Her body clamored for more. More kissing, more touching, more, more, more. But as seconds ticked away, her brain engaged cell by cell. Taking it slow was smarter. There was a lot on the line and they had all the time in the world.
“Perfect.”
Chapter 29
“Hey.” Will greeted his father, who joined him in a corner booth at Applebee’s. Dad wore work pants and a button-down with the Dane Electric logo. His mouse-brown hair seemed to have receded in recent days, making his forehead seem broader. He had ruddy skin and hooded hazel eyes that made him appear tired.
“Hey yourself.” Dad grabbed the menu. “I only have forty minutes for lunch. Know what you want?”
“Yeah.” Dad was ten minutes late so Will had had plenty of time with the menu. But at least his father had been the one to reach out for a change. Will hadn’t heard from him since he’d called his dad on his birthday two and a half weeks ago and hadn’t seen him in a couple months.
The server appeared and took their orders, promising to return shortly with drinks.
“So what you been up to lately?” Dad asked. “Your mom said you had a girl.”
Their parents spoke on occasion, mostly about Will, and managed to keep it cordial. “Addison. But it’s new—we’ve only been on two dates. She’s part of the crew where I work.”
“What’s she like?”
“She’s great.” His lips curved of their own volition. “She and her parents recently moved to Wilmington from Atlanta and she finished her senior year here. She’s saving up for college like me, so she’s really understanding when it comes to being frugal.”
“That’s good.”
Will warmed to the subject. He’d been bitten by the love bug, something he never expected at this point in his life. “She wants to be a psychologist. She’s very smart.”
“Like a therapist?”
“Yes, specifically she’d like to work with children.” Will told him more about Addison—her favorite high school subjects, a little about her personality, and her dog, Mason, that she’d found abandoned at a park last summer.
When the server returned with their drinks, Will noticed his dad’s eyes had practically glazed over, so he changed the topic. “What do you think of NC’s chances this year? They’ve really beefed up their defensive line with their recruits.”
His dad embraced the new topic and they talked about sports for a while. The conversation then turned to Dad’s girlfriend, Jody, who had two young boys and worked as an administrator at a local community college. She was nice enough to Will, though he sometimes got the feeling she wished her boyfriend were unencumbered by a son.
Soon the server returned with their food—a whisky bacon burger for Will and a pasta dish for his dad.
“So how’s it going with you?” Will asked after he finished his burger. “How’s your job?”
Dad’s eyes lit at the subject. “Going good. They keep me busy, which keeps the money coming in. There’s a shortage of trade workers right now, so I’m putting in a lot of hours and making good money.”
It was nothing Will hadn’t heard before. “That’s great.”
Dad set his fork down and leaned into the table. “So you remember my buddy Steve, who owns Hardin Home Improvements? He helped me install our windows way back when.”
Will sensed where this was going. “Sure.”
“Last week he was telling me about this program he started. They hire apprentices for their trade workers and it serves as a training program. They have a similar setup for plumbers, carpenters, and electricians. You can make money while learning a trade that’ll pay off big-time down the road. You should think about it.”
So that’s what this lunch was all about. Why should Will be surprised? And yet a hollow spot opened in his gut. “I already have, Dad. I respect what you do, but I want to go to college.”
“You’ll waste all your good years in school and graduate with a mountain of debt. Then what are you gonna do?”
“It’ll be worth the time and money to follow my dreams. And the debt won’t be that bad. I’ve got grants and academic scholarships to help subsidize the cost.”
Dad’s lips twisted. “Well, ain’t you smart. You shouldn’t turn your nose up at the trades—we make good money.”
“That’s not what I’m doing. I realize the trades are a valid choice. It’s just not for me.”
Dad tossed his napkin on his empty plate. “But good enough for your old man, huh?” He pulled a credit card from his wallet and swiped it in the tabletop kiosk. “I told your mother she was spoiling you. Coddling you. Told her it was a mistake.Following your dream.” He rolled his eyes. “While you were screwing around on the basketball court after school, you shoulda been working a job.”
