“Wait what,” she snaps, “Is that what he said?” she starts slamming her hand on the dashboard of my Volvo.
“Yeah, I really wouldn’t have said that if it wasn't true.”
She rolls her eyes in frustration. “God, guys are such jerks,” she mumbles turning her head and rubbing her eyes.
“Not all men are jerks,'' I tell her, wanting to make her feel better. “You need to find a guy like your dad.”
“My dad,'' she gasps looking horrified. “Why would I find someone like my dad?”
“Your dad’s really amazing,” I say looking back at her. “He is kind and generous. He helps pay for your college tuition remember?”
“Yeah I know,” she says looking away from me and crossing her arms.
“He's also smart and funny and really talented. He is a great fisherman. He went to all of your games while we were growing up, so we know that he’s very attentive.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. My dad‘s a great guy, and I should find someone like him,” she says. “If you like him so much why don’t you take hi
m out?” She lets out a long breath as we sit in silence wondering what to say next or how to proceed.
“Well I still say your dad is a wonderful person and any girl would be lucky to be with him.”
“Is this your way of telling me like my dad?” she laughs, shaking her head. The car is filled with silence again. I know I should change the subject. I told Kenton I wouldn’t tell Charlie. But I really want her to understand there are good guys out there, like her dad.
“Oh my god! Are you telling me if you actually like my dad?” she snaps. Turning her head quickly and slapping me on the arm, her mouth open, eyes widened.
“No! That’s not what I am saying,” I protest weakly.
“I think that’s exactly what you’re saying,” she says, slapping her hand on the dashboard again. “You have a thing for my father!”
“It’s not that bad,” I say. “Can you cut him some slack? Do you have any idea how much he deals with at work?”
“Oh my God,” she says, turning her head away and shaking it hard. “I must be drunk. I think I am.”
She sits in silence. I debate turning on the radio and letting her think this whole conversation was a drunken nightmare. Kenton is not going to be thrilled that his daughter found out this way or that she found out at all.
“That’s my father that you like, you know that right?” she asks, turning back to look at me now.
“Yeah I know,” I nod, turning on the radio. “I really don’t wanna talk about this with you right now.”
“What? No!” she shouts, slapping the radio back off. “How long have you had a thing for my dad and does he know?” she asks, her voice firm.
“Fine but if I tell you, you can’t tell anyone because we aren’t ready.”
“What do you mean, we aren’t ready?'' she asks her eyes wide. “Are you telling me that my dad likes you too?” she snaps. “Are you telling me that you’re about to be my stepmother? Oh my god that would be so fucking hilarious,” she says snarkily, turning her head and shaking it hard. “God my mother would really get a kick out of this conversation,” she groans.
“No, no, no!” I say quickly, shaking my head. “Absolutely not, we are not telling your mother. We are just going to sit here quietly and listen.”
She freaks out into a fit of muttered words. Clearly, she is in no mood for the coffee I was talking about earlier.
“OK so you have to tell me literally everything,” she says. “Actually, no don’t tell me everything if you give me any kind of details like kissing or sex I will literally vomit in the backseat of your Volvo,” she says swallowing hard and closing her eyes as if she’s already suppressing the urge.
“You know what, we are just going to start off with a simple yes or no questions. I can handle that. Are you dating my dad?”
Swallowing hard, my hands tight on the wheel, I nod in affirmation, yes.
“Have you been dating my dad longer than twenty-four hours?”
Again, I nod my head.