My phone vibrates on the kitchen counter, and I get up to see who it is. I smile like a goof, because it’s Dylan. He hasn’t messaged me since our birthday a few nights ago.
I haven’t heard from you, are you okay?
Yeah, I am. Eventful couple of days.
You can tell me all about it over dinner, tomorrow night.
Maybe I don’t want to go out with you. I jokingly tease.
Now that’s a load of BS. Of course, you want to go to dinner with me. I’m funny, and charming, and my father really likes you. It’s a no brainer.
I look at my phone, and chuckle.
“Oh, someone’s made Molly happy. Is it the boy from the restaurant?” Mom asks.
“Yeah, it is. He’s asking me to dinner tomorrow night. I’m not sure if I should go.”
“Why not?” Mom asks.
“Let the girl be, she doesn’t need to date,” Dad chides her.
“Dad, you’re being overprotective,” Tina responds.
“We don’t need two teenage girls dating.” He pointedly looks at Tina then me.
“It’s just dinner, Thomas,” Mom says.
“Are you done discussing if I should or shouldn’t go?” I look to the three of them.
Dad makes a grumbling sound. Mom and Tina both smile. “I think you should go, it’s only dinner. Not sex, or marriage,” Tina says.
“Hey, I don’t want to hear about that,” Dad says.
Mom’s holding in a smile. Tina rolls her eyes and shakes her head. She reaches for another slice of pizza.
“Do you think I should go?” I ask all of my family.
“No,” Dad responds with conviction.
“Yeah,” Mom and Tina reply together.
A small smile tugs at my lips. Dad’s reaction is exactly what I thought it would be. “It’s just dinner,” I say trying to justify it, more to myself than to Dad.
“Yeah, and make him pay,” Tina says.
“No, these days you go halves,” Mom protests.
“If you’re going out with him, you make him pay,” Dad chimes in, having lost his earlier fight.
I stare at the message and try to think of what I can say. Seeing as your Dad likes me, then I’d better let you take me to dinner.
I smile. Then add, I’m only doing it for your dad. As a favor to him.
I place my phone face down on the table, and sit back. “Okay, I’m going out on a date with Dylan tomorrow.”
“When do we get to meet him?” Dad asks.
“Maybe never. I don’t know. We’ll go for dinner tomorrow, and I’ll see how things turn out.”
Dad points at me with his slice of pizza. “No funny business.”
“No funny business,” I echo. “Trust me.”
“It’s not you I’m worried about. How old is Dylan?”
“We’ve gone over this. No idea,” I candidly answer. “I assume he’s at least twenty-five judging by the way he acted when I first met him.”
Dad grumbles. “If he hurts you, I’ll end his life.”
Aww, I think every father has said that to his daughter at least once in their life. Dad says it to Tina every time she finds a new boyfriend. Usually it’s Tina who ends up doing the hurting.
My phone vibrates again, but I don’t rush to get it. Dylan can wait. Family dinner is way more important than setting up a date.
“Hey, Tina, what are you doing?”
“Listening to music. You okay?” She sits up on her bed, crossing her legs. “You look worried.”
“I’m kinda second guessing myself about tomorrow night.”
“Your date?” I nod. “What’s the problem?”
“You know I’m not like you, right?” I sit on her bed, Zhen lays beside me. Zorro is nowhere to be seen. He’s taken a liking to Dad, so he tends to be where Dad is when he’s home.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, we’re complete opposites. You’re so bubbly and outgoing, and I’m really not. I’m nothing like you.”
“So? What are you getting at?” She shrugs one shoulder.
I wring my hands nervously. “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to talk to him. Or what to talk about. What if he wants to try something, you know?”
“Like a kiss? Or something more?”
“I’m not having sex with him. If he thinks he can try that on me, then it’s not happening.” My stomach jumps with uncertainty. Sex isn’t something I’ve ever really wanted to do. Well, not yet.
“Listen, you’re meeting him there, right?”
“Yeah, he said he’d pick me up, but I don’t want him knowing where I live. Not yet. You know he might turn into some crazy-ass stalker guy.” Tina laughs. “What?”
“Not everyone is nuts. But he might be.”
I throw a pillow at her. “Why, ‘cause he asked me out?”
“You’re such a dork. If he makes you feel uncomfortable, text me, and I’ll be right there. Actually, I can come along if it makes you feel better.”
I let out a laugh. “Yeah, good thinking. No!”
“How about I meet up with Preston at one of the cafés close to where you’re having dinner? If anything happens, then I’m close.”
Just the thought of having Tina nearby eases my shaky thoughts and feelings. “I don’t want to put you out. Don’t worry about it.” I feel like I’m a burden to her.
“Don’t be a dumb-ass, Molly. You’d do it for me, wouldn’t you?”
“In a heartbeat,” I answer candidly.
“Good, ‘cause that means I get to go out with Preston again. I really like him,” Tina says. She runs her hands through her hair, then twirls some around her finger. I’ve never seen her so hung-up on anyone.
“Then you should go for it. When do I get to meet him?”
“How about we double-date?”
“Not tomorrow?” I ask a little too forcefully.
“No, not tomorrow. What about Sunday? If it all works out for you and what’s-his-face, then you can ask him if he wants to double-date with Preston and me.”
“Dylan.” I tilt my head as my brows arch.
“Yeah, yeah, him. What do you think? I can suss Dylan out, and you can suss Preston out. Then we can compare notes.”
“Yeah, that’ll be cool. Thank you.” I lean over and give her a hug. “I’m going to bed, I’m so tired.”
“It’s nine o’clock. Since when have you become a grandma?”
“I’m not a grandma. I think the last couple of days have really caught up with me. You know the guy at the park, our birthday. All of that.”
“Night, stinky butt.”
“Really?” I say as I turn to look at Tina before I leave her room. “Stinky butt?”
“I was referring to the dog,” she teases.
“No, you weren’t.”
“No, I wasn’t,” she giggles at the same time.
Zhen and I head back to my room. I take a quick shower, get changed into my pajamas, and crawl into bed. Zhen’s already asleep on my bed by the time I’m in. I grab my Air Pods, and turn on my meditation music. It doesn’t take me long before I’m sound asleep.