“Are we talking about my life here or yours, Nate?”
“Ouch, you wound me, Rowe. Wound. Me.” His eyes twinkled with humor, but I saw the lingering shadows there.
“I’m joking,” I said. “Besides, you have a point. We have each other. And Harleigh and Nix and the guys… even Chloe.” My brow lifted.
“Don’tgo there.”
“I should go there. But thanks, Nate. For everything.”
“Yeah, yeah. You know I should start charging for all my worldly advice. That’s Harleigh and Nix, and now you and Zane.”
“Maybe it’ll be your turn next.”
“Un-fucking-likely.”
With a chuckle, I shouldered the door and climbed out, heading inside the house.
“Dad, I’m home,” I called.
“In here, sweetheart.” I found him in the kitchen. “How was the dance?”
“It was fun, thanks.”
“Good, I’m glad. You deserved it.”
“Dad, can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure.” He laid down his papers and looked at me. “What’s up?”
“I need to tell you something, but I’m worried about what you’ll say.”
“Does this something have to do with a boy by any chance?”
I nodded. “I’m… involved with someone.”
“From the way you’re dancing on the spot, I can assume it’s not Miles.”
“Definitely not Miles.”
“Okay, someone else from school then?”
“Not exactly. You remember Nix’s friend Zane—”
“Celeste, I’m not sure I like where this is headed…” His brows bunched with concern.
“Just hear me out, please. I know you and Mom had this idea that I would end up with someone like Cooper Sinclair, but honestly, I’d rather stick pins in my eyes. But Zane… he makes me feel alive, Dad.”
“And how long has this been going on?”
“A few weeks, but it only got serious recently.”
“Serious… I see. Your mother will have something to say about this, Celeste.”
“I know.” My stomach sank. She would never accept Zane.
“But your mother isn’t here anymore.” His expression softened. “That said, if you’re going to be dating Zane, I have a few ground rules.”
“Okay.” I nodded.