Chapter 10
SOFIA
When I was fifteen, I discovered I could get into our house without my father knowing. At the time, the discovery hadn’t meant all that much.
In the years that had passed since, however, I’d found many occasions on which to put my route to the test. This morning was no different.
Our living-room window was almost always open. It was a wide bay window and even had a soft landing with the day bed built into the alcove.
I also had an excellent vantage point from outside it, since I could see most of our lower story. The dining room flowed into our TV room, and beyond that was the kitchen. The only part of it I couldn’t see was the kitchen table.
Unfortunately, that was exactly where Dad spent most of his mornings. Peeking in through the window, I saw only his feet propped up on the chair beside his.
It’s going to be a close call today. But it was either this or the front door.
I’d showered with Lincoln, but I was still in last night’s party dress. It would be a dead giveaway if he caught me climbing into the house while wearing yesterday’s clothes.
When I heard the kettle starting to boil, I decided to take my shot. I only needed the minute it would take him to freshen up his coffee.
Practically diving onto the daybed as soon as I saw his feet move, I tucked my knees in and rolled to the edge. There was a pause of movement from the kitchen, and I froze, worried he’d heard me.
But then a spoon clinked against the side of his mug, and I relaxed. Without wasting any more time, I flung my legs over the edge. When my feet hit the floor, I took off across the living room and up the stairs.
I ran on my tiptoes, just getting to the top landing when I heard Dad’s chair scrape against the floor as he sat down again. I shook my ass in victory, allowing myself only a minute to celebrate before closing my bedroom door.
After I cleaned up a little, brushed my hair, and pulled it into a bun on top of my head, I threw on a pair of yoga pants and a tank top. Satisfied that I didn’t look like I’d just snuck in as I gave myself a critical onceover in the mirror, I nodded at my reflection and headed for my door.
Dad was reading the newspaper when I walked into the kitchen. He looked up, his eyes narrowing for a minute as he looked me over. Then he relaxed.
“Where have you been?” he asked gruffly. “There’s coffee.”
“Thanks.” I flitted over to the cabinet with our mugs and fixed myself a cup before going to join him at the table. “I hung out with Haley. We fell asleep, and I ended up staying over.”
Dad set the newspaper down, lifting his mug in one hand as he turned his full attention on me. “That’s nice. She must have missed you while you were gone. You two have always been so close.”
“It’s definitely hard being so far away from the two of you. I know it’s not technically that far, but it’s weird that I can’t just pop into the deli to say hi to her at lunchtime or have coffee with you in the mornings.”
He scratched his chin as he nodded. “It’s all part of growing up. I think it’s been an adjustment for us all, though.”
“I’m glad I got to be at your party,” I said before blowing steam across the surface of my mug. “It was nice. Did you have fun?”
“I enjoyed it,” he replied. I wasn’t surprised. Dad wasn’t really the type to call anything fun.
“That’s what it was all about, I guess. It must have been nice to get caught up with all your friends and colleagues. I know many of them have moved away.”
“It was good of them to come,” he said. A scowl formed on his rugged face and storm clouds formed in his eyes. “The night would have been a lot better if Dobbs and Phillips hadn’t shown up during the prayer.”
I nearly choked on the steam, clearing my throat to disguise it. “Dobbs and Phillips?”
“Lincoln Dobbs and his trusty sidekick, Eden Phillips.” His scowl deepened. “That boy has the most potential with the least desire to fulfill it I’ve ever seen.”
“Which boy?” I knew I was playing dumb, but I had to.
“Lincoln Dobbs.” My father said his name slowly, like a villain in a superhero movie might name his nemesis. “It’s a shame. He could have been great. He’s a natural leader, he’s smart, he’s strong in strategy, but he’s not putting any of his talents to good use.”
“Maybe he’ll grow into them.” There were a few talents he’d definitely put to good use last night, but I didn’t think his tongue or fingers would help much on the battlefield.
Plus, there was a very good chance that Dad would shoot him if he ever found out I knew about that particular skillset of Lincoln’s. I liked the guy. I’d rather not have his brains spattered against a wall.
It had become clear to me now why Lincoln had been so awkward after I’d told him who I was. Most recruits didn’t like my father, but I’d rarely heard such open animosity about them from him. Obviously, the two of them butted heads regularly.
“I had hopes that he’d grow into them, but he’s becoming more and more of a wildcard. It’s getting to the point where he’s putting his teammates in danger, and they don’t even see it.”
“He can’t be that bad,” I argued. “If his teammates are still following him, he’s got to be good at some level.”
“He dangerous,” Dad grunted, his eyes turning to slits. “There’s nothing good about him. He’s only fooled everyone into thinking that there is.”
I couldn’t agree with my dad’s assessment of him. Although he’d known him for much, much longer than I had and had spent more time with him, I had a feeling Dad’s judgment was clouded.
Lincoln had seemed like a good enough guy to me. “Luckily, you don’t have to worry about him much longer.”
“Damn right,” he muttered, but somehow, it didn’t sound like we were talking about the same thing. I’d been referring to Dad’s retirement. The malicious gleam in his eyes, though, made me wonder what he’d been talking about.
Before I could ask, his face finally relaxed, and he picked up his paper again. “You’re going to be with a good man one day, and it won’t be anyone like Lincoln. That’s the only man I’ll have to worry about from now until the end of the month.”
