32. Natalie

Chapter 32

Natalie

“Will you hold this for a second?”Dad hands me his glasses and a paperback.

“Uh-huh.” I yawn as I set them on top of the sweater folded on my lap.

As soon as the plane takes off, I’m going to wedge my sweater between my head and the window and take a nap.

It was not my idea to book the six a.m. flight home.

Dad drops into his seat next to me. “So, you left a little early last night.”

I knew he had something he wanted to say to me. He’s been acting cagey all morning.

But I also know my way around a negotiation, and I know not to answer when a question isn’t actually asked.

So, I just hum a reply.

Flipping Dad’s book over, I pretend to read the blurb.

“Wouldn’t have anything to do with the guy Heather’s friend saw you swimming with, would it?” Dad continues.

Fucking Heather.

And a direct question.

I flip the book over, studying the cover. “I would like to point out that all of your evidence is hearsay.”

Dad grabs the book from my hands. “So that’s a yes.” He settles back, opening his book. “Hope you remembered to use a fake name.”

I make a sound that he’ll hopefully take as agreement.

Dad isn’t trying to be an asshole; it’s just the nature of our reality.

But even if I don’t know Luke that well, his salary is public information. And I think it’s safe to say he’s not after my money. Even if I have more.

I slide my phone out from where I tucked it under my thigh and type out a text.

After I got to my room last night, I showered off the sand and promptly fell asleep. So this morning, I opened Instagram to message Luke with my phone number, but he’d already sent me his.

Not wanting to text him at four in the morning, I saved his number but waited until now to use it.

I hit send and make my shirt pillow, all thoughts of the hockey player out of my head.