Chapter Twenty-Four

Perry

The moon lights up the dusky sky when we reach Dad's property. We've got to get a move on if we don't want to be late for the fireworks. It's my fault we're running behind, though. When Lola stepped out of the bungalow in cut-offs and an off-the shoulder sweatshirt, exposing the sweetest trail of freckles, I might have taken a little too long saying hello .

Can't say I regret a second of it. Not even a little bit. I do, however, regret that I have to introduce her to my Dad and Sloane. Those two are wild cards. Who knows what they'll say to her.

"Just remember not to take anything Sloane says personally," I remind Lola as I put the truck in park right out front of Dad's grand estate. "She's pretentious and pretty much hates her life, if I had to guess."

"Hates her life?" Lola's head swivels my way.

Dang it, I said too much. "Eh, yeah. Remember how I told you that my dad has run around on every woman he's ever been with? Well, he's likely doing that to her too."

Lola's mouth turns down at the corners. "I feel bad for her."

"Yeah." I guess, in a way, I do too. Even though Sloane probably curses the very ground I walk on, I'm still a human being. Knowing she's likely mistreated at the hands of my careless father makes me want to punch the guy.

It's too bad my mama raised me right.

"Anyway, just know that I think you're amazing and beautiful and it doesn't matter what my family thinks, okay?"

She smiles, but it lacks it usual brightness. "Thanks. And okay."

I squeeze her hand before I hop out of the truck and make my way to her side. When I open her door, I grab her waist and lift her out. Once she's on her feet, I brush a piece of hair away from her face and say, "Have I told you that you look so, so good tonight?"

Her shy grin is so cute, I want to stick it my pocket and save it for later. "Only like five times before we made out at the back door." Her hands wrap around me and press into my back. "But I'm okay with hearing it a few more times."

I peck her lips, then her nose, and step back before I get carried away. "All right. Ready to do this?"

"Of course."

With her hand in mine, we climb the front steps and ring the most obnoxious doorbell known to man. It chimes loud and long, signaling our arrival. This time, Sloane herself greets us at the door.

"Perry. So glad you could make it almost on time." She barely manages a fake smile as she ushers us inside. "And who might you be?" she asks, eyes glued to Lola.

Wow. Way to cut through the pleasantries.

"Sloane, this is Lola, my girlfriend."

Lola sinks into me a bit before extending her hand. "Hi. It's so nice to meet you."

For a silent moment, Sloane's gaze lowers to Lola's extended hand, then slides down the entire length of her person. I have the urge to rip Lola away, haul her over my shoulder, and leave before she has to endure any more scrutiny, but I can't leave Aiden hanging like that.

He deserves a fun night away from these two rigid yahoos.

"Yes," Sloane says, her forced smile back in place as she lightly grips Lola's fingers. "So nice. I'm Sloane Ford, Aiden's mom. I trust that you two will take care of my son while he's in your care?" Her gaze flicks to mine, questioning.

"Of course. And Jerica said she'd bring him home as soon as the fireworks are over."

Sloane gives us a tight nod, retracting her hand and wiping it on her pristinely pressed pencil skirt. "Good." Crossing her arms, she steps close to me and lowers her voice. "And I expect you to be the picture of decorum while Aiden is in your presence, do you understand?" One of her light eyebrows drags up to her hairline, a silent threat that I'd better be on my best behavior, or she'll revoke my brotherly liberties.

"Yes, ma'am," I say with false obeisance. I'll play the submissive stepson as long as it gets me time with my only brother, no matter how unpleasant this woman is.

"I'll go get Aiden." Sloane turns on her heel and marches up the stairwell just as my dad descends. It's not lost on me that they barely acknowledge each other with even a glance. A wide grins blooms on his face, though, as soon as he spots Lola and me.

"Perry! I thought Jerica was picking Aiden up."

"We switched. She's going to bring him home."

Dad nods as he takes the last step, his gaze snagging on Lola. "And who is this lovely creature?"

A surge of protectiveness sluices through me. I skate my arm around her waist and pull her close. "Dad, this is Lola. My girlfriend."

His eyebrows fly up to his too-youthful-to-be-real hairline. "Girlfriend?" Dad's eyes dart to mine. "That's a first."

