Page 9 of Merry with Me
He grins. “I have so many stories for your future husband.”
“I thought I was never allowed to get married?”
He sighs. “I know it’s going to happen, and I want it to happen for you. I’d never want you or your siblings to miss out on a love like I have with your mother. The issue is you finding that man. The one who will work hard to love you.”
“I think you’re mixing up the family motto, old man. I know you’re getting up there in years. It’s okay. Your secret is safe with me.”
“Just for that, I’m breaking out the pictures too. This future, no-face, no-named husband of yours is getting full access.”
“You wouldn’t,” I gasp, knowing damn well he would. He and my uncles will rally around. Not only to embarrass me, but to interrogate said faceless, nameless man. My family also knows that if/when I bring someone home to meet them, he’s special. I haven’t found him yet, but I’m still young. I’m not giving up hope yet.
Dad winks. “I’ll lift the doors. Pull it in, and we’ll get you taken care of.”
“Thanks, Daddy.”
His grin grows wider. I don’t call him Daddy often—I’m an adult after all—but sometimes, in moments like these, I slip up,and his eyes soften. No matter how old I get, I’ll always be his little girl.
Less than an hour later, I’m walking through the front door of our apartment. “Honey, I’m home!” I call out to my roommate, Isla.
“Hey, just in time. I made dinner.”
“Oh, so you ordered takeout?” I tease. A cook Isla is not. She tries, and she’s getting better. I’ve been teaching her.
“Yup.” She giggles.
“What are we having?”
“Chinese.”
“Perfect. I’m starving.”
“Did you get your tire all taken care of?” she asks.
I texted her while Dad was working on swapping out the spare. “I did. Dad had what I needed at the shop.”
“How was your day, other than the flat?”
“Good. I met with Dr. Thompson about the gala, total grump, and then he’s the one who ended up helping me.” I go on to tell her the story.
“Is he hot? He sounds hot.” My best friend wags her eyebrows.
“He’s… yeah, he is, but his attitude brings his hotness factor down.”
“So he’s not all mafia-controlling hot, more of plain-old-asshole hot,” she asks, referring to the mafia romance books we like to read.
“Just plain old asshole, period. He doesn’t want to help with the gala, and Hilary left the decision up to me.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. I was going to become a thorn in his side, even just to keep him updated to annoy him, but his grumpy ass did come to my rescue tonight.”
“Maybe you should take it easy on him.”
“Yeah,” I agree, not really sure I’m committed to that. He did do a really nice thing tonight. He could have kept on walking, but he stopped and took time out of his evening to help me. I thanked him, but he wouldn’t take any money. “He wouldn’t let me pay him.”
“He’s a doctor, Blake. I’m sure he doesn’t need the money.”
“True, but I still think I should do something nice for him. I just don’t know if leaving him out of the planning is what I want that nice gesture to be.”