Page 66 of Twisted Truths

My dad walked towards us, beaming. “I’m glad you both were here.”

Dillon and I hugged him. “I wouldn’t have missed it, dad.”

“Look at Grandpa’s champ.” He took Dillon, hugging him tight. “I can’t get over how much he reminds me of you.”

He’s not yours.

“She, uh, said something to me before I left that’s stuck in my head.”

“Hmm, let’s get out of here so we can sit down and talk.” He smiled. “My treat.”

“Hell yeah, I’ve been craving a burger from That One Place.”

Dad, Dillon, and I got in the car and drove over to the diner. We missed the dinner crowd, which gave us the room to sit anywhere we wanted.

My dad held onto Dillon while I went to get a highchair. I turned the corner and ran flat into someone coming out of the bathroom.

“Damn.” I reached out to catch them. “I’m sorry.” The breath fled from my lungs as I looked down into stormy blue eyes. “Holly Hobbie?”

“You can let go of me.” She shook her shoulders to step back from me.

I shook my head and looked her over. She’d filled out, and her slender frame had more curves.

“How are you?”

The moment the words left my mouth, I saw her eyebrow tick up. “Are you fucking with me?”

I sighed and held my hands up. “Sorry.”

Her head tilted as she looked at my left hand. “Whatever.” She rolled her eyes and walked away.

I’m an asshole.

Grabbing a highchair, I walked over to my dad and Dillon. We got my little man settled and then I slid into the booth.

Miranda walked over with one water and set it down for my dad, before handing him a menu. “I’m Miranda and I’ll beyourserver.”

My dad looked at me and back at her. “Could I get water for my son?”

She nodded and walked over to the cart where dirty dishes were bussed. I watched her take a cup out, fill it with tap water, and walk back over to me.

I reached up to take the cup, and she set it down hard on the table, making the dirty water slosh over the side.

Her eyes glared through me, before she turned a smile to my dad. “Let me know when you’re ready to order.”

We both watched as she walked away and my dad cleared his throat.

My head snapped to him, and he chuckled.

“What?” I picked up his water.

“I take it you know her?”

We both looked over at her again and Dillon waved his arms. “Joosh.”

As if being summoned, Miranda came back with a child’s cup of juice. “Apple?”

“Yum!” He waved his arms around and a small smile graced her face.

---