Page 7 of Asher

I snickered, “She’s your best friend, Chloe.”

She sighed, “Fine. I’ll do it. But you so owe me.”

I nodded, “Anytime you want to cash in your marker, you just let me know,” I told her.

Just then, I heard, “What’s going on?”

Chloe looked up at Stella and grinned, “Did you know your dad is super smart?”

Stella nodded skeptically, “Yeah. Why?”

“Because I couldn’t figure out this fraction. He showed me how.” Lying through her teeth for me. Then she looked at me, nodded, and said, “Thanks, Mr. Hendrix.”

I nodded, “Any time.”

Then I stood up and walked away.

Wondering how in the world anyone could tell when Chloe was lying.

But I had a feeling that she didn’t do it that often.

And when she did, she told the truth afterward.

Which was what she did when she showed up at my house to go with Stella.

***

I chuckled when Stella ran to her car.

Today was Stella’s sweet sixteen birthday.

We had the party at the house since she wanted to invite some friends from school who didn’t need to be around the clubhouse.

The light blue Volkswagen Beetle with a soft black top was her dream car.

I didn’t get it.

But then again, I wasn’t a girl.

Chloe was hot on her heels, hugging her and taking pictures of her as she posed this way and that way.

“Anyone ever tells you you’re a bad father, tell them to shove it where the sun doesn’t shine,” Stoney chimed in at my side.

I chuckled, then nodded, “Yeah.”

Once her big present was revealed and the food was eaten, we gathered around the fire in the backyard, beers to those who could drink it and sparkling apple cider to those who couldn’t.

And just like always, which never seemed to fail, even if we didn’t plan that shit, I was sitting beside Chloe, and Stella was on her other side.

Suddenly, Stella jumped up and then raced into the house.

I lifted a brow and then looked at Chloe, who was laughing her ass off.

“What the fuck is so funny?” I asked her once she stopped laughing.

She snickered, “She’s been holding her bladder for seven hours now. She thought it would be funny to chug that last cider.”

I chuckled at my girl. Only Stella.