“So, who is he?” she asked as I turned back toward the mirror.
I opened my eyes as wide as possible, applying a coat of mascara to my left eye. “Don’t know too much. He’s navy, but only passing through. Here on official business.”
“What’s his rate and rank?”
I shrugged, careful not to blink and mess up my makeup. “I actually have no clue.”
“Is he older or younger?”
“Older.”
Her eyes widened, matching mine, but for very different reasons. “If he’s higher rank than…”
“You’ve asked me more questions about him than I’ve asked him about himself. I know he’s stationed in California, but he grew up somewhere in Florida. That’s about all I know.”
“You can’t date a man who’s…”
“We’re not dating,” I told her, cutting her off from going down that road. “We made a bet. I lost, and I’m paying up.”
“You’re going out with him over a bet?”
I nod. “I always keep my word.”
She pushed her jet-black curls over her shoulder and rubbed the back of her neck. “I know. That’s why I know tomorrow’s going to be so much fun.”
“It is?” I asked, furrowing my brows. “Why?”
“We’re going to organize the bathroom, silly.” She smiled.
“How could I forget,” I mumbled.
She clapped her hands together, humming to herself as she moved away from the bathroom door toward the kitchen.
Our apartment was small but more space than we’d have living on base in an old barrack. We each had our own bedrooms, shared a bathroom, and had a big enough living room for a television and the most comfortable sofa we could afford.
My phone vibrated on the counter, drawing my attention away from my makeup. “Hey, Dad,” I said, my voice more chipper than usual.
“Someone’s in a good mood,” he replied. “Enjoying your new place?”
“It’s so big, it’s like a palace.”
Dad laughed, knowing I was full of shit. “What’s on tap tonight?”
“Just going to stay in and organize the kitchen with Allison.” I cringed, always hating lying to my father. The saddest part of it all was he could generally tell when I was full of shit, but usually only when I was in front of him.
“That’s what you’re doing on a Saturday night?”
“Well, being an adult isn’t always fun and games, Dad.”
“Now you’re sounding like your mother.”
“You’re such a liar,” Allison said as she walked past the bathroom with a box labeled “Pots and Pans” in her hands.
I shot her a warning glare, and she kept moving, laughing the entire way.
“Did you eat dinner yet?” he asked, clearly not hearing Allison.
“In a bit. Allison’s whipping up something now,” I lied to my dad again, something I rarely did and always felt guilty for afterward.
