Page 13

But I’m also dreading this conversation with my parents about Drew’s apartment. When I left to go to his house, I had just told them I was getting a pedicure. I shouldn’t have lied, but I didn’t think all of this would come together so quickly.

Mom walks around the corner from the kitchen into the living room with little Sam running along behind her.

“Hey, Sammy girl!” I get down on my knees so I can hug Samantha.

She squeals with glee and reaches for me. “Mommy!”

“How was your pedicure, sweetheart?” My mom asks.

“Well, actually, I sort of found an apartment.”

Mom’s jaw drops slightly, then she snaps it shut. “Already? Where?”

I pause, hesitant to tell her we’ll be moving out this weekend. “Drew converted his basement into an apartment. His sister was living there, but she just moved out.”

“Ted! Get in here!” She bellows.

“Coming!” Dad yells from the dining room.

I drop my chin to my chest. Here goes.

He rounds the corner. “What do my favorite ladies need?” Dad says affectionately, coming up behind mom and wrapping his arms around her waist.

I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to seeing them all googly eyed like this. When I was growing up, their relationship was rocky, to say the least. Dad worked way too much. But, apparently, having grandchildren has bonded them, and Dad has cut way back on his workload. He’s even talking about retiring early. Their newfound “honeymoon phase” is just one more thing on my list of reasons to get the heck out of here.

We share a bedroom wall. Enough said.

“So, I’m going to rent Drew’s basement apartment.”

Dad blinks rapidly. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah!” I smile, trying to stay positive. “It has two bedrooms. It’s super cute.”

They both look at me with horrified expressions. I pick Samantha up and settle her on my hip.

Dad’s face goes bright red. I swear I can see steam coming out of his ears. “You’re going to live with Drew?”

“Calm down. The apartment I’ll be renting is completely separate from the house. It has its own entrance and everything. And It’s even closer to Heartland Academy than your house, so my commute will be shorter. It’s perfect, so I’d appreciate it if you could be more supportive.”

My dad drags his hand down his face in frustration. “Hon, you know I love Drew. He’s somewhat of a son to me. But Penny was conceived from a one-night stand. Not only that, but in all the years I’ve known him, he’s never even had a serious relationship. Which makes one think he’s only into casual flings, does it not? I don’t want you to live with a man who has a scandalous past.”

I’m taken aback for a second. I don’t know Drew as well as my dad does, but he does not even remotely seem like the type of person who would be careless with women and have random flings. Although, I guess he could’ve been like that years ago. Sowing his wild oats and whatnot.

“Dad, thanks for looking out for me, but that was forever ago. He’s obviously grown up a lot since then. You know him; he has good character.”

“Seven years isn’t that long.” Mom says pointedly, putting her hands on her hips.

“You’re right. Drew and I are just going to ignore both of our daughters and have a wild and passionate affair with each other in his basement,” I say with a dramatic eye roll.

“Sophie! Don’t even joke about that,” Mom says with an indignant huff.

“I appreciate you both making sure Sam and I are taken care of, but I trust Drew, and I’m really excited about this. So I’m moving into the apartment this weekend.”

And with that, I turn and walk upstairs to my bedroom with Samantha still on my hip.

“Sophie Danielle Windell, this conversation is not over!” Dad says in his deep, booming voice.

“My last name is Miller, and this conversation is most definitely over.”