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“So there is an us, then?” I grin at him, and he just stares at me. Damn, I wish I could read his mind, or force an answer out of him, but I don’t get the chance because Dad is pounding on the door.
Sticking to the plan, Carson makes a beeline for his room. It’s better if Dad doesn’t see him. Zander makes space for him to get past, then trots down the rest of the stairs and answers the door for us.
“Where’s my daughter?” Dad, never one for pleasantries, gets right to the point. Mean ass.
“Good morning, Coach.” Zander greets him with a smile. “She’s just in here.”
Stepping aside, he lets my father into the house, and Dad has the decency to mumble a quick apology and pat him on the arm before looking into the living room.
He sees me on the coach, my leg resting on the coffee table, and frowns.
“Hey, Dad.” I try to distract him. “Thanks for coming to get me. Wasn’t really necessary, as one of these guys could have dropped me home, but?—”
“Of course I was coming to get you,” he grumbles.
“You’re missing church for this, you know,” I tease, and he narrows his eyes at me.
I smile back, trying to hide the writhing in my chest as I will this guy to chill out already.
With an irritated headshake, he scans the room, eyeing up Wily when the giant appears behind him.
“Oh, hey, Coach. What are you doing here?” The massive lineman’s smile falters for a second, and then he spots me in the living room and frowns in confusion. “What are you doing here? Did you babysit?”
“So you obviously weren’t the one to carry her back here,” Dad growls.
“Uh…” Wily’s eyes dart to me as he scrambles to catch up on what the hell went down last night.
“Dad, leave him alone,” I warn.
My father grunts… and then ignores me, turning on Wily and pointing up at him. It’s funny how even though my father is shorter, he feels ten feet tall right now. Wily kind of shrinks away from him a little.
“What were you doing last night?”
“I was… I…” Wily blinks and then rushes out, “I had a tutoring session, and then after that, I…” His cheeks turn kind of pink, and he darts a look over Dad’s shoulder at me.
“Tutoring? Where?”
“At the library.”
“Still the same guy you’ve been working with?”
“Yes, sir.”
Dad nods. “Well, that’s good. How are you doing with your studies? Managing to keep those grades up?”
“Yes, sir.” Wily relaxes, a smile twitching his lips. “I’m maintaining the C average you told me I had to.”
“Good man.” Dad slaps his arm, and I start to relax as well until he asks, “What did you do after tutoring? Did you go to that sorority party? Did you see who pushed my daughter over?”
“Dad!” I snap, struggling to stand up. “Leave him alone! He wasn’t there, okay? Or if he was, he showed up after I left. And I never said I was pushed. You make it sound like someone attacked me!” I flick my arm up and nearly lose my balance.
Dad bolts into the room, steadying my arm and wincing. “Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself? Is your leg okay?”
“I’m fine!” I push him off me and start limping past the coffee table.
Wily shares a dubious look with Zander, who shakes his head. I’m sure he’ll update the guy later. The whole house will no doubt find out about how Carson carried me home… and how Zander found us kissing on his bed this morning.
“Let me help you.” Dad steps up to my side, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Have you got all your stuff?”