Page 111 of Break Out

“You don’t do that now,” I muttered.

“Are you kidding me? I’ve done it more the last two weeks because you’re with Steel.”

I gave him a sideways glance. “I’m with Steel, not you. That sounds like paranoia.”

Dad gave a conciliatory nod. “To a degree, you’re right and that’s what I didn’t want for you.”

We were silent for a while as we rode up San Jose Boulevard. We crossed Goodby’s Creek and I realized how close we were to their house. “Are you going to be cool tonight?”

He took his time before answering. “I’ll deal with him being in my house, and, yeah, I’ll be cool.”

I nodded. “And Mom? You won’t let her goad you into anything?”

He grinned. “No, I won’t, but she hates this more than I do.”

Typical. They were playing this off each other.

“If you say so.”

“Have you seen Rafferty lately? He wasn’t around this weekend.”

I glanced out the window as we entered the Lakewood area. “I haven’t seen him since just after Bike Week,” I lied.

Dad said nothing to that and a few minutes later we pulled into the drive. We both got out and I noticed a truck headed our way. Steel sat behind the wheel of his Nissan Titan wearing his wrap-around sunglasses.

Dad sidled up to me. “Are you sure about him, pumpkin?”

“Very.”

Dad didn’t hide his grimace as he hissed, “Shit.”

Steel pulled the truck into the drive, powered it off, and unfolded from the vehicle. He met Dad’s gaze. “Do you mind me parking in your drive or should I move to the street?”

Dad shook his head. “You’re fine there.”

Steel lifted his chin and tucked one arm of his shades into his shirt. He came to my side, slung his arm over my shoulders, and kissed my cheek. “You doing okay?” he whispered at my ear.

I nodded. “I’m good, honey.”

“Good,” he whispered.

Dad watched us for a beat. Then he turned on his heel and called over his shoulder, “Come inside. Not sure what time the food will be ready, but we can have a beer.”

“You can,” I muttered.

“When do you have your first ultrasound?” Mom asked ten minutes into dinner.

I swallowed hard to keep from choking. Part of me suspected Mom had planned this inquisitive ambush, but that might have been stretching things since it was a valid question. The halfway point of my pregnancy was in three days.

After a sip of water, I said, “Next week, assuming the schedule doesn’t change.”

Mom’s eyes darted to Steel. “Are you able to go with her? If not, I can—”

Steel moved his hand from his lap to my thigh and gave me a squeeze. “I’m definitely going to be there.”

Her eyes held Steel’s and she nodded. “That’s good to hear.” She looked at me. “Can you have more than one person with you?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll have to call the office tomorrow and find out.”

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