“I wanted to surprise you.”
Grace went to talk when her Uncle Matt tapped me on the shoulder. “You like Grace? You want to kiss Grace?”
Grace giggled and looked at Matt. “Oh, Uncle Matt. I missed you!”
Matt smiled. “Can I hug you, Grace?”
Nodding, Grace held open her arms as Matt quickly walked into them and gave her a hard but fast hug. Turning to me, he asked, “Assmole, can I hug you?”
“Um, sure?” I said as I looked around at everyone staring at me. Grace and Will wore smiles, but Jeff looked at me like he wanted to take my head off.
Matt walked up and hugged the hell out of me. He was fucking strong and I was not expecting him to squeeze me so tight. Stepping back, Matt laughed, then turned to Jeff. “Why do you want to hurt him, Jeff? He’s nice.”
My head snapped over to look at Jeff as Grace let out a nervous giggle. “Daddy. What are y’all doing here?”
Not taking his eyes off of me, Jeff said, “We decided to come and surprise you and bring you home for the weekend.”
Grace’s smile faded. Turning to look at me, I swallowed hard. Grace reached for my hand as I scouted the area for places to escape.
“Daddy, you should have called. I’m going to Austin this weekend with Noah. He came today to pick me up.”
Oh God. She’s lying to her father. He’s old fashioned. What would he do if he knew I let his little girl fuck me in the parking lot of Target?
Shit. I’m so dead.
Dead.
I’m pretty sure if I had a head start, I could clear the back fence.
“Is that so? What’s in Austin?” Jeff asked as I looked back at him. Clearly he was waiting for my response. Putting on a smile, I dug down deep inside and said a quick prayer.
Taking a few steps forward, I put my hand out and introduced myself. “Mr. Johnson, I’m Noah Bennet, Grace’s boy—” My voice stopped.
Grace walked up next to me. “Boyfriend,” she finished for me.
Jeff reluctantly took my hand and gave it two quick, but firm handshakes. “Are you unsure of your relationship status with my daughter, son?”
Shaking my head quickly, I said, “No. No, sir.”
Lifting his eyebrow, Jeff asked again, “What’s in Austin?”
Taking a quick look at Will, he gave me a head nod and winked. “My mother and sister. Um . . . you see, my mother is dying of cancer and we’re not sure how much longer she has to live. She would like to meet Grace before . . . before um. Well, before she passes away.”
My heart was pounding in my chest and I wasn’t sure how Jeff would respond. His face relaxed a bit and he stole a look at Grace before looking back at me.
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Noah. That has to be very hard for your family. Your father especially.”
Looking away, I cleared my throat. “My father didn’t stick around when the going got tough, sir.”
Shaking his head, Jeff gave me a polite sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Turning to look at Grace, he asked, “Where are you staying Grace Hope?”
Oh hell. He used her middle name.
That can’t be good.
Grace
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I was ready to kill my father. Why did he use my middle name? I’m twenty-one years old for Christ’s sake. I don’t have to answer to my father.
“With Noah of course.”
Noah took a small step back as I squeezed his hand.
Daddy slowly nodded his head. “Grace, your family wasn’t aware of you dating anyone. How long have y’all known each other?”
I already lied to him once when I said Noah came to pick me up today, I wasn’t about to continue. “We met my freshman year when Alex and I made a trip to A&M. We’ve dated off and on since then.”
Noah turned to look at me as I kept my eyes steady on my father. Matt was standing next to Daddy and kept repeating, “Oh no. Jeff is mad.”
Daddy turned to Matt and in the same sweet and gentle voice he always used with Matt, he said, “Matt, I’m not mad. I’m . . . concerned.”
Matt laughed. “You’re mad.” Pointing to poor Noah, Matt said, “He’s mad at Noah. Noah, you’re an assmole.”
Noah swallowed hard and answered with what sounded more like a question. “Thank you?”
Will busted out laughing. “Noah, that’s Matt’s way of saying asshole.”
Noah squeezed my hand. “Oh,” he mumbled as my father fought to hold back a smile.