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Rissa set her phone on the counter. “I said I might know what I want to study. I haven’t made any final decisions yet.”

“Fair enough.” But his attention returned to Amanda, suspicion mixed with amusement. “You still had something to do with this.”

“I may have made a suggestion.”

“Uh-huh.”

She pointed toward the hallway with the knife. “Go change. You can interrogate us over dinner.”

By the time the pizzas came out of the oven, Rissa had apparently done enough research to present a preliminary college plan. They were halfway through their first slices when she put hers down. “So... I’m thinking about animal science.”

Grady stopped chewing, and Amanda reached for her drink to hide her smile.

His gaze moved from his daughter to her and back again. “Animal science?”

“Yeah. There are different concentrations. Nutrition, livestock management, breeding, behavior, a bunch of stuff. And there’s a program about an hour away.”

For several seconds, he said nothing. Then a slow smile spread across his face. “What made you change your mind?”

Rissa pointed across the table. “Amanda.”

She nearly choked on her wine. “I did not change your mind.”

“You brought it up.”

“That’s not the same thing.”

“You asked if I’d ever considered animal science. I hadn’t, so I looked it up.”

Grady’s attention landed on Amanda, and something in his expression made her wish Rissa weren’t sitting three feet away. She lifted one shoulder. “It seemed like something she might enjoy.”

“I think I would.” The teen leaned forward, her excitement returning. “And I wouldn’t have to decide exactly what I want to do right away. I could take the basic classes first and figure out what part I like best. Something I could actually use working with ranch animals.”

“What about the gap year?” he asked.

“I don’t know yet. But if I can find something I actually want to study...” She shrugged. “Maybe I won’t need one.”

The hope that crossed his face was impossible to miss, even though he seemed to be trying his damnedest not to make too much of it. Amanda understood why. He’d spent months giving Rissa room to figure out what she wanted without pushing her toward college, and now his daughter was talking about a possible major with more enthusiasm than Amanda had heard from her before.

“Well, you don’t have to decide tonight,” he said. “There’s plenty of time to look into it.”

“I know.”

“And if you want to check out the school, we can set up a visit.”

Rissa reached for another slice of pizza. “I already bookmarked the campus tour page.”

Despite her best efforts, Amanda couldn't help but laugh.

Grady’s attention shifted to her. “One suggestion. That’s all it took?”

“I happened to mention something she might like.”

“Uh-huh.” The skepticism in his voice didn’t match the appreciation in his expression.

“Don’t give me that. She did all the rest herself.”

“I know.” His expression softened. “Thank you.”