Page 40 of A False Start
“You named your horse Spot, for crying out loud.” She stands up and holds her hands out wide.
“I didn’t mean to,” I grumble. “It just sort of stuck.” But everyone ignores me in favor of Nadia and Tripod. Whose name is clearly sticking too. And I don’t hate that she’s the one who named him.
“She brings up a good point,” my dad interjects. “I’m not sure we’ve met. I’m Doug.” He shoves his free hand toward Nadia, smiling as he takes her in.
“Nadia.”
“She’s Stefan’s little sister,” I grumble as I crouch down to spray the pee spot and wipe it up.
“Your friend?”
“Yup.”
I wipe one more time until I’m satisfied it’s clean and head to the garbage beneath the sink.
“Is he okay with this?” I turn back around, and my father is gesturing between us.
“There is no this,” I blurt, wanting to clear any confusion.
Nadia rolls her lips together to cover a smile.Brat.
“We’re just friends. I’ve been giving Nadia riding lessons.”
My dad can barely hold back his guffaw as he says, “Is that what kids these days are calling it?”
Good. God. What was I thinking?It’s like I completely forgot how ridiculous my parents are.
“Douglas,” my mom scolds him with a playful slap to the chest before turning back to her coffee set up.
When my eyes land on Nadia, she has her fist pressed against her lips, and her body is shaking with laughter.
“Tell them, Nadia.”
“Tell them what?” She turns her doe eyes on me, and I know I’m so screwed if I push this. Nadia is a lot of things, but shy isn’t one of them, and I suspect she’s not above revealing the things we’ve done that are better left unsaid.
“I don’t know why I thought this was a good idea,” is all I say back. I try to give her a serious glare, but she bursts out laughing.
“Me neither, son. Me neither.” My dad continues to chuckle as he walks toward the living room. “This way, Nadia. Take a load off. Let’s chat.”
“I’d love that, Mr. Sinclaire.” She pushes off the counter, bumping her hip against mine as she walks past, and I see the corner of her lips tip up as she does.
Brat.
* * *
Nadiaand I walk silently down the hallway toward the elevator.
Coffee with my parents turned out to be nice. Once they both settled down a bit and everyone had their extremely involved cups of coffee in hand, the conversation flowed easily. The dog curled up on my mother’s lap and was snoring happily in no time. And I didn’t even stumble over my words, which was a nice change.
I expected taking Nadia to my parents’ place would give her some perspective. What I didn’t expect was for her to fit in so seamlessly. I didn’t expect it to feel like something else entirely, like she’s the missing piece of the puzzle.
My dad invited her golfing with him for crying out loud. My mom is sending her links for where to purchase a special kettle so she can start making pour-over coffee too. She wasn’t supposed to be funny and charming and make my parents welcome her into the fold of our family unit like she’s some long-standing friend.
But Nadiaisfunny and charming. Her energy is infectious. It’s like she makes everyone around her happier.
Even the dog is enamored.
Everyone except me is now officially calling him Tripod. And I’m pretty sure my parents are in love with Nadia and think grandbabies are on the way, no matter how many times I assured them we’re just friends.
