Page 85 of Wildcat
Mom’s already in bed, but Dad is in the kitchen when I get home. I pull a bowl from the cabinet and take a seat next to him. I smile at the Fruity Pebbles box.
“How’d you know I was on my way?”
“I didn’t,” he says and continues spooning the cereal into his mouth.
“So, uh, I’m dating Leo.” I sit beside him.
He chuckles softly. “Little late on the news for that one.”
“I’m sorry that you found out from someone else. We wanted to make sure we really liked each other before we said anything.”
“And?” His tired gaze meets mine.
“I really like him.”
“He called you his friend and made a spectacle in the media room.”
I’m quick to defend him. “He panicked. We were going to tell you together this weekend.”
I get a grumpy, throaty noise in response. Dad finishes his cereal and rests an elbow on the counter. “Are you sure about this?”
“I am. Leo isn’t like Rhyse. He wasn’t hiding me. We were just trying to decide how much we liked one another before we made a big deal of it.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
“Then I don’t follow.”
“Leo is a nice guy, honey. If you were anyone but my daughter, I’d have no problem signing off approval. He has a good head on his shoulders for someone his age.”
“I know his life is busy. So is yours, and you and Mom make it work.”
“It isn’t just that. These guys are under constant scrutiny in the media. Part of me selfishly loved that Rhyse kept you out of all of that. It may not have been his intention, but he shielded you from a lot by keeping you out of the headlines.”
“I can handle it,” I assure him. The things people said to and about me with Rhyse were so much worse than anything I’ve seen about Leo or the women he dated.
“I’m not going to try to talk you out of it. I know you’re too stubborn for that anyway, but think about it and be careful.”
“It’ll be fine. I promise.”
“Okay.” He presses a kiss to my temple. “As long as you’re happy.”
“I am. You’re really okay with this then?”
“If you’re happy and he can keep the nonsense away from the ice, then yes.” He gets up, puts his bowl in the sink, and starts to leave the kitchen.
I swivel on the bar stool. “Leo said he has a meeting with you tomorrow morning.”
Dad grins.
“Be nice, Daddy.”
I goto the arena the next day after working the early afternoon shift at the bar. Leo has a quick break after practice, and he climbs into my car with a groan. He leans over and somehow manages to lean his big frame over the console and put his head in my lap.
“Rough day?” I thread my fingers through his unruly hair.
“Your dad hates me,” he mutters against my thigh.
“That bad, huh?” I knew by the look in Dad’s eyes last night that he wasn’t going to let Leo off that easily. “I’m sorry.”
