That, and I’d gotten a sick kick out of how pissed Zachary had been when he’d thought I was going on a date with Howler. Just the thought that Howler would be interested in me like that when he was so in love with Lyla was preposterous, but it was hilarious that Zachary had thought it was a possibility.
Part of me hoped it was because he was jealous, but I was a realist. No way was that even a possibility. Zachary hated me, plain and simple.
Howler was walking up the steps when Zachary opened the front door. Dressed in black dress pants and a polo, Howler had obviously showered and changed before coming to pick up his daughter. Seeing his friend, he lifted his dark blond brows in surprise. “You’re actually home for once?”
“It’s Saturday,” Zachary reminded him in a bored tone.
“No, I’m aware of that. But every time I’ve talked to you this week, you were at work.” His gaze shifted to me. “And not once did you mention Elli being home.”
“Didn’t know I had to keep you apprised of her every move.” Shifting Josie in his arms, he nodded toward the door I’d just walked through. “Jo invited me to dinner. We’re going to eat all their shrimp. Aren’t we, princess?”
“Shrimp is my favorite!” she told him, bouncing her head up and down in agreement.
Howler laughed before glancing at me. “You okay with that, Elli?”
Zachary turned, cocking a brow in challenge, as if daring me to tell his best friend I had a problem with this new arrangement. I forced a smile. “The more, the merrier.”
“Uncle Judge, ride in the back with me,” Josie suggested as he carried her toward Howler’s SUV that I’d left parked in the driveway. Lyla’s car was right beside it, with the top already in place.
As we walked, I offered Howler back his key fob, and he handed over one to the convertible. “Should I take Lyla’s car? I’m sure you’re tired, and there’s no need for you to bring me home when I can drive myself.”
“I’m good,” he said with an easy smile. “I’ll have to bring Judge home anyway. Asshole doesn’t drive unless someone is dying, and even then, it’s iffy.”
“I miss driving,” I admitted, staring longingly at the car. “Back in California, I either take the bus or walk.”
He pushed his key back into my hand. “Then you can drive us. I don’t mind riding shotgun.”
“Are you sure?” Without realizing it, I directed my gaze to where Zachary was helping Josie get buckled into her booster seat.
Howler touched his huge hand to my shoulder. “I trust you, Elli. Besides, I helped teach you to drive. If you’re not safe behind the wheel, that doesn’t say much for me as a teacher, does it?”
Grinning, I shook my head. “I guess it doesn’t. Okay, thanks.”
Climbing up into the driver’s seat, I fastened my seat belt just as the back door slammed shut. “Eyes on the road and no speeding,” Zachary clipped out.
“Sure thing, Dad,” I sassed with a little salute before starting the SUV.
Howler snickered beside me. “Damn, it’s good to have you home, Elli. All that’s missing is Lyla, and it would be exactly like old times.”
“I miss her,” I told him as I reversed. “The house is definitely way too quiet without her. But at least I’ve been staying out of trouble.”
He barked out a laugh. “Why do I doubt that?”
My bottom lip pouted out. “You doubt me?”
“Absolutely. You might look all sweet and innocent, but I know you too well. No way you haven’t been up to something.”
“Nah,” I denied. “I’ve been good. Between work and catching up on a little sleep that I missed out on after finals recently, I haven’t really had any time to stir up trouble. Besides, it’s no fun when there’s no one to cause trouble with.”
“Tell me about school,” Howler encouraged. “You haven’t been home much, so you must be settled in out there.”
I paused at the end of the driveway and waited for a car to pass before pulling into traffic. “It’s school,” I said with a shrug. “I take extra classes to get done as quickly as I can, but there’s nothing exciting about it.”
I could practically feel his frown without having to look at him. “What are you studying again?”
“I’m double majoring in economics and English. They look good on law school applications, so I figured having both would double my chances.” When I felt eyes on me from the back seat, I tried not to squirm or slouch down. “I will take the LSATs in a few weeks.”
“So you haven’t decided where you want to go to law school yet?” Howler asked, sounding genuinely curious.
“It will depend on my scores and where I get accepted,” I hedged.
“Does that mean you aren’t considering coming home and going local?” he asked, sounding almost hopeful. “With Lyla coming home for the fall, it would be nice if you were back full time too. I know your mom would be happy. Georgetown is close enough you could commute.”
I tightened my hands around the steering wheel. “It’s on my list,” I said evasively. I didn’t want to get my hopes up about getting accepted. Georgetown had been my top pick for undergrad, but I hadn’t gotten in.
Zachary had gone to Georgetown for law school. He’d commuted instead of living close to campus so he could take care of Lyla. All my life, I’d idealized him, had wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a lawyer, maybe even a judge one day. I’d considered being a prosecutor, but after not getting into Georgetown, I’d decided to go into corporate law instead.
“If you’re home, Lyla might decide to stay too,” Howler said wistfully.
I wanted to tell him she might decide to stay home if he manned up and told her he loved her, but I pressed my lips together to stop the words from spilling out. He wasn’t a complete idiot. He knew what would keep her where he wanted her. All he needed to do was grow a pair of balls and claim her once and for all.
Chapter 7
Judge
I refused to feel guilty when I heard the longing in Ellianna’s voice as she told Howler she had Georgetown on her list of possible law schools. If she knew what I’d done to ensure she didn’t get in for undergrad, I wasn’t sure how she would react. But I didn’t want to remember how brokenhearted she’d been when she’d gotten that damned rejection letter—or any of the others that had followed.
Focusing on Josie, I didn’t look at Ellianna again until she pulled into the Japanese restaurant downtown.
“Your mom didn’t want to join us?” Howler asked as we walked toward the entrance.
Josie held my hand, dancing around like the little ball of energy she was. From the moment she was placed in my arms, her tiny little fist clutching at my finger, she’d wrapped herself around my heart. Just like Lyla had when she came home from the hospital. Nannies had been present around the clock, but I wanted Lyla to see me, to know that even though our parents had better things to do, she would always have me.
And just like with Lyla, I’d make sure Josie always knew I’d be there. No matter what.