He chuckles. “As well as two hippies in Florida can do, I guess. Dad’s trying to convince everyone to install solar panels and Mom’s serving hash brownies at book club.”
Lyric arrives and slaps Rowan on the back. “Hey, man. Good to see you.” He lowers his voice and adds, “It’s about damn time.”
About damn time for what? I study the two of them, but they don’t give anything away with their manly posturing.
“Are they going to grunt at each other while scratching their armpits?” Lilac asks as she joins me.
“Why do men do the whole pounding of their chest thing?” Juniper asks.
“Well,” Lilac begins, but Juniper shoves her hand in Lilac’s face.
“I was joking.”
“Whatever,” Lilac huffs before marching to the kitchen to help with the food.
Dad enters the room and smiles when he sees me. He ruffles my hair. “Good to see you, baby girl. How are you doing? How’s the ankle?”
“It’s fine. I’m ready to get this walking cast off yesterday.”
“You can’t rush a recovery,” Dad lectures.
“Which is what I’ve been trying to tell her,” Rowan adds.
I scan the area as if I can’t see Rowan standing right in front of me, “Did anyone hear someone speak? I think we have a ghost.”
Dad chuckles before leaning close to kiss my cheek. “Don’t give him too hard of a time.”
If he only knew. But he won’t. My dad may give the impression of a gentle bumbling bear, but you don’t mess with his girls.
Mom claps her hands. “Everyone be seated, please.” She indicates a chair on the far end. “Rowan, you sit there next to Ashlyn.”
I glare at Mom. She rolls her eyes. “You had sex with the man. Surely, you can sit next to him for a meal.”
My cheeks warm until I’m sure they’re the color of a fire hydrant. “Mom.”
“What? Are you ashamed? Do I need to have the talk about not being ashamed to have sex with you again?”
“No,” I grit out.
“In that case, sit down.” She motions to the chair next to where Rowan is already sitting.
I plop down next to the man who’s not bothering to hide his amusement. “How can you think this is funny?”
“Because she’s not my mom and everyone’s staring at you and not me,” he explains.
Stupid common sense explanation. “Whatever.”
Yep. I’ve turned into a petulant child. Way to show Rowan you’re a woman and he’s missing out by not wanting to have a relationship with you.
“Did you watch the Broncos game last week?” Lyric asks, and I want to fall at his feet to thank him for changing the topic of conversation.
“It was a good game, but the real test will be the game next Sunday.”
Lyric nods. “I can’t wait for the game. I gave both Peace and Freedom duty, so I won’t be disturbed. They weren’t amused.”
“You should come over to our place to watch the game. In fact, you should all come. We’ll have a little football party.”
Our place? Did he forget we’re not in a relationship? I won’t be reminding him of our non-relationship status in front of the family, though. Better to stick to my living with him as a temporary arrangement.