“I, uh, well, I was um talking to Jonah and—”
“She’s helping me clean up,” I said. “I told her she didn’t have to, but she was insistent.”
“That’s my girl,” Dean said, beaming with pride. “She can’t relax if there’s work to be done. She gets that from me.” He laughed, but when Kat and I didn’t laugh along with him, he paused. “That was a joke, you see, since I was just asleep in the other room while you two were slaving away over the dishes.”
Kat smirked. “Oh yeah. Right. Funny.”
I laughed, louder than the joke warranted, and Dean balked a little. “That is funny,” I said, awkwardly leaning my weight down on the counter. “You’re a funny man, Dean. We really miss that humor around the office now that you’re not there.”
“Right…” Dean looked at me and then at his daughter, his brow furrowed with confusion. “Well then, do you want a ride home?”
Kat froze.
“I have my car here,” she said stiffly.
“Right, but you’ve been drinking. You really shouldn’t get behind the wheel. I only had one glass of wine so I should be fine to drive.” He motioned with his hand. “Let me take you, c’mon.”
“But then my car will be here,” Kat said. “And I was going to get up early and try to hit the mall before the black Friday shoppers lose their minds.” I watched as the lie began to take form. Kat pushed her shoulders back and regained her confidence and thank God she did because otherwise I was sure we would have been found out. She walked over to her dad, her gate assured and her expression calm. “Dad,” she said, putting her hand on his shoulders and steering him towards the door. “It’s okay. I didn’t have much to drink either. I’ll just do a few more dishes, have a big glass of water, and then be on my way. I’ll even text you when I get home if you’re that worried.”
I followed the two of them down the hall, but at a distance.
“Youpromiseyou’ll text me?” Dean said.
“Cross my heart.” She opened the door for him and retrieved his coat from the hook. “Have a good night Dad, I’ll see you for lunch with Calvin on Sunday, okay?”
Dean nodded, but I could tell from the way he pursed his lips that he was still unconvinced about it all. “But Kat,” he said. “Are you sure you don’t—”
“Dad,” she said. “I’ll be fine. Just go on home, get some rest.”
“Alright then.” He said goodnight to her, but before turning around to walk down the steps of the front porch, he peered over Kat’s shoulder, making direct eye contact with me. “Have a goodnight, Jonah. Thank you for a lovely meal.” His words were polite, but his tone was flat.
He knows we are lying.
I waved and smiled. “You’re welcome,” I said. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
Kat closed the door and turned around with a wide-eyed stare.
“That was a close one,” she said, letting out a relieved exhale.
“Too close,” I said. “I think he’s onto us.”
“I think he’s too sleepy to remember any of this tomorrow.” She smiled and looked out the window of the door. “He’s at his car… now he’s in his car… now he’s driving away.” She spun back around. “Remind me to text my dad in twenty minutes to say I got home safely.”
“What should we do with those twenty minutes?” I asked with a raised brow.
She said nothing, only tiptoed past me, running back to the kitchen. I looked over my shoulder just in time to see her slip out of her dress halfway down the hall.
I ran after her without a second thought.
Chapter Seventeen
Kat
When I woke up the morning after Thanksgiving, I felt absolutely amazing.
The thrill of almost being caught by my dad had made for some wild sex the night before, and just thinking about it got me all hot and bothered. Wrapped up in Jonah’s high thread count sheets, listening to the sound of the shower in the next room over, I remembered how he had chased me up the stairs and all the way to the bed. I thought of how I tore at his briefs and pushed him down on the bed.
The more I thought about it now, the more I wanted him.