Again, it seemed like there was a double edge to his words. I didn’t ask why. Dad would never talk to me about anything he viewed as classified, which was pretty much everything to do with what was going on at his job.
“Ha. A good man? Where do you suppose I’ll find one of those?” I was joking, playing into his protective side just in case the conversation about Lincoln would come back to sour his day. It was the day after his party. He deserved to enjoy it.
Dad guffawed, cracking a smile as he bopped his head at me. “I don’t know where we’re going to find him, kiddo, but we will. I’ll help you.”
God forbid. I’d end up with the most stoic, proper, boring guy in the Navy. Probably an administrator who wouldn’t know excitement or adventure if it bit him in the ass. “That’s okay, Dad. Thanks for the offer, but I’m not quite that desperate.”
“Good. Good. You’re still young. Your studies should be your main focus. After you’re qualified and settled in your career, you can start worrying about all that other stuff.”
“I’m already twenty-five. I’m not that young anymore. Don’t you want a whole stable full of grandchildren?”
Terror flashed in his eyes as he drew his head back. “No. No, I most definitely do not want that. One will be fine, but only once you’re married and have had some time to settle. You don’t have to… you know…”
“Gee, thanks, Dad.” I grinned to lighten the mood.
No doubt Dad’s mind had jumped right to the acts required to conceive a stable full of children.
He’d never been good at the sex talk with me.
Back when it’d been time for the birds and the bees, he’d gotten one of the female officers to sit me down.
He’d also given me her number to call whenever I had any questions.
I miss Rosie, actually. She’d been great. As far as I knew, she was stationed permanently somewhere far, far away now. I wondered what she’d have thought about Lincoln and even if she’d known him before leaving.
Not that it mattered. Dad was the only one here now. His gaze dropped to the paper, indicating that he was done with our conversation.
I pushed my chair back and went to place my empty mug in the dishwasher. “You want me to cook you dinner tonight? Just you and me?”
“That would be great, honey,” he said without looking up.
Perfect. I hated it when he got so uncomfortable that he shut me out. “Okay, I’ll go get some meat from Haley’s deli. See you later.”
“See you.” He flipped his hand up in a casual wave, his eyes already tracking whatever article in the newspaper he had been on before.
Haley’s deli was busy when I got there. The waitress she had hired hustled between the tables, smiling and pointing toward the back when I caught her eye.
My best friend stood behind the slicer, humming along to a tune when I entered. Not wanting to surprise her while there was a blade spinning in front of her, I called out above the noise. “Hey. How was the rest of your night last night?”
Flipping the switch on the machine before she turned, she gave me a smug, knowing smile. “Probably not as good as yours was, hmm? I didn’t leave with any of those Navy guys.”
“You didn’t?” I frowned as I slung my purse down on a counter and leaned my hip against it. “I thought for sure you would.”
“So did I.” She sighed, then gave a small shrug. “Something came up. He had to get back to the base.”
“That’s a disappointment.” I snagged a piece of roast turkey off the plate of sliced meats and popped it into my mouth, flashing Haley an apologetic grin when she shook her head at me. “What? I’m just testing it. I need to get some from you for dinner.”
She rolled her eyes at me, but there was a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Whatever. Tell me about the guy you went home with.”
I released a contented sigh. “Lincoln. We had fun, but I doubt I’ll see him again. As soon as he found out who my dad was, I think I kissed any chance of a repeat performance goodbye.”
“He’s not a fan of good ol’ Charles?” She made a sound at the back of her throat. “Well, I guess it’s no surprise you picked him for your homecoming fun, then. You’ve always had that rebellious streak against your father.”
I held up a finger. “Wait a minute. I didn’t even know he wasn’t a fan of Dad before I saw his face when I told him.”
Haley’s blonde brows shot up. “Let me guess, though. You only told him after you slept together? You knew there was a very good chance he wouldn’t like Charles. Therefore, you wanted him to get to know you as you before you told him.”
I huffed out a breath but shrugged. “We were having so much fun together. I really like him. I mean, not in a ‘I want to marry the guy and have his babies’ kind of way, but we could have some fun together this summer.”
“Don’t sweat it.” She swatted my hand away when I reached for another piece of turkey.
“I know what you meant. I also know why you didn’t say anything before.
Navy guys always get weird around you when your dad is mentioned.
For your sake and the sake of a fun summer, I hope you do end up hearing from him. ”
My phone chimed from my purse. A text from an unknown number waited for me when I fished the device out.
Want to go to the beach with me tomorrow? L
A bright smile spread my lips, and Haley chuckled. “I’m guessing he got over it?”
“Yep. It looks like I’ve finally found one with balls.” My smile widened as I twirled my phone between my fingers. “Excuse me for a moment while I arrange my next date.”
Her chuckles turned into laughter, but she waved me off and turned her slicer back on. “You have fun. I’ll just be here.”
Vowing to find out from Lincoln if he had a friend I might be able to introduce to mine, I lifted my phone and tapped out my reply.
Me: Glad you decided to get over it and use my number. What beach? What time? I’m in.
Sure, I probably sounded more eager than I should have, but who cared? I sure as hell didn’t. I wanted to have fun, not play aloof games all summer.