Implications

“Let’s hope she uses it the way you do?” Stella asks you in disbelief, after hearing what Brooke said earlier this morning, as you drive back home from the hotel.

After checking out of the hotel, the group all had to split up for various reasons. Brooke had to go to her gym, as it wasn’t closed even on a holiday, to help Brad out and also to get another extra set of clothes she keeps there. She messaged Courtney that she’ll be dropping by to get some stuff at her apartment also, and Courtney just said ‘K’ without any indication she discovered the app yet. Brooke also told you before you guys parted ways that she’ll try to subtly investigate what Courtney knows about the app.

Viv’s restaurant wasn’t open today, but she said she had to go to a meeting with her back of the house, so she still had to go to her restaurant. Tanya and her twins scheduled to go shopping for some home accessories, so her girls can put their own personal touches to her apartment, now that they’re staying for the foreseeable future.

Becca’s probably going to have the busiest day, as the news caught wind of the whirlwind couple of days she had with her father. Particularly — being given a big project, subsequently fired and removed from the Board, only to be re-hired and reappointed hours later, and then tendering her resignation a few hours after that. Becca said Hoffman’s stock is expected to drop two or three points tomorrow when the stock market opens again just based on rumors of what happened, and probably more when she confirms it. You noticed she had a subtle smile on her face when she conveyed that news to you.

Which leaves you with your girls for the day, where the plan is to just relax at home, as the hotel didn’t really bring much relaxation with all that was going on while you stayed there.

Which brings you back to…

“Has she met Courtney?” Your daughter then jokingly adds, getting you and Cassie to laugh.

“I’m more concerned that this magical app may be more prevalent in society than we first imagined.” Cassie points out. “I mean, what are the odds that someone else we know gets the app?” Cassie adds.

“I don’t even know how or why I got it in the first place. So yeah, this thing may not be as rare as we assumed; and with how it can normalize practically anything, maybe we just don’t notice it?” You agree with Cassie.

“We~ wouldn’t notice it. You probably should. Didn’t you tell us Courtney’s profile says that the app doesn’t have an effect on other users?” Cassie reminds you.

“Wait.” Stella suddenly says, realizing something. “DAD!” Stella then shouts, as her realization seems to immediately increase her worry through the roof.

“What? What happened?” You ask in shock. Thankfully, you were at a stop, so Stella’s sudden shout didn’t shock you into instinctually breaking out of possible safety concern.

“Courtney! I know why she thinks you’re dangerous!” Stella announces, getting a gasp from Cassie as well.

“Oh my God! How did the others not see that!?” Cassie shouts in reaction as well.

“In fairness to them, I just realized it now.” Stella adds.

“Wait, hold on. You two are already two steps ahead of me in this conversation.” You tell them to calm down. “What didn’t we see?” You finally ask them after they take a short pause for their disbelief.

“Dad! We~ are fucking!” Stella shouts at you.

‘Yeah. So?’ You think to yourself. It reminds you of your first date with your daughter, and how she thought that would be anyone’s reaction to you being on a date with her.

…

‘The Affection Multiplier has no effect on other Users.’

“OH~ SHIT!” You shout too. “Of course she thinks I’m dangerous! She just realized everyone doesn’t bat an eye that I have a relationship with my own daughter! She must think I have you all brainwashed!” You add in realization, before the car behind you honks its horn to remind you angrily to fucking go as the light just turned green, forcing you to drive as you continue to have a myriad of emotions run through your mind with that revelation.

You can’t believe you missed that little detail too, even after having multiple conversations about this news with different people now. It’s especially more surprising to you since you’re the only one who isn’t actually being magically affected to think that it’s normal to be romantically and sexually linked to your daughter. Then again, you’d like to think that’s a testament to how much you and Stella have made this progression in your relationship work, that it’s not even that weird to you now too.

Still, with this revelation, the biggest issue isn’t actually how or why Courtney got the app, or how Courtney will take to using the app; but, actually, how you and the girls will now have to deal with someone who isn’t going to be affected by the app.

