Claiming Serenity(28)

Shoulders lowering, Layla leaned next to him on the counter. “You can say that again,” she mumbled under her breath.

“Was it Walter?”

The old man just would not let that go. Rubbing her face, Layla exhaled. “Daddy, Walter and I are never getting back together. Ever.”

His exhale was long, resigned, and he moved the cap he wore up and down, fluffing his light brown hair until the brim lowered just above his eyes. “How the hell am I supposed to know? You don’t talk to me about anything anymore.”

“Daddy…”

He didn’t want to know the details; Layla guessed that from the way he shook his head, how he waved his hand to stop her from explaining anything further. But it wasn’t his way not to give her his advice, whether she wanted it or not. “Look, sweetie, you’re an adult.” Rubbing the back of his neck, Layla’s father squeezed her shoulder, one small gesture letting her know he wasn’t angry and when he spoke again, his voice held less bite. “You can make your own decisions, but staying with someone you’re not with one night, just a few weeks after you dumped your boyfriend is, well…”

She smacked his arm. “What exactly?” When he only shrugged, Layla shook her head, not amused by her father’s unspoken insult. “And would you say the same thing to Ethan? Or would you pat him on the back and say ‘that’s my boy’ while puffing out your chest?”

Layla hated the frown he gave her, hated more that he cursed to himself, voice low and whispered as though he didn’t want her hearing the multiple foul words he kept to himself. “We’re not talking about your brother right now and for the record, yes, I’d lecture him too about this shit. You have to be careful.”

This was definitely not a conversation she wanted to have with her father. Not now. Not ever, but as she sidled to the refrigerator to grab a bottled water, she felt the old man’s eyes on her, felt the frustration humming off him. She hadn’t been around much, that was true, but neither had he. There was no way she’d let him guilt her. It was too damn early for that. “Dad I’m not doing anything stupid and even if I were, I’m always careful.”

“But Walter…”

“Daddy, please.” She slammed the refrigerator door and her father stood away from the counter, shoulders straight as though he expected her to lash out at him. Layla inhaled, leaned against the fridge and hoped her voice wasn’t sharp. “Forget about Walter. That’s done.”

He took another sip from his mug, looking at the top and Layla knew it was to measure what he’d say next. Her dad usually called her on her bullshit, but he still had yet to win an argument since Layla was sixteen. He didn’t seem to like that so she knew he was trying to figure out the next point he wanted to annoy her about. “You keep to yourself more than you did when you were in high school and I know you cut Walter loose and that’s, well, whatever, that’s your decision. I just hope you aren’t involved with someone who is, I dunno, not exactly ready to settle down.”

She tilted her head, having no clue what he was getting at. “Like who?”

He shrugged and shifted his eyes away from her face. “Well, last semester you and Donley were going at each other with glitter and hair dye and…”

“How did you know…”

“Layla, please. I have eyes and you two have been going at each other in one way or another since you were in middle school. Besides, I overhear things in my office when the squad thinks I’m not listening.” He took another longer sip from his mug and Layla thought she saw him trying to conceal a smile with his thermos. “And Donley showed up to my practice a couple of weeks ago with his skin and hair tinted pink. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

If her father knew what was really happening between them, he’d kill Donovan, never mind cutting him from the squad. Really, the thought of her father finding out about them made Layla’s stomach turn. She didn’t want her father nosing in her life and definitely not in her sex life. She shot for innocent ignorance, hoping his bullshit detector wasn’t charging on all cylinders. “I have no idea what you’re talking about and Donovan and me? Really, Dad?”

“Uh huh. Go ahead and deny it. Just remember that your old dad wasn’t always old and I remember what it meant, sneaking back home after a night of doing God knows what.”

“Dad…”

“Layla…” He set his mug back on the counter, coming in front of her to rest his hands on her shoulders. “I just want you to be smart and don’t want you involved with someone who can’t give you what you deserve. I’d hate to have to kill some poor asshole because he broke my little girl’s heart even if he is one of the best forwards I’ve ever coached.”