Page 94 of Taylor

“Alice,” said a happy, familiar voice behind her.

“Daddy,” she said, turning with a smile.

He returned the smile and held his arms open, and she walked right into them and hugged him.

“It’s sure nice having you around. What did you think of the game tonight?”

“It was a good game. Taylor did such an amazing job tonight.”

Her father’s gaze fell on her. Part of her wanted to brush it off but a much bigger part of her didn’t want to hide it anymore. Taylor had said he would be here with her, but she wanted to tell him.

“He did. Didn’t he?”

“Dad... do you want to go to Mary Anne’s for ice cream?”

He stopped walking and looked at her with a genuine smile. “I would love to. We haven’t done that in years. I’ll meet you there.”

After making her way out of the arena and to the diner, she was sitting at a booth near the back, waiting for her dad.

Her phone buzzed on the table.

Taylor: Are you at your house?

Alice: Nope

Taylor: Are you at my place?

Alice: Nope

Taylor: Where are you?

Alice: I’m at Mary Anne’s getting ice cream with my dad

Taylor: Is he there now?

Alice: Not yet

Her phone rang, and Taylor’s face showed up. She picked it up, wearing a stupid wide grin.

“Hey, you,” she said.

“Hey, sunshine, what’s going on? I need to see you.”

She could sense the desperation in his voice, and it was one she shared, but she was going to tell her dad.

“I need to see you, too... but I think I’m going to tell dad we are dating. If that’s okay?”

The nerves crept back in.

“Do you want me there? I’m just finishing up here and can meet you there.”

“No, I’ll just come find you when we’re done.”

“Okay, call me when you’re done.”

“Okay, my dad’s here. I gotta go.”

“Okay, Alice?”

---