I pat his chest as the conveyor belt starts up. “Cheesy, old man.”
Once we get my stuff in his truck, I send out a text to the team chat first.
(Blue) Balls for Life
Beck
Made it to my parents
Callie
Yay!! Tell everyone we said hi!
Lucie
Dex said to text him if you need him outside of the group chat because he has it muted.
Callie
Daddy Dex that’s rude!
Will
Please don’t say that again.
Adam
Cals, I beg you, please don’t respond with something even more inappropriate.
Tripp
Please do.
Emma
Can I order Dex’s new jersey with “Daddy Dex” on the back.
Beck
PLEASE FUCKING DO
Switching out of that chat, I immediately go to my chat with Jensen. Texting her feels like a dangerous game with my dad hovering. I don’t want to explain what she is to me, because really I don’t know that answer fully either.
Eh, fuck it. One quick text.
I know you aren’t as keen on stalking as me so I thought I’d help you out. I made it to Virginia safely.
I should put my phone away. I’m practically on borrowed time as it is on the questioning-my-life-choices front. My thumb rests on the lock button for a solid five seconds and I nearly click, but then the dots pop up.
Jenni-cakes
Enjoy your break from following me around.
It takes a whole lot of effort to swallow down my chuckle. Dropping my phone into my pocket, I know I’d be smiling like a fool with my comeback and that’s just not about to happen around my dad.
“So, how’s Mom actually doing today?” I ask, hoping I can steer our conversation for at least the drive back to the house.
Dad scratches at his chin. “She’s okay. It’s not exactly what I’d call a good day, but not bad either. She’s quiet today, no real desire to chat, but loved watching you play in that final game. She’s chattiest after games.”
