Playing For Her Heart - Megan Erickson Page 0,19
frowning in her direction. “Are you okay, Chloe?”
“Fine,” she answered, staring out the window.
“You seem tense.”
“I guess.”
“Are you stressed? Sleeping well? I noticed you didn’t eat much at dinner—”
“Ethan, I’m just tired. It’s been a long day.”
She could tell he wanted to keep talking, but fortunately he fell silent. The vibration of the car lulled her to sleep, so that Ethan had to wake her by shaking her shoulder when they pulled into the parking lot of her apartment complex.
“I told you that you could stay with me,” he said, patting her leg and squinting at the apartment building.
He’d drive them both crazy if she stayed at his house. “It’s okay. I like having my own space. Thanks, though.”
Ethan nodded and ran his hands over the steering wheel. “What’d you think of Grant?”
She paused with her hand on the door of the car. “Um, he seems nice.”
Ethan looked at her. “He behaved himself while I was away from the table?”
Wish you wouldn’t have left early, Princess. I had plans for us.
She cleared her throat. “Of course.”
He nodded, seemingly satisfied with that answer. She figured it was time to make her exit. “Thanks for inviting me out tonight.”
“You need anything, you call,” he said.
She smiled. “Will do.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Ten minutes later, she was in her pajamas, a thick blanket wrapped around her, flipping through her Netflix queue. And she promised herself she’d forget about Grant and Breck, and continue her boring, drama-free life.
Chapter Five
Grant frowned at his daughter, who stood in front of him with her arms crossed over her chest, book bag on her back. “I told you I’ll be fine.”
It was Saturday morning and he was about to take Sydney to his parents’ house. She stayed the weekend at their house every couple of months, and each time, she acted like he was going to throw a rager while she was gone and drink all the liquor.
“I made soup, so all you gotta do is heat it up,” Sydney said, then narrowed her eyes. “And don’t forget to put a piece of plastic wrap over top of it.”
Right. Last time he’d heated up chili, it had exploded all over the microwave. Oops. “Yes, oh genius daughter.”
“You going to be fine while I’m at Grandmom’s and Granddad’s?” she asked.
He threw up his hands. “I’m thirty-two and your father. I can handle a weekend by myself.”
“Yeah but last time I spent the weekend there, you decided to retile the bathroom and we all remember how that turned out.”
“My hand slipped,” he groused, thinking back to the hole in the wall he’d had to patch.
Sydney rolled her eyes and hiked her book-bag strap higher on her shoulder.
“Don’t forget the career fair on Monday. Work with your grandparents on your questions and answers, and I’ll go over it all with you when you get home, okay?”
Sydney’s face brightened. “I’m so excited. I heard they have several representatives from the STEM field there, so I hope I make a good first impression.”
He ruffled the hair on top of her head before she shoved his hand away. “You’ll be great. Have your outfit all picked out? You’re supposed to dress like it’s a real interview, right?”
She nodded.
“All right then. When I went to a career fair in high school, I found a mentor who I emailed with all through college. I’m sure you’ll impress the hell out of everyone, and maybe you’ll pick up a mentor, too.”
Sydney bounced on her toes. “That’d be great.”
“I’d offer Austin’s services, but we all know that guy isn’t so good at anything which requires talking and socializing.” Sydney was interested in programming and while Austin had been a guide in the last couple of years, his daughter was eager to meet someone with another perspective.
“He’s good with me.”
Grant grinned. “Yeah, yeah. Okay let’s get you over to your grandparents, okay?”
“Shotgun!” Sydney called when she ran out of the house.
Grant rolled his eyes as he locked the door behind him. She said that every time as if she wasn’t the only passenger in the car when he drove. But then he thought about how she’d be getting her permit soon and shuddered.
After Grant dropped Sydney off with a kiss and a pat on her cheek, he drove around for a while. He could go to the gym, or sit in a coffee shop and read a book. He could go home and watch porn and jerk off.
Or… His mind drifted to Thursday night. Chloe with her short hair, that