“I’m not.” Megan slipped onto one of the high-backed leather chairs at the kitchen island. “I just came home to change. I’m presenting at the middle school awards ceremony. I’ll get something on the road.”

“Do you ever stop?” Lina asked. “Everyone needs downtime.” Between school, her active social life and volunteer work, Megan was always moving.

Phil stopped beside Logan. “When are you going to get a haircut?” He pushed the hair back from his son’s eyes. “How can you even see?”

“I can see.” Logan pushed his hair back down onto his forehead. “And it’s cool.”

“It won’t be cool when you run into a wall. How much did you practice on your own this week?”

“I had three tests and—”

“I’ll take that as none.”

“He’s been busy, Phil.” Lina couldn’t keep from defending him when she saw the downtrodden expression on Logan’s face. “School comes before lacrosse.”

“I bet you found time to swim and play video games.”

“Phil—”

“He asked me how to make varsity as a freshman,” he interrupted, his gaze remaining on Logan. “Were those just words?”

“No. I want to make it.”

“Wanting isn’t enough. It’s the actions you take.” He patted Logan’s arm as he stepped around him. “Clean up the water you tracked in and then see if your mom needs any help. I’m going to change.”

“I barely swam,” Logan insisted to Lina as soon as his father was out of earshot.

“I know.” Lina ran her hand down his back and kissed his cheek. “You have all summer to practice.”

Phil was halfway up the staircase when Katie, wearing frayed jean shorts and a black T-shirt with the words “religion kills” emblazoned on it, appeared at the top of the stairs. At five foot two and barely one hundred pounds, she was missing the tall, athletic gene Phil had passed on to both Megan and Logan. She hesitated, as if debating whether she could escape without being seen, and then she lowered her head, causing her dark, shoulder-length hair to fall forward and began to descend the stairs.

When she attempted to step around Phil, he moved with her, his body blocking her passage. “How about a hello?”

“Hello.” She avoided his eyes as she attempted unsuccessfully to pass him.

“How was your day?”

“Good. Will you move?”

He tilted his head slightly. “I’m trying to have a conversation with you, Katie.”

She looked up then, her expression blank as she stared into blue eyes the exact same shade as her own. “Why?”

“Because I’m your father and I care.” His gaze widened when it dropped to her T-shirt. “Where did that come from?”

“New to You.”

“New to You,” he repeated. “Is that a used clothing store? Mom took you to a used clothing store?”

“Grandma.”

“Of course. Well, the shirt’s offensive. Take it off.”

She frowned up at him. “Have you heard of the First Amendment?”

“My laws supersede the Constitution in this house, and that shirt is blasphemous. I don’t want to see it again.”