Page 104 of Undeniable

“He doesn’t hate you,” she sighed. “He just doesn’t know you yet, and he’s protective. Only daughter, remember?”

“Oh, I remember,” I said. “I just wish I could have a redo of our first meeting. Because it’s going to be even more difficult to win him over after what happened today.”

“Connor,” she said. “It wouldn’t matter who I was dating, no one will ever be good enough in his eyes.”

“He might be right.”

She wrapped her arm around my neck, twisting back to look up at me. “Connor.” She kissed my jaw. “You are good. You—” she kissed my neck “—are enough. You don’t have to prove anything—to my dad or anyone else.”

Huh.Was that what I’d been trying to do? Prove myself. Prove my worth.

Tatum had hinted at that as well, but I’d always brushed him off.

“Still,” I said as she turned back to face forward, resting her head against my chest. “I want your dad to like me. It’s important.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because he’s important to you.” I tucked her hair behind her ear.

“He will,” she said, patting my arm. “I like you, and just think about our first interaction.” She laughed, her body shaking against mine.

“Like me?” I teased. “Is that all, Goody?”

“No.” I could hear the smile in her voice, but then she curled in on herself. “God, I’m going to miss this. Miss you.”

“Let’s not think about that now,” I said. “Not when we only have four more days together.”

“I know,” she sighed. “And I don’t want to. But I can’t help it.”

“Okay.” I rubbed her shoulders. “Tell me what would help, then.”

“I think we should agree to some ground rules.”

“Such as?” I asked, caressing her arms, wanting her to relax.

“Such as…we promise to check in daily.”

“That should be easy.” I kissed her shoulder. “We already do that. What else?”

“We agree that we won’t go longer than a certain amount of time without seeing each other in person.”

“How long?” I asked, knowing nothing would ever be often enough. At least not for me.

“Do you think two weeks is doable?”

Did I want to go two weeks without seeing her? No. But I knew how busy I would be now that my suspension was over. And Olivia worked full time as well.

“It sounds like a good goal. Do you want to alternate or would you rather me just come to you?”

“That would be exhausting for you,” she said. “Of course I’ll come to New York.”

“Would you be willing to travel to other cities?” I asked, knowing that part of Abby’s tour would be spread across the US.

“Like where?”

“I’ll have to check the principal’s tour schedule.”

She stilled. “Tour schedule?” She turned to face me. “Stage work. Oh my god. Who’s the principal?”