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“Me too.” A thought slips in. “Am I supposed to bring a date?”
His eyes narrow only the slightest fraction, but he quickly recovers with a shrug. “It’s not required.” He adjusts his smartwatch on his wrist. “Why? Have anyone in mind?”
He tries so hard, but he’s just terrible at being inconspicuous. “Are you worrying about Archer?”
“Archer who?”
I give him a knowing look, and he sighs. “Can you blame a dad for being curious?”
“No. But I’ll lay your worries to rest. I won’t be taking Archer. Or dating Archer, for that matter.”
As much as my old heart would like me to change my mind, I don’t think it’s worth it. I saw the way Archer pulled back, and even if he did take a small stance before he left, it’s not really what I want for my future.
There was also that weird moment with him and Dad challenging each other. Most people love my dad—but most guys are afraid of him. Archer doesn’t seem to fall in either category.
“I’m glad to see you’ve finally gotten over that crush of yours,” Dad says.
I pull up my legs and wrap my arms around my knees. “Why? Because I used to like him, or because he’s a guy who dared to talk to me for longer than a few minutes?”
“I don’t hate every guy who talks to you. What about the Walkers?”
I’m aware he sidesteps the question, but I let it slide.
“Mr. Walker is your best friend,” I say. “And his four boys can literally do no wrong in your eyes. Anyway, none of them have any romantic interest in me, so there’s literally no threat.”
“So you’re saying that Kade boy has an interest in you?”
“Dad, you’ve got to stop. We spoke on the way home, he didn’t recognize me, then he found out who you are and backed off, okay? There’s nothing to worry about.”
He doesn’t smile like I expect him to.
“What’s wrong?”
He hesitates. “I’m sorry I’m like this. It’s just...hard. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
I leave the window seat and sit on the armrest of his chair, wrapping my arms around his neck and leaning my head against his. He rests his hands on my arm, and we stay there for a minute—just like we used to when I was a kid.
“That’s why I’m always going to take your opinion into account,” I say. “But...”
“Oh, don’t say but.”
“But...I’m older now. I know I still have a lot of growing to do, but I’ve been away at college for three years. Most of my friends are already married, and I’ve barely dated anyone.”
“What about the last one you mentioned? Blake. He sounded like he was going in the right direction. Good grades, great school, excellent career in mind.”
I scoff and pull away. “Yeah, he’s not a thing anymore.”
“What did he do?”
Dad’s frown grows, so I settle it. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
This was precisely why I never had the two of them meet. Dad may appear to support Blake from afar, but if he saw my ex, he wouldn’t have hesitated to put him in his place.
Still, Dad doesn’t look at peace. “It’s hard, letting you go into the world and knowing I can’t protect you from everything. After your mom died...”
I nod. He did everything in his power to keep me happy and safe. It’s what he couldn’t do for Mom. He’s still wracked with guilt because of the car crash he survived and she didn’t. “There was nothing you could’ve done to save her, Dad. But you’ve kept her memory alive, and that’s enough. I know she’s looking down on us, wanting us both to be happy. Don’t you feel that, too?”
He nods. “You’re right. I’ve had to let go of a lot of things while you were in Boston. But now you’re back, I’m still gonna protect you while I can, okay? I do promise to ease back and not be so...”
