Page 79 of Him Lessons

“But I guess I’m finally acclimating,” she continued softly. “I’ve even started taking some surf lessons.”

“You have? That’s wonderful, Andy. I’ve been meaning to brush up on my surfing as well. Are you going through one of the local outfits?”

“Actually, one of the guys at my shop is giving me private lessons.”

“He is?” The enthusiasm in her father’s voice waned significantly.

“Uhm, yeah. Luke makes custom boards at the Sand Spot. I should get you one for your birthday. His designs are so freaking awesome—”

“I’m sure he’s quite the artist. Now tell me, is he alicensedsurf instructor?”

“Oh my god, seriously? Luke’s been surfing since he was a kid. He’s one of the best riders at Pacific Beach. I’m not in any danger out there with him.” As the words tumbled from her, it suddenly hit her just how much she believed them. “He would never let anything bad happen to me. I trust him.”

Andy fell quiet as her thoughts veered to her lesson that morning. Specifically, to that moment when she’d been treading water with Luke, and her heart had been pounding so hard at the bigness of it all—

“You have feelings for this guy.”

“What?”Andy snorted at her father’s absurd assessment. “No. We’re just friends.”

“Just friends?”

“Yep.” Just friends who totally had each other’s back in the shower.

“I see,” her father said again. Then, “Does thisfriendof yours have a last name?”

“Daddy…”

“Andalise…”

“You arenotgoing to run a background check on him.”

Her father chuffed out a snort that roughly translated to ‘I’ll do anything I damn well please.’

“Oh my god,” Andy whined, “that is totally unnecessary. You’re being ridiculous about this.”

“Ridiculous?I just found out my daughter was harassed by two male coworkers at her old job. Is it so ridiculous that I might be suspicious of some guy at her new one who’s taking her out forprivatesurf lessons?”

Well, put like that, maybe not so ridiculous. But still, really damn annoying.

“Furthermore,” her father pressed, “I can’t help but think how this all feels a little like…”

She tensed. “A little like what?”

“Andy, the last time I remember you going through such a period of… personal change, I do recall you were enamored of another boy. One who tried to take advantage of you.”

“For the love of god, Dad, I’m not enamored of Luke. It’s Hen… no it’s Ky…” She glanced over at her door to find her Henry sketch still smirking at her. “It’s nobody. I’m not enamored of anyone.”

Liar, liar, pants on fire,her Henry sketch sang.

Zip it, Cavill, she shot back before returning her attention to her father.

“Look, Dad, this is nothing like that stupid thing with Wade, okay?”

The answering silence said her father begged to differ.

And maybe there was something to the comparison. Shehadrather obsessed over Wade Hollis in the eighth grade.

But then, so had her friend PJ. So had most of the girls at their middle school in Louisiana. Because Wade was the most handsome boy at Baylor, and — with his lush auburn locks and unusual amber eyes — he was a dead ringer for Robert Pattinson’s Edward from theTwilightmovies.

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