“I don’t know. A few years ago.”
“How few?” I start to respond before realizing it’s been more than a few years.
“Dad.” Addie appears at the top of the stairs, Emmett in tow. She looks at Will, and a silent conversation I don’t like happens there.
“Don’t start,” I tell her when she stops beside him, both of them staring at me like I’m an animal in the zoo. Thankfully, Emmett stays entirely out of it, and that’s why he’s my favorite.
“I look fine,” I say to both of them.
“You look like you’re going to a parent-teacher conference.”
“I am a parent.”
“You’re going on a date, Dad.”
I look down at my shirt. It’s a perfectly good shirt. Gray and professional andclean.
“The purple one,” Will contributes with a snap of his fingers. “You know, the purple button-up you wore to dinner the other week.”
I try not to react, keeping my eyes on myself in the mirror. I don’t read into the fact that he remembers what I was wearing. He’s trying to help me. “Okay,” I say, my voice coming out a bit too soft.
I change into the purple button-up, and I think they might be right. When I get back downstairs, Addie does an excited clap, bouncing on her heels. “Much better.”
I glare at her, but while I’m distracted by my daughter’s antics, I miss Will looking me up and down and letting out an exaggerated whistle. “Alright, now we’re talking. Looking good, Doc.”
“Don’t—”
“Just saying.” He shrugs, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I’d do you.”
“I—” I try to say something, but the words don’t come, and before I can, Addie lets out a shriek of laughter, covering her face with both hands. “Oh my god, Uncle Will!”
“What?” he says with a laugh, finding her reaction hilarious. I feel like I might melt right here.
“That’s so gross!”
Emmett loses his fight with the laughter he was holding in, while Addie hides her face in his shoulder, and all of a sudden, three people are laughing at the idea of us beingsomething,but all I can think is—
I wanted him.
“You’re all disgusting,” I manage to say.
“Dad, are you blushing?” Addie asks, delighted by my misery.
I grab my jacket off the hook by the door, turning my back to all three of them while I pull it on so they can’t see my face anymore. “I’m leaving,” I announce. “Before I give you up for adoption.”
“Have fun,” Addie calls through her uncontrollable giggling.
“Good luck,” Will adds. “We won’t wait up.”
Behind me, I hear Will say something that makes Emmett laugh again, and I’m not sure I want to know what it is, so I pull the door shut behind me, breathing in the cool air.
I’d do you.
I rub my temples, like I can somehow scrub that sentence from my brain.
He was messing with me. That’s what Will does. It’s always what he’s done, and I’m going on a date with Karen. That’s what matters.
I’ve never been to the bar Karen chose. A new place with dim lighting and dark wood seating. Fancier than I would think Rosehill could handle, but there are a few people around, wearing nice dresses and suits.
