Page 87 of Forfeits

“I knew it!” she said, taking her foot off the dash and sitting properly. “So what did you guys do?”

Oh fuck. I blinked and drove and tried to think of something to say.

“Oh, well, we went out for lunch on Saturday and for brunch today. Otherwise, we kind of just hung out.”

“Uh-huh. Did you smash? You smashed Aiden, didn’t you?”

“What? What does that mean? And why would I smash him? It doesn’t sound very nice.”

Her laughter was so loud I couldn’t hear the radio.

“Oh my God! Dad!”

“What”

“Smashing is…it’s…you know!” She looked around, as if the car might have another person in it. “Sex!” she said.

Oh!

“Smash means to fu—I mean, have sex, with someone?” Huh. I couldn’t keep up with all the lingo.

“Yeah, duh. You’re supposed to be smart.”

“Very funny.”

“So? Did you? Did you and Aiden smash? You can tell me, Dad. It won’t gross me out.”

“Lucy, I am not having this conversation with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because what Aiden and I did together is private.”

Her mouth went into a big O, and I realized I’d been tricked.

“Fuck,” I said.

“I knew it!”

“Lucy…”

“It’s okay, Dad. You shouldn’t be embarrassed, just because you’re old. Old people can smash.”

“What? I’m not old!”

She laughed and giggled and smiled all the way home.

* * * *

After Lucy had gone to bed, I went into the master bedroom, got under the covers, and called Aiden. Cocoa hopped up next to me and lay down with her back against my hip.

I was very glad that Lucy’s room was on the other side of the house, because that kid had ears like a hawk. Still, I turned on the TV to muffle any conversation.

“Do we really need to have a TV in the bedroom?”

Daniel looked at me like I was from outer space.

“Why wouldn’t we?”

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