Page 113 of Who's Your Daddy
“Shit what?” Brian asks. “Oh fuck, did you already do something to hurt her. I warned you.”
Sully chuckles and holds up a hand. “Back off man, this is not that.”
“Would someone please tell me what it is then?”
With my tongue in my cheek, I drop my head back and try to relax.
“He’s never met a girl’s parents before,” Sully says, sounding amused.
“Really?” Brian glances at me like this is unbelievable.
“I don’t date. I don’t—” I fling my arms out wildly. “Do this.”
“Okay.” The word comes out of Brian’s mouth slowly and completely full of judgment.
“It isn’t a girl,” I tell them both. “It’s Lola. She’sthegirl and she invited my son and me to have dinner with her parents.”
Brian’s eyes widen. “Wait, really? That doesn’t seem like Lola. She—” He shakes his head realizing exactly what I did. “Holy shit, you’re the guy.”
I nod pathetically because yes, I’mtheguy. Somehow, some fucking way, I got this girl, the one who pushes everyone away, the one who pushedmeaway, to not only agree to be my girlfriend but to turn to me for comfort even when her parents are around. To invite us to dinner. It’s not something to be taken lightly. Sure, some people might do those things willy-nilly, but not Lola.
“So, what do I do?”
Sully shrugs, his hands falling to his pockets, as he leans against his desk and studies me. “What do you do about what? You go to dinner. You charm them just like you charm everyone. If anyone can do this, it’s you.”
Brian nods. “I gotta be honest, this does seem like your forte. I’m not sure what you’re worried about. Besides, her parents are easygoing. They’ve always liked you.”
I grind my teeth. That doesn’t seem good enough. I want everything to go perfectly.
Sully pushes off his desk and pats me on the back. “You’ve got this. Hey, even Sloane’s parents loved me. You’ve got this in the bag.”
“Too bad Sloane hates her parents. Lot of good that did you.”
Sully slumps back against his desk. “I’ve got no idea what will help anymore. She’s shut me out completely it seems.”
My swallow is heavy. I don’t like that. I don’t like that at all. But I can only deal with one family disaster at a time. And right now, my only focus is on making sure Lola has a good time tonight, making sure her family treats her well, and somehow keeping my cool as I do it. I can figure out Sully’s problems later.
—
“I really appreciate you doing this,” Lola says to Murphy. We’re seated at dinner, waiting for her parents to arrive because, of course, they’re late.
Murphy shrugs. “Cal said I can order whatever I want and since you haven’t stopped talking about the steak in this place, I think I’m going with the big one.” He nods toward the platter of steak in the glass case which is right by our table. I made reservations at Berns since Lola and I never did make it back here in person, and because I figured she could use some gluten-free yeast as she likes to call it. My girlfriend’s a weird one sometimes. Also, I think this place is appropriate to meet the parents—if they ever actually show up.
“Not even a big steak is worth what my parents put me through,” Lola mutters under her breath. Then she looks at Murphy trying to explain herself. “They just aren’t exactly like me. They’re kind of a lot.”
Murphy, the devil he is, smirks and God does he make me proud in the way he looks just like me in this moment. Then he points toward me. “Mine too.”
The loud, surprised laugh that comes out of Lola’s mouth is the sweetest sound. As is this feeling in my chest over the way the two of them banter back and forth. The way they both tease me. And theway he just referred to me as his parent again. Sure, I’m still Cal, but we’re getting there. One day at a time.
Tonight, Lola’s hair is down. She’s been wearing it more and more like that and I just love it so much. Not because she needed to change, but she just seems happier now. And those damn freckles are dazzling me under the perfectly dim brightness provided by the lamp above us.
Fuck, I’m just obsessed with her.
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry we’re late,” I hear her mother say from behind us.
I glance at Lola and mouthyou’ve got thisand wait for her to smile before I stand up. Then I turn and offer my most charming smile to her mother. “You are perfectly on time, June.”
Lola’s mother, who looks strikingly similar to Lola, but aged from both the sun and lots of laughter it would seem, beams the moment she sees me. “Cal, I didn’t know you’d be joining us.”
