Emerge (Evolve Series #1)(82)

this giant elephant joins us.

I turn my body toward him, tucking the hair behind my ear. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“Are you mad, Dane?”

He blows out a breath slowly, his hand moving across the console to embrace mine. “Not mad, Laney, just confused, as usual. Can I

ask what he wanted?” He gives me a curious, hopeful glance.

“He just wanted to tell me he won’t be here this weekend.”

“Hmm.”

The awkward silence lingers in the air, my discomfort level rising until I can no longer take it. “Are you nervous about meeting

my dad?”

The corner of his mouth betrays him, revealing his amusement at my lame attempt to change the subject. “Should I be?”

“I don’t think so, but I’m probably biased,” I chuckle. “Honestly, he’s a wonderful man. I’m sure you’ll get along just

fine.” I give him a warm smile and squeeze his hand in reassurance.

As we pull in the driveway, I decide to ensure he meets my dad in a good mood. “Dane,” I say, stopping short and turning to him

in the walkway, “just don’t mention that you’ve seen my boobies.”

His eyebrows shoot to his hairline right before his expression grows feral. “Your dad would shoot me for the pictures in my head

right now, you little tease.” He growls and tries to grab me as I giggle and skip away to the door.

“Daddy! I’m home!” I yell, pulling Dane in by the hand just as my dad comes around the corner.

“There she is! Slugger!” He wraps me in a hug briefly before pulling back and eyeing Dane warily. “Jeff Walker.” He puts his

hand out. “And you might be?”

“Dane Kendrick, nice to meet you, sir,” Dane answers politely, shaking my father’s hand.

My dad looks back to me inquisitively, asking me for an intro or explanation of some sort without words. “Daddy, Dane is Tate’s

brother, Bennett’s boyfriend. You know Bennett, my roommate?” I babble on nervously. “Dane here spends a lot of time with my

group of friends, and graciously offered to drive me down this weekend. He knows I’ve been worn out lately.” I give my dad the

most innocent smile I can.

“Ya’ll come in here now; quit standing in the doorway like strangers.” He moves to the side and swings his arm to goad us into

moving. “Where’s your bag, slugger?”

“In the car, sir, I’ll go grab it for her,” Dane offers and turns to go back outside.

“Grab yours, too, Dane,” I call behind me, now giving my dad full-on eyelash batting and puppy dog eyes. “Dane’s gonna stay in

the guest bedroom, Daddy. That’s okay with you, right?”

A slight growl emanates from his chest, but he recovers quickly. “I guess that’d be fine. Go ahead and get the bags, Dane,” my

dad yells at him. “Me and Laney’s just gonna have a quick word while you’re gone.” As soon as Dane is out of earshot, he starts

the interrogation. “Young lady, you have five minutes to convince me why I should let that boy sleep in my house, with my

daughter. Start talking, missy.”

“He’s a great guy, Dad. He doesn’t try anything, if that’s what you’re thinking. He brings me dinner and takes me to do fun

stuff. He listens when I freak out, too. We’ve become really good friends, and I don’t want to send him to a hotel.”

Dane walks in with the bags, clearing his throat. “Laney Jo, grab my wallet and keys and go get all of

us some dinner, please. Dane can stay here with me.”

Shit. I jerk my head to Dane, about to tell him he doesn’t have to do this, when he winks at me and subtly nods his head.



“Okay, if you’re sure,” I muster. On my way back through, I reach up on my tiptoes and whisper in my dad’s ear. “I’ll be very

angry if he’s maimed or bleeding in any way when I get home, Daddy. I mean it.”

“So you’re a model, huh?” My dad laughs.

I shoot Dane a glare as he moves to help me with the bags of food. “It was nothing, don’t tease me.”

“Oh, you’re a pretty girl, slugger, ain’t nothing wrong with that.” He scrubs my head as he walks by to make his plate.

“You told him?” I hiss at Dane, who chuckles at me, taking a swig of his beer. “My dad gave you a beer? Am I in the right house?

” I look around to emphasize my confusion at what I’ve walked back into.

“Quit fussin’ and get in here and eat, Laney Jo.

Come on, Dane.”

“Did you drug my father?” I whisper as Dane now pulls me into the kitchen.

“You’re right, he’s a wonderful man. Thanks for letting me come, Laney.” Dane leans over to kiss the top of my head.

My father actually gets up to grab him and Dane another beer during dinner and there’s not a break in the conversation and

laughter. The boys get way too much enjoyment over my father’s retelling of all my major childhood incidents. I can feel my cheeks

heat at some of the more telling ones, like the time I accidentally sat in the minnow bucket! It took way too long to discretely