Lee looked at himself in the mirror. He looked good. He knew he looked good. His hair was perfectly side-swept, he had a clean shaven face. He wore the black rectangular glasses he never got the chance to show off, a dark suit and a vibrant blue tie. He spritzed on the cologne he'd saved for special occasions, and took another look. He looked good.
So why the hell won't his heart slow down? Somewhere inside, he felt like the awkward slouching young boy he was in high school. Asking himself if he was worth the effort. Did Terri feel the same? He started to leave, wondering if he should grab some condoms...normally it's best to save it right? Her words echoed in his mind.
'Looking at you makes me wet, and I want to go on a date with you.'
Was it really that simple for her? Not playing games? He thought about what little he knew of her. Charming, confident, smart...she could definitely play games. This didn't feel like a game. He took a deep breath, grabbed his keys, and left for the grocery store before heading to her house.
He'd been at the checkout, too spaced out over the direction his romantic life had gone to notice the familiar head of hair and face. As soon as the young woman's voice cheerfully said "Okay, if that's it that's 9.08." he knew he should have been paying attention.
She looked up to see his face, and the mixture of awkward, horrified, and embarrassed all over her father. He cleared his throat. "Ah...Lizi..h-hello."
She glanced at the extra large magnum condoms she'd been in the middle of bagging, and back at him. "...Hey, Dad." Her face turned as red as his.
"I...didn't know you were back."
"Yeah...yesterday. I was gonna reach out tomorrow but um..."
"Oh, I-I'll be...uh."
"Busy, yep.", she tossed the box into a bag, holding it with two fingers.
"I-I still love your mother, you know."
She shook her head. "Yeah, I know. Even after she left you. Still it's um...it's good you're moving on, though."
Lee felt his face heat up. He was sure he'd turned red enough to pass for a taco topping. "I-It's...uh..."
"Gonna say not what it looks like, 'till you realized it is and if it weren't that'd be shitty?"
He snapped into Dad mode momentarily. "Lizi, language please."
"Dad, c'mon. I'm almost thirty."
He pursed his lips. "Well..."
A gruff, skinny man who looked like he had a few drinks and a bone to pick slapped Lee in the arm. "Stop flertin' an' buy yer shit already."
Lee fumbled with his wallet, handing Lizi his business card on top of his cash. "Here, honey. My number changed, it's on there...maybe we can go for coffee in a few days?"
She nodded, pointedly looking away from the purchase he'd just made. "Yeah. I'd like that..." Lee grabbed his bag and started to leave, a shy smile and a wave was all he could muster. At lease, until she nearly shouted "Have fun Dad! I really am glad you're moving on!"
She nearly broke down laughing when he sped up, shouting a quick "I love you, honey! See you later!"
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