Even if you don't want to be a nuisance and you already told Sarah you can walk, that there's no need for them to take you home, she will not take a 'no' for an answer.

You and Sarah had spent the entire afternoon together at Sarah's father's house as summer is in full swing and you both are on summer break from college. However, Sarah invited you to join them for dinner and the visit extended until midnight, not a very appropriate time to walk home alone, much less in a city like Austin.

"C'mon!" Sarah rolls her eyes at your stubbornness "You are not going to walk in the night, alone, all the way home and that's final. My dad can ride you home, can't you, dad?"

Joel just nods, the keys to his truck in his hand.

"C'mmon now" Sarah gently pushes you to the door as Joel just follows you two without complaining.

You accept that there is nothing to be done against Sarah's decision, sighing and watching as your best friend walks back to the door. You freeze halfway – isn't she coming with you?

"Nop" Sarah answers when you ask her, smiling "I have things to do, but don't worry, my dad won't bite you."

Your stomach churns when you hear your friend say those words. Joel's already in the driver's seat of the truck and has opened the door for you to get in, to your bad luck there is nothing else to do.

Sarah waves from the doorway with a smile as Joel pulls out of the driveway, in complete silence.

And you can't help but feel a little curious –perhaps attracted– to Joel. You have only met him a few times since you and Sarah became friends in college, when she was no longer living with her father. Still, each of those times was intense for you.

You don't understand exactly what it is that attracts you, because he's a rather serious, quiet and grumpy man, but you can't help it and feel the butterflies flutter in your stomach as if you were a teenager – and that's wrong, he's your best friend's dad and much older than you, after all...

"Where to?" Joel asks after a moment of silence.