“Yeah.” My dad looks anywhere but at me as he answers. “We’re going.”

His shoulders slump and the lines on his face deepen as realization sets in that his plan didn’t only fail; it backfired. He shoves his hands in his pockets and heads to the front door, not uttering a single word as he goes.

“Not the best circumstances, but it was nice to see you, Jasper. We’ll have to catch up soon.” Connor slaps him on the back once more but doesn’t wait for a response before moving toward me. “Again, I’m very sorry about today, Drew.”

“Not your fault.” I wave off his apology. “I know firsthand how convincing Andrew can be.”

“Well, still.” He steps in a little closer and his voice drops. “I hope one day we’ll be able to chat under different circumstances.”

Social awkwardness is one of my key personality traits. I doubt I’d know how to respond to this in the best of situations, but I definitely don’t know how to with my dad skulking about, a flock of Dirty Birds watching, and Jasper fidgeting beside me.

Lucky for me, he doesn’t wait for me to say anything before aiming one more nod at Jasper. He turns on his heel and walks out the door with my father dearest in tow.

Good riddance.

“Geez,” a woman with a stack of books in her arms says after the door slams shut. “I thought a trip to the bookstore on a Tuesday would be drama-free, but—and no disrespect—that was the most entertaining thing I’ve seen in a while. I’m gonna have to come here more often.”

“Hate to break it to you”—I turn to face her—“but that show is not going to have a repeat performance.”

She shrugs, a smirk on her face as she heads to the register. “We’ll see about that.”

It’s unfortunate, but I know she’s not wrong to be hopeful.

I know my dad will be back. I can only hope he’ll be stuck licking his wounds for a little bit longer this time and I’ll be able to catch my breath before his next sneak attack.

“Drew, dear.” Ethel taps me on the shoulder and startles the heck out of me. I forgot she was so close during everything. “Why don’t you bring Jasper here back to your office and take a break. Mona and I can handle things out here for a bit.”

“That’d be great. Thank you.” I don’t hesitate to take her up on that offer. I turn to show Jasper the way to my office and it’s only then I realize he’s holding something. My eyebrows knit together as I nod toward the grease-stained paper bag in his other hand. “Did you have that the entire time?”