This was going to be a disaster.

I just knew it.

Me and Mason weren’t ready for him to meet my father. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.

I was going to regret this decision.

“Dad.” I pushed the front door open and turned back to look at Mason who was carrying all of our bags. “We’re here.”

I could hear the creak of his old recliner and he appeared around the corner only a moment later.

“Well, how was it?” The sound of his deep voice instantly relaxed me just a bit, and I moved into his arms when he held them out for me.

“It was good,” I mumbled against his chest. “We were super busy.”

My dad let me out of his hug, but he kept an arm slung over my shoulders. “You must be this Mason that I keep hearing so much about.”

I pinched my dad on his back to warn him not to embarrass me, but he just smiled harder.

“Yes, sir.” Mason held his hand out to my father. “Mason Connor. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.” My father shook Mason’s hand before waving him farther in the house. “Come on in and put those bags down. I know my Staci doesn’t pack light.”

“No, sir, she doesn’t.” Mason laughed as he put the bags down where my father showed him.

“What are your plans for today?” My father looked down at me.

“I think we could both use a nap. No plans after that.”

“Okay. I’m sure you can manage showing Mason the guest room then.” He looked over at Mason to drive his point home.

“Yes, Dad.” I gave him a look that begged him to stop, but he only chuckled.

“I’ll see you both in a few hours.” My dad tussled my hair before he made his way back into the living room.

I showed Mason to the guest room where he put down his bags before he carried my bags into my old bedroom. It was still decorated the way it had been when I moved out at eighteen years old, and I watched as Mason looked around the room taking it all in.

I plopped down on my bed and looked up at Mason. “You could come join me. You know?” I patted the small space that was left on my old twin size bed.

“Not happening.” He chuckled and started toward the door.

“I don’t even get a kiss?” I pouted, and he ran his fingers through his hair before he made his way over to me.

“One kiss,” he murmured as he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine.

They were gone far too quickly.

“That’s it?” I leaned up on my elbows.

“I’ll see you after our nap.” Mason walked to the door and held the handle in his hand.

“We’re not even going to mess around in my old bedroom?” I whispered.

“No.” Mason shook his head and laughed. “I’m pretty sure your dad has already thought of a thousand ways he could kill me.”

“That’s probably true.” I dropped back down on my bed.

Mason’s laugh echoed through the hallway as he left my room.

I felt like I had been asleep for hours.

One look out my dark bedroom window insured me that I had.

I made my way to the guest room to wake up Mason, but he was nowhere to be seen. The bed didn’t look like he had ever even laid in it.

The house was quiet as I walked through it, and no one answered me as I called out for my dad and Mason. I could hear laughter coming from outside, and I pushed open the old creaky screen door to find my dad and Mason sitting on the porch with a beer in their hands.

“Hello there, sleepy head.” My dad chuckled.

“Hey.” I stretched my arms over my head and looked around the porch. “Did you all already fix the porch?”

I could see new boards where the old, rotten ones had been, and it looked amazing.

“Yeah. Mason here is pretty damn handy.”

“Is he now?”

Mason looked so cocky as he smiled up at me.

“He helped me fix the porch, and we fixed that leaning fence post too.”

Mason’s smirk only got bigger.

“Suck up.”

My dad laughed. “Don’t be running him off now. I think I like this one.”

“You just met him, Dad. Don’t be giving him your blessing after one afternoon together.”

“Has she always been this dramatic?” Mason asked my father, but he was still looking at me.

“Since the day she was born.” My dad shook his head. “She’s always been stubborn as hell too.”

“Dad,” I groaned.

“What? You have.” He ran his hand over his salt and pepper hair that was once as black as mine.

“You both frustrate the hell out of me.” I opened the screen door to walk back inside, and my dad’s voice called out behind me.

“That’s a good sign you know.”