Page 57 of From the Start

What was I thinking? Going out on a date with a man eight years younger than me? He’s going to run away when he realizes what our age difference means as far as wrinkles are concerned.

“It’s Carl,” I tell him as I reach the door.

“Carl? I don’t want Carl. I want a mermaid nurse with strong arms.”

Carl strolls into the house. “You’ll have to settle for me, old man.”

“Old man?” Dad grunts. “I’m practically a spring chicken compared to you.”

“Except I can use the toilet without the help of a nurse.”

“Show off.”

The doorbell rings again.

“What is this? Grand Central Station? Tell whoever it is to leave unless they’re carrying a pizza.”

I sigh. Someone’s in fine form this morning.

“I don’t have pizza but I can order one,” Kai says when I open the door.

I cringe. “You heard Dad, did you?”

“I think the entire neighborhood did.”

“Dad doesn’t have volume control.”

“If you leave the door open any longer, a whole flock of seagulls is going to fly in,” Dad grumbles.

“Or an off button.”

“Not a problem.” Kai winks before strolling to my dad. “Hi, Mr. Poole.”

“Mr. Poole is my father and he’s dead and buried in the cemetery. If you want to speak to him, you’ll have to hold a séance.”

Kai chuckles. “I don’t know any witches, so I guess I better stick to calling you Henry.”

“Are you dating my daughter?”

If said daughter doesn’t die of embarrassment before we manage to get out the door.

“I am dating your daughter,” Kai answers Dad. “Assuming it’s okay with you.”

“Okay with me? Harper is a thirty-two-year-old woman who knows her own mind. She doesn’t need my permission to date.” Dad narrows his eyes. “But you better ask me for her hand in marriage before you get married.”

“Dad!” I shout. “No one’s getting married.”

“Yet,” Kai mutters.

My mouth drops open. Is he serious? He can’t be serious. He must be joking. He’s joking, isn’t he? There’s no way Kai Raider, golden boy of the Raider brothers, wants to marry me.

I stare at him. “You’re skating on thin ice.”

He grins. “It’s a good thing I’m an excellent skater.”

“You can skate? I thought you were a runner.”

His blue eyes light up. “Slugger, have you been stalking me when I’m out on the trails running?”