Page 113 of The Forever Rule

“Maybe. But since you’re my little girl, I’m going to have to use the words that I want.”

“Dad,” I said, exasperated.

“What? You really can’t blame me. I’ve never got to interrogate a boyfriend before.”

“Excuse me? You interrogated the boy that came over to drive me to swim practice. A boy I wasn’t even dating.”

“But you could have been. I didn’t know. I needed to ensure that he knew he had precious cargo.”

I rolled my eyes. “And that boy was not into girls. Remember? He’s happily married to his husband.”

“And I didn’t know that at the time. All I knew wasthat some stranger was about to take my baby girl out in a car, all while we weren’t there.”

“Because he had a license, I didn’t, and both of you worked way too many hours.”

“I really don’t like this logic of yours. You’re starting to sound like your mother.”

“That better not be a bad thing,” Mom called out as she came forward, Aston behind her. Dad and I had been so engrossed in our conversation that I hadn’t realized that the other two had joined us.

“Oh. Hi,” I blurted.

My dad cleared his throat. “I love you, Piper.”

My mom raised a brow. “Okay. You say that as if you’ve done something wrong.”

“Never. I promise.”

“I don’t know if I trust that,” Mom said, her eyes dancing.

“Well, I would love to know who this swim club partner of yours was,” Aston asked, and I groaned.

“Dad.”

“What? It’s a legitimate question.” My dad looked at Aston, and grinned. “His name was Shane. And he did the 200 IM, and 200 butterfly. Meaning he was really broad-shouldered.”

“Are you serious right now?” I asked, this time glaring at my father.

“I just want him to get a full picture.”

“I’m glad you interrogated him. It’s the only right thing to do.”

I poked at Aston’s side and glared. “Oh no you don’t.He was just a friend, nothing more. And as soon as I got my license, I drove myself.”

“I always find it strange that swim team practice was so early in the morning, and at a different location, so there was never any buses. It was always carpool and parents.”

Dad shook his head at Mom’s words. “But our little girl did pretty well.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Okay, let’s go eat. I’m tired of this conversation.”

“Oh no, we’re just beginning. I’m going to need to know every sport and club that you did. And see if there are photos.”

“Aston, you really don’t.”

He smiled then but didn’t reach out to touch me. He didn’t wrap his arm around my shoulders, didn’t smile in the way that he usually did.

Was he distant? Or was I just thinking too much. He’d been so animated with my mother, but perhaps I was merely seeing things now.

“Okay then, we do have lunch on the way. I made Greek wraps, not fully gyros because I don’t have the seasonings quite right, but I made tzatziki sauce.” Mom beamed, and my stomach rumbled.

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