Page 46 of Waiting for Friday Night

Halle hated how observant her daughter was sometimes. “What do you mean?”

“Well, now I have a dad and everyone knows. So he’s doing all this extra stuff he didn’t do before.” She motioned to the book on the table.

“Quinton being your father doesn’t mean Gregory shouldn’t do nice things. Wouldn’t you want the man I date to be nice to you?”

“Are you going to marry him?” Shania asked pointedly.

“I don’t know,” Halle answered quickly. “Maybe.” A few weeks ago, before this revelation, she would have said she wasn’t against the idea. She would have said Gregory was the perfect guy for her and she could see this growing into something serious. But a few weeks ago she’d looked at Gregory as the right guy for her and a good father figure candidate for Shania. Now she was having doubts. She hadn’t liked the way he’d acted during and after cousins’ day, but she could also see why he would have been confused and upset after learning about Shania’s relationship with Quinton.

Quinton’s filling the role of father didn’t mean he was going to fill any other role in her life. She’d gravitated toward Gregory, not Quinton before. Then he’d gone and thrown down the gauntlet with his “when you break up with him I’m stepping in” statement. She’d been shocked at his admission and surprised at how easily he assumed she and Gregory wouldn’t work out. Even if she now had to figure out what was going on with her and Gregory, she didn’t want Quinton’s words to influence her decision.

“Mom!” Shania’s voice broke into her thoughts.

Halle blinked and focused on her daughter. “Huh, sorry, what did you say?”

“I said you can’t be thinking about marriage right now.”

“Why not?”

Shania’s brows rose and she gave Halle a bewildered look. “Because of Coach Q.”

“What does he have to do with my decision to get married or not? I’m not marrying him.”

Shania waved a hand and scrunched up her face. “Eww... I’m not telling you to marry him either. I’m just saying. This is a lot. Can we get through one transition before we add another?”

Halle frowned. “I thought you wanted me to get married.”

Shania shrugged. “Yeah, one day. If you find the right guy, but not because you’re trying to find me a dad.”

“Who says I’m trying to find you a dad?”

Shania gave her a you can’t be serious look. “Mom, I know part of the reason why you’re interested in Gregory is because you want me to have a dad. But I don’t want any dad. I want my dad. Plus, you’ve shown me that it’s okay to be single. I’m not expecting you to just get with a guy out of obligation or something. You just started dating Gregory and my dad has popped up out of nowhere. Face it, Mom, your life is kind of jacked up.”

Halle shook her head and laughed. Shania’s straightforward way of thinking was more proof that she was her and Quinton’s child. “My life is not jacked up.”

“I’m just saying. Let’s figure out this thing with Coach Q before you let Gregory put a ring on it. I don’t think they like each other. And I kind of would like to get to know my dad without a potential stepdad making things worse.”

Shania’s request made sense, but it still surprised Halle. She would have expected her daughter to be into the idea of her and Quinton possibly dating. Except, she’d raised Shania to be self-sufficient and happy. She shouldn’t be surprised that this was her daughter’s response.

“How about you let me figure out my love life, but I promise to let you know if things get anywhere near serious enough to discuss marriage between me and Gregory.”

Shania nodded. “Cool.”

The doorbell rang and Shania’s face lit up. “That’s Coach Q.” She jumped up from the table, then stopped and turned around. “And...about Coach Q.”

“What about him?”

“I know you kind of wanted to be with Gregory because I asked about my dad a lot, well, now I know. I don’t expect you to marry Coach to try and make us a family either.”

Halle sucked in a breath. “Who said I’m going to marry him?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I don’t want you to. Not because of me. I’m good with just having him as my dad. Besides, he’s my coach. I don’t want to imagine you and him...” Shania shuddered. “You know.”

Heat filled Halle’s face. She pointed toward the front of the house. “Go answer the door.”

She followed slowly behind Shania as she considered her words. If Shania was so direct when it came to Gregory, of course she’d be the same with Quinton. Shania had never pushed her to find her a father; she’d just wanted answers about who her father was. Shania was right; Halle needed to get to know Quinton and see how he fit into their life, not rush into any situation.

She walked up just as Quinton came through the front door. His dark eyes met hers and he lifted his chin in acknowledgment. The words he’d spoken, the way he’d looked at her as if he couldn’t wait for her to say she was free of Gregory so he could pursue her, flashed through her mind and heated the blood in her veins. Halle tugged on the front of her shirt in a weak attempt to cool herself off.

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