“Aren’t you mad at me?” I asked, blinking hard as I forced my attention to stay on the road rather than my daughter. “Rory’s your friend, your coworker.”
“It’s weird, Dad,” she said. “But I won’t be working at Alchemy forever, and Rory’s a good person. You are too. I just don’t like the idea of you taking advantage.”
Relief rushed through me in such a euphoric sweep that I almost swerved on the road. A laugh burst from my lips. No damn way. That was her concern? That I wasn’t going to be serious about Rory? “Harps, we were on a date.”
“Wait, I thought Owen was teasing him,” Harper said. “An actual date?Youwent on a date?”
“Well, the other times we went out didn’t count,” I muttered, coasting down the darkened back roads of Kennett. “I hadn’t realized I was bi yet when we went to the gay bar.”
“Holy shit. Dad, you went to a fucking gay bar?” Harper let out a peal of laughter, and I relaxed even further. “I’d have paid to see that.”
“I’m not the bar or club type, in case that wasn’t clear to you. So it won’t likely be happening often,” I said. Though truth be told, if he wanted to go, I wouldn’t say no. I was weak for that man. The reality smacked me in the face that my daughter and I were sitting here and talking about me dating a man as easily as if we were shooting the shit about a Phillies game. Giddiness swirled inside me. “You’re really okay with this?”
“With you dating Rory?” she asked. “It’s weird, no doubt, but not as weird as you’d think. It’s not like your age gap’s that huge. I dated a woman sixteen years older than me, so it’d be a bit judgmental of me to have an issue.”
I wrinkled my nose. Didn’t love hearing that, but at the same time, she was an adult and free to date who she pleased.
“Don’t think I missed that look,” she teased. “Why do you think I didn’t tell you in the first place?”
“Hey, we would’ve accepted whoever you brought home, as long as they treated you well,” I said, with truth behind my words. Susie and I had always operated on that principle with parenting, and I was grateful it paid off now in my daughter’s own acceptance.
“And are you going to bring Rory around?” she asked. “Does Mom know?”
“She knows I’m bi and going on dates with a younger guy,” I said, blowing out a breath. “As for bringing Rory around, if he wants a relationship, I’m all in. We just haven’t had the discussion yet.”
“This is actually cute,” Harper said, a teasing note in her voice. “You seem so nervous, Dad.”
Heat flushed my cheeks. “Is it better that you know now? I’m not sure.”
Harper laughed, the musical sound offering another shot of relief. God, I’d been worrying over this for weeks, and the weight lifted off my shoulders had me sagging forward. Joy rushed through me fast and fierce as I wound down another back road, taking the long way to Alchemy Ink.
“The boy is stubborn, but he’s the best,” she said. “Might run his mouth a lot, but he’s loyal, and he’ll show up when it counts.”
“I can already tell,” I said. “When Owen called, he was ready to help at once.”
“Maybe you’re more alike than you think,” she said. “At least where it matters.”
My eyes heated up. Damn. Harps was hitting me right in the heart tonight, in the way only my kid could. “Thanks, sweetheart.”
“No thanks needed. I said I wanted you to get back out there. But you should lock that shit up with Rory. He might not act like it, but he can get a bit insecure about where he stands with people.”
“Right,” I said, squeezing the steering wheel. “Let’s get you to Alchemy Ink, then, so you can pick up your car.”
“And so you can finish your date?” she asked.
“Yeah, that too,” I said. My heart thumped a little harder. Once I got Rory to my house, we’d have the talk. I’d make sure he knew where I stood—right by his side.
The sign for Alchemy Ink glowed at the end of the street, and I slowed as I neared the entrance. After so long in a marriage that was just a comfortable friendship, the chance for something more, for the sparks and the fireworks I’d always longed for fizzed through my bloodstream.
I pulled into the parking lot, but only two cars were there, neither of them Rory’s.
“Do you think he got held up?” I asked, glancing around. We’d taken the long way, so I’d figured he’d have been waiting for us by the time we arrived. My gut sank. Unless…had he thought I’d left him? I’d gone off with Harper, so focused on explaining the situation to her, that I hadn’t said goodbye.
Could he have believed the worst?
The answer settled uncomfortably in my gut.
“I can run in and ask August if he stopped by,” Harper said, cracking the door open. Before I could respond, she hopped out and raced to the door. I glanced at the screen of my phone, but no messages awaited.
