“Dad. That’s extreme. Your anxiety has tripled in your old age.” My eye twitches as I glare at her. “Olderage. And in any case, we’re not going to be doing that. Well, not the diving into deep water part. Swimming has been banned. But yes, there will be drinking and probably some rowdiness. But I promise, there will be no sex or drugs.”
“Dear Lord,” I say, looking up to the sky. “Why did you give me such open and outspoken daughters? Why couldn’t they have been demure and quiet and possibly interested in nunnery as a profession?”
“Add dramatic to that list of anxiety and old age,” she adds. “If I call Aster and invite her to come, will you let us go?”
I prop my hands on my waist and drop my head between my sagging shoulders. “I want to talk with Aster after you talk to her.”
Her face lights up and she’s lunging for me. “Okay, Daddy.”
Now I’m Daddy and not Old Man. This kid is lucky she’s so darn smart, otherwise she’d be locked up in a tower.
“Oo. Can I look up something on your laptop real quick?” she asks before leaving.
“Sure honey. Anything for you.” She skips off to where my laptop sits, and I walk over to the fridge, wondering if it’s too soon for a beer.
Checking my watch I see that it’s three o’clock so the answer to that isno.
“Rena León is the new CEO of Regal? Wow. She’s super young. Way to go girl. That’s so kickass.”
“Rena?” I parrot back as I pop the top to my Saint Arnolds. “Her name is Serena, Daisy.”
“I know that but everyone calls her Rena.” She rolls her eyes as if to sayduh.
“Well you’re not everyone. You don’t even know her.” Daisy’s eyes scan across the screen, presumably reading the article.
“Um, yeah I do. I met her at lunch one day with Aster and she’s been really great at answering questions I had about graphic design and Kingsville University.”
“Why…to both of those?” I come to stand behind her, bracing my hand on the back of her chair.
“Because I want to go to Kingsville U and I like graphic design. Why else would I–Dad!” I reach out and immediately slam the laptop shut when she clicks on a link that I didn’t want her to see. “Were you on acornsite?”
“Corn site? Really, Daisy? Go use your own laptop. What I do on mine is none of your business.” I pick it up and hold it to my chest.
Daisy’s face is beet red and she looks a cross between mortified and amused. “You know, it’s a bit early to bepeeling the cucumber, wouldn’t you say?” She snorts a laugh and now I’m the one who is mortified.
“It just popped up. I removed the blockers and a word I typed in must have–you know what. I’m an adult. Asingleadult. What I do in the privacy of my own home is none of your concern.”
She stands from her chair, pushing me back and pulling the beer from my hand. She takes a small swig and I watch her with discontent. She gives a refreshingaaahand swipes at her mouth.
“You’re free to polish the family jewels any time you want. But can’t you do it in your room or bathroom like the rest of us do? Geez, Dad.”
“What?” She laughs as she walks away, so delighted with how she is able to ruffle my feathers.
I am such a pushover. Being a girl dad is not what I thought it would be. I thought I would have three little princesses who hated boys and never wanted to move out. Instead, I have three young women who love shocking me with their talk of sex, drink and burp like frat guys, and have absolutely no filter when it comes to pretty much everything.
I stand for a moment longer, thinking about Serena and what was on my laptop before rushing off to my bathroom and polishing my jewels in private.
3
SERENA
“Rena. Wait up.” I look over my shoulder to see Santi running towards me.
I shake my head because this grown man is like a child, running through the halls of our office, dressed in jeans and sneakers. It’s such a contrast to my pencil skirt and heels, which are totally killing me at the moment.
“Catch up. I have an appointment to get to.” I speed walk to my office and Santi cozies up right beside me.
“Why the rush little sis?” He throws his arm over my shoulders and tugs me to him a couple times, shaking me and causing my ankles to wobble.
