Page 65 of From the Start

“Anywhere you want.”

Dad gets a gleam in his eye. “TheSalty Sirenfor a burger and fries?”

“I love their burgers and they have the best fries.”

I glare at Dad. “You are not having a burger and fries.”

“Why not? I’m a grown man. I’m tired of eating your rabbit food.”

“I’m trying to keep you healthy so you can annoy the siren out of me for another thirty years.”

“I’m not annoying. You’re the one who complains about everything. The television is too loud, I can’t sleep with your snoring.”

I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath before I start to list the two million ways Dad annoys me. If I tell Dad he’s annoying, he’ll say I’m a complainer. And pretty soon, we’ll be sniping at each other. I don’t want to fight with my dad in front of Kai.

“Will one burger hurt?” Kai asks.

I growl. “Are you seriously asking me in front of my dad?”

“Duh. I want your dad to like me. I already know you like me.” He winks.

“I don’t know why I like you,” I mutter. “You’re as annoying as this one.” I motion to Dad before whirling around and marching down the hallway toward my bedroom. “I’ll be ready in five minutes.”

When I emerge from my bedroom five minutes later, Dad is changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and is waiting at the door in his wheelchair. Considering how much he hates his wheelchair, I’m beginning to wonder if Kai is a miracle worker.

“Let’s go.” I begin pushing Dad out of the door but Kai nudges me out of the way.

“I got this.”

“But you need two people to lift the wheelchair down the stairs.”

“Slugger, let me handle this.”

I reluctantly step away and Kai bends at his knees before lifting the wheelchair with Dad in it and carrying it down the stairs. His muscles bulge and there’s a bead of sweat on his forehead but he does it.

“You need a ramp.”

“I’ll get right on it as soon as my lottery winnings come in.”

Kai frowns as he steers the wheelchair toward his SUV. He opens the front door and lifts Dad into his seat. I grab the wheelchair – intent on folding it and putting it in the rear – but Kai snatches it from me.

“I got it.”

“I’m not helpless.”

He kisses my cheek. “Nope. But it doesn’t hurt to accept help once in a while.”

“Whatever.” I climb into the backseat behind Dad.

“Your boyfriend has a fancy vehicle.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Why the hell not?”

“You want me to have a boyfriend?”

“I don’t want you to spend the rest of your life taking care of me and not have a life of your own.”