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I set my turkey club sandwich on the table and take the chair across from dad. It also happens to be next to Eric and I accidentally bump his muscular thigh with my thick one as I settle.
He scoots away from me so subtly that I doubt my dad even notices. He’s been like that ever since Mexico two years ago. I try to ignore the flicker of hurt.
“Why do you think the hacking is personal?” My dad asks Eric.
I take a bite of my sandwich and try to pretend that I’m bored by the conversation.
“Everything she’s done up until this point has been about humiliating me. If she were truly interested in targeting the company, she would have done it by now.”
“Could be an ex-girlfriend. A woman you’ve wronged in the past,” I offer.
Eric looks like he swallowed something sour. “There are no ex-girlfriends.”
Dad takes a bite of the salad and chews slowly. “It could be a bored kid looking to show off their skills. Maybe someone that wants to impress you.”
I shake my head. “If it’s personal, it’s someone with a vendetta against you.”
“Everyone loves me,” Eric quickly counters.
My dad chuckles before trying to mask it with a cough when Eric glares at him. “Point is, you need to find Karma and put an end to this, and you…” He points his fork at me. “Need to stop worrying about your old man and find yourself a boyfriend to take you out on Friday nights.”
“I have a date on Saturday night,” I answer.
Beside me, I feel Eric’s body stiffen and I don’t understand his reaction. What do you care? You said you were drunk and just acting like any horny man would.
Dad scowls. “Accompanying me to the company masquerade isn’t a suitable date for someone your age.” He glances at Eric. “Who do you know that’s close to her age and available on short notice?”
“Dad! I don’t want you setting me up with random guys.” Shit, could this conversation get any more embarrassing?
“I’ll find a guy in my own time,” I add reluctantly. I’ve never dated because I always measure every guy that shows interest against Eric. None of them can even come close.
“When? All you do lately is work and study. You haven’t been out partying since that time in Mexico. It was Spring Break last year, wasn’t it?”
“Two years ago,” Eric quickly corrects.
“I’ll know him when I find him. Just like you did with mom,” I tell Dad. It’s the one thing he won’t argue with me over.
Mom died when I was in high school. Sometimes, I think Dad is still expecting her to walk through the front door.
I made her a promise right before she died that I would make Dad happy and keep him healthy. He definitely wouldn’t be happy if he knew I was Miss Karma. Or that I have feelings for Eric.
“A girl your age shouldn’t be alone,” Dad says firmly.
“Yeah, you should take dating advice from a couple of old bachelors,” Eric mutters in a sarcastic tone.
Dad frowns at the use of the word bachelor. There are moments when he still looks surprised that mom is gone, and this is one of them.
To distract him, I say, “Did I tell you that I got an A on that paper I was so worried about?”
From there, I keep the conversation going by chatting about stupid, silly stuff—anything to keep my dad’s mind from going to the past.
When lunch is over, Eric leaves to give me and my dad a few minutes alone.
My father gets to his feet. “Sometimes, you remind me so much of her. You’re my ray of sunshine.”
He pulls money from his wallet. “I’m serious about today’s discussion. I want you to find a nice boy your age and think about creating a future with him.”
I want to tell him that I’ve already found a man I want. But he’s not my age or nice. No, if anything Eric Holt is very, very dangerous to my heart.
