Page 4 of Don't Let Your Mind Go There

“What do you guys think of this place so far? Do you like it? Think you can spend three weeks here?” Dad asked, looking at Ronan and me.

“For sure. It’s nice and quiet up here,” Ro said, smiling at Dad.

“And you?”

I shrugged. “It’s pretty. Can we go hiking around here?”

“Most definitely. There are a few trails I checked out online before coming here. There’s a lake near here too.”

There’d be enough activities for us to do, and even if we’d get bored, we had brought our books and board and card games to play. We’d have plenty to do on this trip.

When the waitress came back, I watched as the others began eating the appetizers. I was the only one not to eat what Dad had ordered for us all. I didn’t want to spoil my appetite and not eat what I wanted to order.

“Eat,” Dad told me, nudging my side with his elbow.

“I’m fine.”

“You love jalapeño poppers.”

“I do, but I really want a burger, and I want that to be the first thing to hit my tongue.”

“You’re weird,” Ronan said before putting a whole mozzarella stick dipped in salsa in his mouth.

“Right…”

“Kids, stop that.” Mom gave us a warning glance, but she knew we never pushed it too far.

I watched them eat, and I occasionally took a sip of my iced tea. When the waitress was back again, we finally ordered our food. I went for the pulled pork burger with sweet potato fries and roasted bell peppers on the side. It sounded like a lot, but I ate a lot. Especially when all I had on the drive here were a small bag of chips and a sandwich.

Turning my head to Dad, I watched him finish chewing before he answered a question Mom had asked him. I didn’t listen to what they were talking about. All I focused on was the way his jaw muscles flexed under his skin.

He had shaved his short beard this morning before our drive, and there was already a shadow appearing. I loved his beard, and I hoped that he’d let it grow while we were here. He didn’t really have a reason to shave anyway.

I chewed on my bottom lip as he laughed at something Mom said, and I found myself smiling, loving how deeply in love they were. Even after all those years, they were inseparable. And, sometimes, I wished I was Mom.

My thoughts were interrupted when our food finally arrived, and my mouth immediately watered. “This looks delicious.”

“It is. We might just be a small restaurant on a random campground, but we have the best cook in all of Alberta,” the waitress said proudly.

“We’ll be the judge of that,” Ronan said with a flirtatious wink.

“This is your first time in Alberta, son. Can’t judge this food if you’ve not had any other,” Dad said with a raised brow and smug grin.

“I had a turkey sandwich from a gas station, and that was pretty damn good for a gas station sandwich,” Ronan admitted, grinning at the waitress.

She laughed and waved a hand. “That’s not real food. This is. Enjoy, everyone.”

When she left, Dad glared at Ronan. “Don’t flirt with the waitress.”

“Why not?”

“She’s too old for you.”

Ro laughed and waved a hand. “Whatever.”

Dad wasn’t too old for me.

He was only twenty-six years older than me. And, well, he was my Dad. There was a different rule there.

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