Page 80 of Him Lessons

Andy had even used to think of Wade as Wade-Pats in her head. Wade-Pats with the glowy, sexy eyes.

Narrowing hers, Andy glanced back at the sketch of Henry Cavill all decked out as Geralt fromThe Witcher. Okay, maybe she had a kink for glowy eyes. But whatever. This thing with Kyle was so not like that stupid thing with Wade.

Most girls had followed Wade around campus.

Most girls had swooned and sighed and scribbled his name in their notebooks.

Fewer, perhaps, had put up with the horrid stench of hair dye — darkening their natural blonde tresses to a Bella Swan shade of brunette — just to impress him.

Even fewer, Andy supposed, had used to role-play vampire-kiss scenarios in their bedroom with a stuffed tiger nicknamed WP (for Wade-Pats).

But, again, whatever. The situations were entirely different.

“Dad, that stupid thing with Wade was a long time ago. I’m not a stupid teenager anymore. I’m twenty-two and, respectfully, my love life is none of your business.”

“So thereisa love life?”

“Can we wrap this up, please?”

“Sure,” her father said briskly. “I’ve got a call to make before your mother gets back from the masseuse anyway.”

“Great!”

“Okay.”

“Fine.” Andy’s eyes suddenly smarted with tears. Damn, she hated arguing with her dad.

As though sensing this, he sighed. “I love you, Andygram.”

“I know.”

“I always will, and I’ll always worry.”

“I know that too.”

“And there are five thousand miles and an ocean separating us right now, so if anything were to happen to you while I was awa—”

“It won’t, Dad. I’m good, I’m happy, I’m safe. Okay?”

“Okay.” He exhaled a breath. “Well, good night to you then, or rather, good day.”

“Yep. Later, Dad.”

Disconnecting, Andy tossed her phone and scooped her bird from her shoulder. “We’re fine, aren’t we, girl?” She pressed a kiss to Petals’s cheek. Petals nipped at her lip. Sensing her feathered friend might be hungry again, Andy rose from the desk and walked from her room.

At the kitchen island, Kory sat wolfing down a sandwich. Apparently, the woman was on a lunch break from work.

Securing Petals in her cage by the window, Andy turned to offer her roommate a smile. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Yeah, it sounded like you were occupied in there.”

“My dad called.”

“I heard. Your door was cracked.”

Andy sat down on a stool with a tired sigh. “I’m pretty sure I just got Aldon and Dave fired.”

Chasing a Cool Ranch Dorito with a sip of Sprite, Kory shrugged. “Seems to me, that’s entirely on them. I’m sure they had to watch the employee conduct videos same as everyone else. Those two know what type of behavior is acceptable in a workplace and what isn’t. This is their bust, not yours.”

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