His smile brightened, and my stomach did a flip-flop. “Cool.”
Kenny shouted as my Dad’s car slowly turned into the driveway. He and Thomas raced alongside all the way to the house before hopping the porch railing. Their footsteps thumped up the stairs and rattled the light globes in the fan overhead.
“Better finish this grass before Dr. Landry thinks I’m loafing on the job by chatting up his daughter.”
“Yeah, I better get back to work too,” I said, holding up the book. “I have a stupid English paper to finish before I can do anything tonight.”
Jerry groaned as he pressed the choke on the mower, and my heart did that weird flutter-stutter again.
“Me too,” he said as he grabbed hold of the pull string. “I have it drafted but still need to clean it up before Monday.”
The afternoon sun flashed on his back as he bent over. Ropes of muscle tensed, but he paused before giving the motor a violent yank.
“Autumn?”
I blinked. He smiled at me still bent over the mower. “Yeah?”
“I said,” he repeated. “So, I’ll see you later for sure?”
“Uh, yeah.” Heat rushed into my face. “See you later.”
“Good,” he said and ripped the cord out long to bring the engine to life. He waved as he pushed the mower toward the uncut portion of the yard at the top of the hill.
I flopped back on the sofa, too warm now even with the fan turning overhead, and lay an arm over my eyes. Sheesh that boy is hot enough to be illegal.
I dug the phone out of the cushions as Dad placed three grocery bags onto the kitchen counter.
“How does stroganoff sound for dinner?” he asked as I scrolled through Cara’s messages, which were decorated with a horde of emojis.
Let’s do the full girl’s night thing, bonfire and 3am trip to Waffle House. FYI, I also plan to hit on Jackson Collins some more tonight too. There might be banging involved in between bonfires and bacon.
“I won’t be here for dinner,” I said and answered Cara. A cat, lightning bolt, one green heart, the Japanese flag, and one Santa emoji to annoy her before helping Dad put the supplies away.
“Oh yeah?” he said and leaned on the counter. “Where you headed?”
“I’m going to the bonfire with Cara tonight.”
Dad’s eyebrows rose as he tucked a bag of chips into the cabinet. “Really? Good girl.”
I nodded. “Yeah, yeah don’t rub it in.”
He held up a can of beans in each hand in surrender before stacking them in the pantry.
“I know it’s not my usual style,” I added. “But I was listening when you told me I needed to get out and enjoy college life more.”
“Well, that’s good to know,” he said and grinned. “No need to schedule that hearing exam now.”
“Very funny, Dad.”
“I try,” he said and squeezed my shoulder on his way to the fridge with the milk.
“We’re going to do the full girl’s night out,” I said but couldn’t suppress the squiggle of nerves in my stomach. “I won’t be in before sunrise.”
Dad laughed and pecked a kiss on my hair as he passed. “Autumn, you’ve been the most careful, focused, boring teenager I’ve ever met. And being the president of a junior college, I’ve seen my share of knuckleheaded screw ups.”
I snorted. “Thanks, I think?”
“My dear, it’s time you got out and had some fun,” he added, ignoring my sass. “So I’m not the least bit worried. In fact, Kenny and I will make ice cream bets as to what time you’ll be home.” He squinted one eye at me. “I’m going to be daring and go with midnight, like Cinderella.”