Page 44 of Rude Boss 2

I walk back over near the food bags, unpack them, and prepare our plates. Dad joins mom at the table when I start bringing the food over.

“This smells good,” Dad says.

“It is. I got it from that restaurant you went to yesterday.”

“Oh, that restaurant your boyfriend took me to.”

I glance up at mom who’s giving me this crazy smile with a glow in her eyes.

I say, “Dad, Essex is not my boyfriend.”

“I can’t tell,” he replies, grabbing a chicken leg and taking a huge bite.

“What does that mean?” I ask him while I fix mom a plate.

“The way he looks at you speaks to his intentions,” he replies.

After I set a plate in front of her, Mom chimes in to say, “I’ve seen it, too. He showed up at your apartment. He came to the hospital to be with you, which I think is extra sweet—honey. The man likes you. For all I know, I think you like him too.”

I eat a little and say, “What if I did?”

“Do you? He’s definitely a catch,” Mom says.

“You only say that because you know he’s well off.”

“Well, yeah, but that’s not my only reason. He cares about you, dear. Mama knows these things.”

Dad licks his fingers. “I can attest to that. And you know what? I think it’s time you stop doing whatever it is youthinkyou’re doing and move on with your life.”

I pause with a piece of chicken halfway to my mouth and ask, “What am I doing, Dad?”

“What you’vebeendoing for the last ten years, Quin—moping around, jumping from one job to the next, chasing happiness, but you were never happy because you were lonely.”

“I wasn’t…” I didn’t think I would get emotional, but something about hearing my father say I was lonely struck me. Fathers – parents – want the best for their children. And my dad – I know he wants the best for me. He’s not very vocal about it and the fact that he mentioned I was chasing happiness and was never happy hurts me because I know it hurts him. I could try to deny being lonely, but he’s right. I’ve been lonely for a long time. Those friends I used to have in high school – they’re married with families, living their lives. I’m just here. Coasting. Waiting. Waiting for something spectacular to happen like life is a movie and everything will fall into place before the credits roll. Nothing has really fallen into place for me.

Dad softens his tone when he says, “You always used to talk to me and your mom about settling down and having a family of your own after college. Well, college done came and went, dear, and you’re here by yourself with no husband, no children, living in a one-bedroom apartment.”

“Thanks for making me feel like a loser, Dad.” I dab my eyes, ridding myself of the tears in their corners.

Mom says, “Sweetheart, your father means well. We want you to be happy.”

“So, I can’t be happy without a husband? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“That’s not what I meant, Quin,” Dad says. “I’m just repeating what you told me you wanted out of life.”

“Yes, that’s what I wanted, but how am I supposed to have that when it’s not with the person I want? How do I—?” I take a breath and will myself not to cry. I need them to understand me and I can’t convey what I need to say if I’m a teary mess. I ask, “I messed up, okay. I had someone in my life who was very special to me.”

Dad asks, “You’re talking about Stewart, aren’t you?”

“How could youpossiblyknow that?”

“He’s the only guy I’ve ever seen you with.”

I shake my head as I think about Stewart – about all the time we spent together. We were inseparable. Granted, I didn’t know I’d fall for him. They say young love is fleeting, but ours was real. I know it was because if it wasn’t, at thirty-four years old, I wouldn’t be sitting here thinking about him as the one that got away, and having flashbacks of our younger years.

“Did y’all win?” I asked Stewart as we walked home from the park. I sat with the girls as we watched the boys play basketball and now, we were on the way home.

“Yeah. I made a few shots.”

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