I squeeze my eyes shut and take a deep breath, then turn and meet his gaze. “David Bennett. David was going to meet me out there. At least that was the plan.”
“Out at the pond. Where you were swimming. Naked.”
I nod.
“And would David have been completely shocked to find you out there like that?”
I shake my head. “Pleasantly surprised, maybe. But…” I swallow hard. “He would’ve joined me.”
“And you know this because you…” My dad trails off.
“We’re seeing each other,” I fill in.
“Okay then. Things make a lot more sense now.” He looks back to Judy. “Have a nice night, Judy.” Then he turns on his heel and descends the steps of her porch.
I watch him go, my heart pounding painfully in my chest. I have no idea what to do.
Should I go after him? Let him go? Call my mom? Call David? Call Kyle and Derek, my dad’s best friends?
Where will he go? What will he do? Will he want to be alone to process this? Who will he tell first?
My mom. For sure.
But she already knows. Will she tell him that? Will that cause them to fight?
I swallow hard.
Well…my dad now knows about me and David. I guess that’s something.
I need to tell David.
I look at Judy. “I’ll see you later, Judy.”
She looks upset. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to slip like that.”
“It is not your fault. We are the ones who should’ve told my dad a long time ago. Please don’t blame yourself.”
Judy reaches out as I start to turn away. “Your dad loves you so much, Mia. This is not a big deal.”
“Oh, it’s a very big deal. There’s history between him and David.”
She shrugs. “It doesn’t matter. David Bennett is a wonderful man. Having a man like that love his daughter the way David loves you will make your dad happy. He wants you to be happy and safe. David can do that. That’s what will matter.”
My heart flips over in my chest, hearing her say that David loves me. “Do you know my dad that well?” I ask. Maybe the number of years that Judy has known my dad gives her special insight into him, and I can trust her word.
“I don’t need to know your dad. That’s how good fathers feel, and yours is exceptional.”
Well, she’s right about that.
CHAPTER 24
DAVID
My phone rings just as I’m pulling clothes on after a shower.
I immediately smile when I see Mia’s name pop up. I hit the button to connect it to speakerphone. “Hey, beautiful.”
“My dad knows about us.”
