“Soon, grasshopper,” I said, earning yet another eye roll from my daughter.
“The longer I know you, the more I think it’s every parents’ job to humiliate their teenager,” Emily laughed.
“Ah yes, the years she’ll look back on and remember fondly,” I sighed. “Do you remember your father that way?”
A dark look crossed Emily’s face, but it was quickly replaced by a bright smile as she nodded, but said nothing. I wanted to ask, but I didn’t want to spoil the festive mood before the party. Instead, I leaned forward and kissed her, earning another bright smile.
“You ready to go or do you need to change and get girlified?” I asked.
“Girlified?” she laughed. “That’s not even a word!”
“It is in this house,” I said solemnly. “Nina taught it to me. It’s the process of making oneself look girly. Look it up.”
“She’s got you wrapped around her finger,” Emily said, as she smiled warmly.
“Since the day she was born,” I nodded.
Nina came out and looked us over before pronouncing us okay to go to the party with. I drove us all over to the station with the radio cranked up so we could sing oldies rock songs on the way. When we arrived, the party was in full swing, and all of the off-shifters had gathered in the kitchen to make popcorn and hand out party favors.
I grabbed Emily’s hand and led her around to introduce her to my colleagues. They welcomed her to the station and into the fold as I smiled like an idiot.
“I take it back, buddy,” Tony said, slapping my back. “You made a good choice. That one is a keeper.”
“Gosh, thanks, man,” I said, pounding his shoulder. “Coming from you, it means…not much.”
“Jackass,” he laughed. “I’m just saying; she seems nice. And Nina seems to like her.”
“Yeah, I think that’s a good match,” I agreed, as Tony handed me a beer. “How are things with you and the wife?”
“A hell of a lot better now that she’s requested regular days off,” he said, with a wide grin. “She’s in the mood a lot more when she isn’t bone weary, you know?”
“Jeez, I told you that a million years ago, jackass,” I said, shaking my head sadly. “Why don’t you listen to me?”
“‘Cause I’m a jackass?” he laughed, as he finished the contents of the can he was holding and reached for another. I shot him a questioning look to which he replied, “The wife is driving tonight; don’t worry, B.”
I found Emily sitting off to the side watching Cal and his date try and dance to a tune that was popular well before the two of them were born. She smiled up at me as I held out a hand and said, “Let’s show these young ‘uns how it’s done, shall we?”
I pulled her into my arms and dramatically dipped her as Cal watched with wide eyes before turning back to his date, who put her hands up and said, “No way. Absolutely not. You’ll drop me on my head!”
Emily and I laughed as we danced across the floor under Nina’s watchful eye. She smiled at me and gave me a thumbs up when Emily’s back was turned to her, and I laughed as I found my groove. Just before midnight, the crew turned the lights down and we all went outside to watch the city’s fireworks show. I wrapped my arms around Emily and pulled her back against my chest as we turned our eyes to the sky and oohed and ahhed with every bright explosion that lit up the night sky.
When the last sparkling lights melted from the sky, I could hear the partygoers counting down to midnight.
“FIVE…FOUR…THREE…TWO…ONE…HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
Emily turned and rested her hands on my chest as she whispered, “Happy New Year, Blake.”
“Happy New Year, indeed,” I smiled, as I leaned down and kissed her. I’d intended to keep it short and sweet, but she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me closer, so I lingered, feeling her warm lips pressed against mine as the blood in my body went rushing south.
“Oh my God, you two are so gross!” Nina protested, as she came out the back door and caught us mid-kiss.
“Just wait until you have someone you want to kiss,” Tony said. “You’ll feel very different about the gross-out factor. Believe me.”
“Perish the thought,” I said, shooting him a stern look. “My daughter is not going to be kissing until she’s 30.”
“Oh Dad, please,” Nina said, rolling her eyes. “I’m 16; the hormones are going to kick in any day now. Good luck stopping them.”
“Can we please not talk about this right now?” I said, feeling my stomach start to twist as the desire for Emily hit the fear of my daughter meeting up with guys who wanted to do the same thing with her. “I’m feeling a little sick.”