Page 61 of Come Back to Me

It wasn’t the first insult he’d ever given me, but it had landed.

“Let’s just say I never would have voted to give him the father of the year award.” I tighten my grip on the steering wheel. “Tee has a good relationship with her parents, doesn’t she?”

“She does. Angela and her lock horns though. It drives Tee mad but...” She releases a sigh. “From someone who lost their parents young, she’s lucky. Angela wants her to be settled. Safe. Happy. That means being married and having a good joborhaving kids or, you know, the usual society stuff. But Tee isn’t like that.”

“You don’t think she wants to settle down?”

Her nose scrunches. “I think Tee wants someone to love her and to love in turn. I don’t think that involves wearing an apron and suddenly having a fascination with cleaning bathrooms.”

“She isn’t the homebody sort, is she?”

“Oh, she is. But housekeeping? Nope. She loves that Mrs. Abelman has an army of staff who cleans the house. It leaves her to her music.

“The funny thing is her family is musical. But they were also very practical. Tee is not that.”

“No,” I agree, and that’s what I like best about her. “When I was at their house, there was a conversation about her taking up teaching at the school.”

Zee crunches on a nut. “I knew they’d started in on that again.”

“Why?”

“She was asking me if Colt minded her living in and not contributing. I don’t blame her for asking. I still can’t get over how generous he’s being.”

I let loose a bark of laughter. “Zee, if Colt thought a colony of penguins would make you smile, he’d have figured out a way to have some imported.”

A smile dances on her lips. “Shut up.”

“I’m being serious. By comparison, your best friend living with us is relatively cheap.”

“Withthatcomparison, yes.”

“I mean it. Surely, he?—”

“He said the same thing. Plus, he likes that she’s on my ass about the whole blood sugar stuff.”

“There you go. She’s your keeper.”

“I should be offended, but I’m not. I love having her here. But if he’s hoping she’ll start dragging me out into the world, he’s doomed. She only goes out because she’s on the hunt for a partner.”

“A partner?”

“She told me she’s attracted to women, but I think she means... soul mate. She’ll take either gender.”

So, Tee came out.

Interesting.

We make small talk for the rest of the ride home, but upon arriving, and after I’ve helped bring in the new wardrobe that took up my entire trunk, my first port of call is Callan’s room.

Cole warned me about the kid’s penchant for cam girls, so I make sure to knock. When he yells, “Come in,” I peer around the door for double security.

He’s working though, his gaze darting between the many screens he has on his desk.

“You should have an office,” I greet.

“Wouldn’t be able to sleep without the humming from my computers,” he disagrees, turning to me with a raised brow. “What’s up?”

“The security stuff triggered a blood-sugar spike.”

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