by her first name?”
“It’s a small town. Everyone knows each other.”
“And you two know each other pretty well, don’t you?”
“Dad…”
“Do you really think this is the best idea for your daughter, Niall?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I say, trying to defend myself. “Skylar knows what’s going on; last night we were all together at her apartment!”
“What?”
“Skylar was the one who wanted to go. I had nothing to do with it.”
“Niall…”
“I’m not doing anything wrong.”
“I hope not – because you’re an adult, and you’re responsible for your own actions, now.”
“You think?”
“Please, just don’t get yourself into any more trouble.”
“I’m not thirteen, Dad.”
He sighs, shaking his head. “You’re the only example that girl has. Try to bear that in mind.”
