“We live in different states,” she pointed out, pulling away from me.
“Semantics,” I replied immediately. “Come home with me tomorrow. Problem solved.”
She started to laugh, but the sound cut off when she realized I wasn’t joking.
“I can’t just go to Oregon with you,” she said, looking at me like I had two heads.
“Why not?” I took a step forward and she took a step back. “You’re not working right now.”
“Thanks for the reminder.”
The more I thought about the idea, the more sense it made. She wasn’t sure about me yet. Something was holding her back. I had a feeling if we were in the same place for a while, things might be different. Long-distance relationships could work, but they needed a solid foundation first. Besides, I just really wanted her with me and I needed to get back to work before the company started imploding.
“Etta isn’t in school yet,” I continued. “And your dad would probably be stoked to have the house to himself again.”
“I wouldn’t decline the offer,” Stan said, moving past us to the sink. “Don’t mind me, just need to wash the grease off my hands.”
“Jesus, Dad,” Morgan griped. “In a hurry to get rid of us?”
“Not at all,” he replied, his back to us as he washed up. “But you ain’t doing anything here but sitting on your ass. Might as well go for a visit.”
“Maybe I don’t want to,” she said, throwing her hands in the air.
“Or maybe you do,” he shot back.
Morgan’s mouth snapped shut as she glared at his back, then turned accusing eyes toward me. I didn’t let the look bother me, but I filed the fact that she didn’t like feeling cornered into my memory. Keeping my expression passive, I returned her stare.
“I’ll think about it,” she said finally.
“Good.”
“That’s not a yes,” she mumbled.
“Not a no, either,” I pointed out.
With a huff, she left the kitchen.
“Damn, son,” Stan said as soon as we were alone. “Do I have to help you with everything?”
“What’s your stake in this, old man?” I replied, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Just want my girl happy,” he said, crossing his own arms. “Think she’ll be happy with you.”
“Look who’s awake,” Morgan said just seconds later.
“Twevo!” Etta yelled, galloping toward me.
“Hey,” I replied, pulling her into my arms as she flung her little body in my direction. “Did you have a good nap?”
“No,” she said easily. She reached up and petted my beard with both hands as she continued. “Me no like naps.”
“Sometimes our body just needs a rest,” I replied, watching her expressive little face as she parted my beard and smoothed it under her fingertips.
“Me no need west. Me need bananas and hot dogs and fwench fwies,” she said seriously.
“That’s an odd mix.”
“Me like nuggets, too.”
“Chicken nuggets?”
“Yeah.”
“I like those, too,” I said, nodding a little when her eyes rose to meet mine. “I like to dip them in sauce.”
“Me no like sauce,” she said apologetically, shaking her head from side to side like she thought I was a little crazy but she didn’t want to hurt my feelings. “Me just like nuggets.”
“Fair enough,” I murmured, tilting my head a little as she pulled on one side of my beard. “You like my beard?”
She replied in gibberish, and I had a feeling she’d used up the number of English words she was willing to give me. When I looked up from her sweet face, my eyes immediately caught Morgan’s.
“Just a short visit,” she said, her eyes soft. “And I’m driving my car.”
“Why would we drive two cars?”
“Because I want my own,” she said. I opened my mouth to respond, but stayed silent as she walked forward. She kissed Etta on the back when she reached us, then slid her hand along my side as she moved around us. “I should probably pack.”
I couldn’t stop the grin that pulled at my lips as I turned to follow her down the hallway, ignoring Stan’s snort of amusement and the little fingers pulling at my beard. I watched Morgan’s ass as she moved in front of me, and could barely contain my excitement. I was going to have her all to myself.
* * *
The drive north completely sucked. I followed behind Morgan most of the way, and the woman drove like a geriatric. I didn’t understand how she’d learned to drive in California but refused to drive more than five miles over the speed limit. Between her leisurely pace and the number of times we had to stop to let Etta out of the car, it took us a good three hours longer than it should have.
By the time we pulled into my driveway that night, all of us were cranky, tired, and more than ready to stretch our legs a bit. Etta ran circles in the driveway until she heard the puppy practically howling and took off around the house to find him, her mother following behind at a much slower pace. Koda was going crazy in his dog run because I’d told Ani that we’d be home that night and she hadn’t come to take him inside to sleep.