"It's great to meet you," Lola says, extending her hand a second time. "Perry has told me so much about you." I inwardly cringe when Dad's gaze narrows on me.

"Hopefully not too much." He chuckles as if he made some sort of joke, then slaps me on the shoulder and refocuses on Lola. "I'm a little offended that this is the first time I've heard of you. I feel like a dad should know when his son is dating a beautiful girl like you." Stepping back, he sticks his hands in his pockets and offers Lola a wink, full of that signature Ford charm.

I so badly want to say, "Yeah, you're right. In a normal family, a dad would know that, but we're far from normal. In fact, now that she's met you in person, I'm kind of regretting bringing her around."

But, of course, Mama raised me right, so I bite my tongue.

"Well, we haven't seen a lot of each other lately," I hedge. "Lola is actually heading up the research team that's investigating Prater's shipwreck."

Dad's face alights with excitement. Whether it's genuine or not, I can't tell, but at least he's being kind. "Well, that's neat. And is that how you two met?" He points back and forth between the two of us.

"Yeah, it is." Lola blinks up at me with what looks like admiration. "We've been inseparable since." She winks, and I can't help but smile.

"Wow," Dad breathes. "It's so good to see you happy again, Perry."

I'm about to respond when Aiden flies down the stairs toward us. "Perry!" He jumps the last few steps and launches himself at me.

"Hey, man. Good to see you too," I wheeze before setting him on his feet. His gaze jumps to Lola. "Aiden, this is Lola. She's going to hang out with us tonight. Is that all right with you?"

His toothy grin is answer enough. "Yeah, sure."

"Nice to meet you, Aiden." Lola shakes my little brother's hand with a sweet smile. "Hope you like fireworks," Lola adds, elbowing me in the ribs. "This guy says Willow Cove puts on quite a show."

"Can't wait." Aiden raises his hand for me to high-five. "Let's go, I don't wanna miss ‘em!" He rushes out the door, leaving it wide open.

"Already acting like a wild animal and he's only been in his brother's presence for two minutes," Sloane drawls as she glides down the stairway.

"I'll catch up to him. It was nice meeting you both." Lola waves, then darts out the door after Aiden, likely more than glad to escape the tension hanging in the air like a thick, stifling blanket.

"Sloane, that was uncalled for." Dad's eyes bore into his wife until she sniffs and exits the room, head held high. "Sorry about her." Dad sighs and rubs a hand over the scruff on his jaw. Now that I get a better look at him, he looks tired. Old. Maybe even a little haggard.

"You okay?"

His glassy eyes meet mine. "I'm fine. But there's trouble in paradise, as usual."

I don't know what possesses me, because I usually don't have this much boldness, nor do I usually care enough to bring it up, but I look him dead in the eye and ask, "You cheating on her?"

Dad rears back like I slapped him. "What? No." My eyebrows raise slightly. I almost want to believe him. "Perry, you may think that it's impossible for your old man to change, but you're wrong." He glances over his shoulder as if Sloane is lurking in a corner somewhere, trying to listen in on our conversation. "I know this is long overdue, but I realize that I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. Walking out on you and your mom was probably the worst one."

A punch to the chest couldn't have shocked me as much as this admission.

"I-I'm sorry for all the pain I've caused you kids," he says, staring at the marble floor between us. "I know I can't change the past or take it back, but I can tell you this."

Meeting my eyes again, he sets his jaw. "Don't make the same mistakes I did." He tips his head toward the door behind me. "Don't walk out on a good woman when you have the chance at a good life. A simple life, maybe, but…a happy one."

I swallow, forcing myself to remain silent. There's so much I could say—so much I probably should say—but I don't want to make Aiden miss the fireworks.

"Love you, son. Have fun tonight." Without warning, Dad pulls me in for a hug. The scent of musk and spice envelopes me, immediately transporting me back to a time when old wounds didn't dictate my every decision.

"Take my advice and hang on to that one," he whispers before pulling away.

I'm so stunned by his embrace and last admonition that all I can do is nod before I spin toward the door, choosing to focus on happier things.

Things like getting to spend the night with my brother, my sister, and the woman who I hope is more than just my temporary girlfriend.