Page 30 of DILF

I exhale loudly. “Yeah, fine. Sure. I’ll see you later.”

“Thanks so much, Lily. I love you,” she says in between sobs.

“Hey, it’s going to be alright.”

“I hope so,” she says before hanging up.

As the phone call ends I look at the screen to see if I have a text from Linc and wonder if I should call him. If he really is upset like Charlotte said, why doesn’t he call me? We did so much just hours ago, and I thought there was a certain tenderness, but he doesn’t include me in this part of his life. And it hurts. The feeling is unexpected, since that isn’t what Linc and I are supposed to be about. It’s supposed to be hot sex, and now I’m questioning everything. Unlike hours ago, now I’m restless and can’t go to sleep.

I’ve been standing in front of Charlie’s house for the last ten minutes.

God, why am I nervous? I’m about to head back to school when I hear yelling coming from inside the house.

I knock on the door and then again, a little louder this time.

“Who is it?” Linc asks, swinging the door open, tersely and without bothering to look. “Oh, Lily…What are you doing here?” I’m startled by his words. I’m about to say something but he shakes his head just a little. “Not a good tim—”

“Lily? Lily? Is that you?” Charlotte runs past him and throws herself on me into a hug. My eyes open wide at him and I cautiously wrap my arms around her.

This time he says it louder, “Not a good time, Lily.”

“You’re going to tell me I can’t be friends with Lily, too, Dad?” Her eyes are swollen from crying, and she’s still in PJs.

Linc is wearing sweatpants and a white t-shirt that hugs his biceps in the most delicious ways, his tattoos peeking out from everywhere, and his hair and beard are a mess.

I want to stare a little longer, run my fingers through it, but instead I turn my attention to Char. “’S’kay, Char. I can leave.”

“No! You’re staying. I need you.” She pulls me in and closes the door behind us. Mrs. Edwards—or Mia, rather—is in the kitchen cleaning. That woman never cleaned. The only time I can remember her cleaning was when she got mad.

I try to take a peek at Linc, but I’m a nervous wreck, and then the Ex-Mrs. Edwards turns around.

“Hi, Lily,” she says as she dries her hands. “I appreciate you driving all the way here for Charlotte but this isn’t really a good time. Right, Linc?”

Linc looks at me and then at Charlotte, and I see what a weird predicament he’s in.

15

LINC

Fuck me.

My ex-wife is here.

My current girlfriend, or whatever the fuck we are, is here.

My daughter is here.

And they’re all staring at me.

My ex is asking my secret girlfriend to leave. Can it get any worse?

Charlotte speaks first. “If she leaves, I leave.”

“Charlotte, if you leave, we cut you off. I’m done with this bullshit. You’re eighteen years old, unemployed, and living in my house, while I pay for your tuition, car, insurance, and every other expense you have.” I am roaring at this point. My eyes narrow at my daughter whose tears have been replaced by teenage rebellion, and for the first time I’m scared; maybe I pushed too hard.

I chance a quick look at Lily, and she does a quick shake of her head, indicating that I have, in fact, fucked up. Royally. I don’t want to lose my Charlotte. And Lily’s right, if I keep pushing I’m going to lose her forever. Maybe it’s better to just support her now and be there when the proverbial shit hits the fan. At the very least, I’ll be there to pick up the pieces. I don’t want her to feel like she’s alone. If I fight her now, she’ll just run off and get married anyway.

“I’m shocked you’re taking such a tough stance, Linc,” Mia says and stands next to me, her arm on my shoulder in solidarity. This isn’t good. If Mia thinks it’s good parenting, it’s probably not. “You usually let her get away with murder.”

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