“I’m not exactly sure, but they are yummy.” Mom tweaks her nose.
“Okay. I’ll eat worms for you, Pops.” She take a large bite of the cookie.
“Sadie, why don’t you go watch SpongeBob? I need to talk to Grammy and Pops.” I need parental advice, and they don’t pull any punches with me. Sadie jumps down from the chair and heads into the other room.
“Everything okay?” Dad looks at me with concern.
“I went out on a date last night,” I whisper.
“That’s wonderful!” Mom exclaims.
“Sshh,” I hush her. “I don’t want Sadie to hear.”
“How come?”
“It’s Reed’s dad, Ashton Campbell.”
“Wait,” Dad’s eyes grow wide. “The Ashton Campbell.”
“Isn’t he the captain of the Bears?” Mom looks between us.
“Yes,” I confirm.
“Oh my.” Mom falls back in her chair a little. “Well, did you have a good time?”
“Yes, I did, and I feel guilty about it.” I drop my head into my hands.
“Why?” they ask at the same time.
“Because I think I like him,” I mumble.
“Honey, that’s not a bad thing. I mean he is a Bear, that sucks a little,” Dad groans. He’s been a Portland fan for as long as I can remember. “But, liking someone is good for you. You haven’t dated in years.”
I look up at him. “We’re going out again. Why do I feel like shit about it?”
“Lexie.” Mom takes my hand. “I loved Tony as a son. We’ve been telling you forever that you need to get back out there. Tony wouldn’t want you to stop living your life. I know he wouldn’t.”
“What about Sadie? I don’t want to confuse her about who her dad is.”
“Sadie is well aware that Tony is her dad. That’s something we’ve all told her.” Dad looks at me with a stern expression. “Is this Ashton pressing that issue?”
“No, we’ve been on one date, Dad. I just feel like…” I don’t know if I can say it out loud, but I do. “It’s like I’m cheating.”
“That’s absurd.” Mom’s face matches Dad’s. “I don’t mean to make this sound insensitive, but it’s been almost seven years.”
“I know.”
“I think this is a good thing.” Dad smiles. “Enjoy your youth. Go out and have fun.”
“Youth? Dad, I’m thirty.”
“Good grief.” Mom shakes her head. “You’re not five hundred years old, Lexie. You have so much life to live. You need to do it. Now, as your mother, I order you to date this hockey player.”
I laugh. “You order me?”
“That’s kind of sexy.” Dad leans over and kisses her.
Chapter Ten