Not just any ‘someone’ either.

It had to be Courtney. An abrasive, self-interested, habitual line-stepper who tries to get on people’s nerves whenever she can just to entertain herself… but it’s also the same Courtney who shows loyalty and willingness to sacrifice for people she actually holds dear. Maybe if the latter prevails over the former, then you and the girls, hopefully, have nothing to worry about.

“What are we planning to do about this, Dad?” Stella asks you. “We can’t just stick to Brooke’s plan and give Courtney the opportunity to wreak havoc with the app.” Stella argues.

“Look, if this was after I first met Courtney at their place, I’d agree with you, baby; but, after yesterday, I’d have to say that we should give Courtney the benefit of the doubt.” You say in defense of Courtney. “So I’d have to agree with Brooke and the others earlier. I don’t think we have to really rush into that and cause more problems for ourselves and Courtney. Let her discover the app, and let’s see how she reacts once she finds out that I have it too. We can explain the circumstances of me buying that trait and how it led to us dating afterwards, and hope she understands.” You tell your daughter.

“You’re being incredibly calm about this.” Cassie observes.

“Yeah, Dad.” Stella says in agreement with Cassie. “This is game changing news! Someone else has the app! Someone you slept with! I know you and the others debunked passing it on to her by sleeping with her, but it can’t be a coincidence that she suddenly gets the app right after sleeping with you.” Stella argues.

“I get it, baby. I do. I know it’s the easiest conclusion to come up with, but it just doesn’t add up. I didn’t get the app from sleeping with anyone, so it can’t be that. If there’s one thing that may be right about Viv’s theory, it might be the randomness of it all.” You counter. “I know I wasn’t exactly the calmest person when I got the app and told you both about it, and I’m sure Courtney won’t be either, but I don’t know anything we can do about her having the app right now.” You say with finality, repeating the conclusion you and others arrived at earlier.

“Fine. If there was one thing about that early meeting that I agree with, it’s that you deserve a day off anyway, Daddy.” Stella concedes, before giving you a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Don’t we all?” Cassie jokingly asks.

“I don’t.” Stella answers back, getting you and Cassie to chuckle.

“Does that mean you’re willing to do all our chores around the apartment today, baby?” You teasingly ask her.

“Sure.” Stella immediately answers, taking you by surprise; and you can’t help but let out an audible ‘Oh?’ in doubt. “I’ll just get my boyfriend to do it.” She then adds.

“There it is.” Cassie jokes.

“You should really stop treating your boyfriend like a pushover, baby.” You playfully advise her.

“I’m not!” Stella plays along and pretends to be defensive. “And my boyfriend is not a pushover. He’ll definitely insist I still do my own chores because I should practice being a responsible young lady or something.” Stella adds, acting proud of her ‘boyfriend’.

“When am I going to meet this guy? He sounds like such a square.” You joke in self-deprecation.

“Oh~? Would Daddy prefer it if his sweet little girl was dating a bad boy?” Stella teasingly asks, turning the joke around on you.

“I’ll prefer your boyfriend to be a bad boy than some dirty old man who’s almost twice your age if I’m being honest.” You jokingly reply, getting a laugh out of the girls.

A few minutes later…

You and the girls have arrived back at the apartment, where both of them proceeded to immediately crash at the couch and splay themselves with seemingly no plans to leave it for the foreseeable future.

“Shouldn’t you two be practicing some kind of sport that you have scholarships for?” You ask them teasingly.

“We’re pumping ourselves up first.” Stella replies, not moving an inch from her comfortable position on the couch.

“Yeah.” Cassie adds, before sliding lower on the couch to get even more comfortable, and you can’t help but laugh as you know they’re just joking. You’re willing to bet they’ll be bored in a few minutes and will probably go out to practice soon enough.

~ DING DONG ~

You approach your apartment door after the bell rings, not sure who it might be as you weren’t expecting company.

As soon as you open it, you’re greeted with…

“Are you the dirty old man trying to date my daughter?”