I snorted.“I already have a hobby.”
“Yeah, but playing hockey in the summer isn’t as easy.”
I shrugged.“Maybe not, but you’ll be home for the summer, so I won’t have all that free time you seem to think I’ll have.”
Evie’s smile lit up her green eyes.“Maybe you’ll start dating.”
I barked a laugh before I could stop myself.
Evie’s smile fell.“Why is that funny?”
I reached for my water to stall for time.I couldn’t tell her the truth.Admitting I didn’t date because every time I tried, her mother ran off the woman I was seeing before we had a chance to start something more than a casual fling fell into the category of bad-mouthing my ex.Even though it was true.Still, Evie didn’t need to know that.
Just like she didn’t need to know our marriage ended because Hannah couldn’t handle me spending time with anyone other than her and tried to end the relationships I had with Oscar and Christy.
“You’re the only girl I need in my life,” I finally said.
“Except Aunt Christy.”
I smiled.“Yes, except Aunt Christy.”
“Have you ever dated her?”
I shook my head.“No.She was always like a sister to me.”
Evie scowled.“That’s what Jeffrey said about me.”
My eyebrows shot up.“You like Jeffrey?”
Her cheeks turned red.“Forget I said that.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.Crushing on Maddie’s older brother.You never told me.”
“Because I knew you’d act like this!”she hissed.
I chuckled.“It’s cute.”
She groaned and rolled her eyes.“I’m not cute, Dad.I’m almost an adult.”
“And he’s almost twenty-one.”
“So?”
“Three years is a lot when you’re so young.”
“You’re five years older than Mom.”
I nodded slowly.You see how that worked outpopped into my mind, but I couldn’t say that to my daughter.“True, but she was twenty-one when we met.”
“He said I’m still a kid.”
“Technically, you are.”
She huffed a sigh that only a teenager could pull off.
“You’ll meet a lot of new people at college.Try to enjoy the summer and not worry about Jeffrey.”
She shrugged, staring at her empty plate.“Can we get dessert?”
