Page 52 of Running into Trouble

“So, how’s college life?” I ask both Julia and Leslie. “Is it everything you dreamed it would be?” I make sure to lay the sarcasm on thick because if their experience is anything like mine and every one of my classmates, it’s nothing like they hoped it would be. A whole lot more late nights hunched over a book high on caffeine than over a toilet nursing a hangover. Not that I would have preferred the hangover but I would have liked the time to get drunk if I wanted to.

So what did I do? Went into one of the most demanding jobs on the planet to ensure I never have enough free time again. Good job, me.

“…Anyway, I’m just glad I figured out how much I hated it before the last day to drop it.”

Shit. I completely missed Julia’s answer lost in my thoughts.

“Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on things,” Daniel says, saving me from having to respond. I take his lifesaver and float to the kitchen. My comfort zone.

I’m such a coward.

“I’m proud of you, Julia. I hope you know that.” There’s a short silence before Julia’s muffled voice says, “Thanks, Dad.”

And my cowardice cost me getting to see the look on Daniel’s face when he finally let go of the fear of letting his only daughter grow up.

God damn it.

“Riley?” Daniel asks me a few seconds later standing next to me looking over the steaks with our backs to Julia and Leslie. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah. Fine. Just getting these ready to go.”

Daniel pushes his fingers into my hair turning my head to look him in the eye. After studying me for a moment, he places a kiss on my forehead, I lean into it. “Tell me later,” Daniel whispers when he dips his head next to my ear.

I nod holding back the tears burning the backs of my eyes when he meets me again, face to face.

“Yeah. Yeah,” Daniel grumbles after Julia pointedly clears her throat. “Awaiting your orders, chef.” I can’t help giggling when he pokes his elbow in my ribs.

“Ugh. You two are sickening, you know that?” Julia complains but a playful tone in her voice betrays her.

∞∞∞

Julia, Leslie, and I sit on the floor around the coffee table playing another hand of Rummy. Daniel bowed out not long after midnight needing to stretch his legs out on the couch. Then passed out not long after that. But we didn’t let that stop us. Laughing and playing for another hour before sleep catches up with me. But I don’t want the night to end. Not just because I enjoy Julia and Leslie’s company but because I want to know, remembering Julia’s tense reaction, what she really thinks of me and her dad being together.

“So, are you as okay as you seem with me dating your dad?” I ask.

Julia places her cards on the table before leaning back against Leslie’s massive chest. He puts his arms around her holding her hands over her stomach. A little braver now papa bear’s asleep.

“I’ll admit, I freaked out there, at first but… And I hate to admit this but I can see it. You two. You’re kind of perfect for each other. And I’ve never seen my dad this happy. So… Yeah. I’m okay with it.”

“Just like that?” I ask thinking that’s way too easy.

“Just like that. Though…” Julia pauses and steals a glance at Daniel over my shoulder. “Be careful. I love my dad but he can be stubborn as an ox. And when he sets his mind on something, it’s fucking set.”

“Is that what happened with your mom?”

Julia claps her hand over her mouth muffling her laughter. “He hasn’t told you?”

“Nothing specific. It upsets him to talk about her, so I haven’t pushed it.”

“Well, if he hasn’t told you, I probably shouldn’t. Just know that I don’t blame him. My mother was a bitch to him and he didn’t deserve to be treated the way she treated him.”

I wonder, then, why she lived with her mother for so long if she felt that way but I don’t ask. We’re getting along well enough, she might be willing to dive deeper into the subject but this seems a bit too deep for a first date.

Just as I’m about to ask more about how things are going between her and Leslie, Daniel lets out a ripping loud snore bringing attention back to how late it is.

“We should probably get going,” Leslie says then kisses Julia’s temple before standing and offering her a hand up.

Still a gentleman, even though it won’t earn him extra points.

---