Can we camp out tonight?

"This is delicious, Seth, thanks so much!" Charissa beamed.

"I'm glad you like it," I said, savoring a bite myself. I'm not too bad a cook, to be honest, and it's nice to have another adult to appreciate my talents.

It seemed like Charissa had recovered from her shock at being surprised by me twice, not to mention our unexpected encounter at my shower. She was laughing and joking with the kids, who were plainly delighted to have such a cheery grownup at hand.

After dinner, Charissa offered to clean up. The kids wanted popsicles, so I stayed with them at the table while she started the dishes in the kitchen.

"Dad," my son said, making furtive eye contact with his younger sister.

"Yes, Pete?" I asked with a smile.

"We have a question."

"Go ahead," I said.

"We are having soooooo much fun this summer, and we never want it to end!"

"That's not a question," I said.

"I know, I'm getting to it! We wanted to know if we could have a little campout in the back yard."

Before I had a chance to even think about this unusual request, my daughter chimed in. "Pleeeeeease, Daddy? It would be so fun!"

"A campout?" I asked, trying to buy some time to think.

"Yeah, it'll be great!" Pete said. "We'll pitch the tent and roast marshmallows on the fire pit and tell stories and sleep in sleeping bags."

"Pleeeeeeease!" Stacy said again. "It would be so fun!"

I laughed. I hate mosquitos, I love my bed, and I was looking forward to watching TV ... maybe with Charissa? ... tonight. But who can resist these little cuties?

"OK," I said. I hadn't broken out our tent since I'd split up with my ex, but I was pretty sure I knew where it was. I remember it being big enough for the four of us a few years ago, and even though the kids had grown, there'd be plenty space for us three now. "I guess Charissa will have the house to herself tonight."

"Nooooo!" Stacy cried. And before I could stop her, she had bolted into the kitchen. "Charissa!" I heard her call. "We're having a campout in the back yard tonight!"

"Oh really?" Charissa said with a smile you could hear from the next room.

"Yes, Daddy said it was OK and you have to camp out with us! Pleeeeeease?"

"I haven't been camping since I was in Girl Scouts," Charissa said.

"That's OK, I'll teach you everything you need to know!" Stacy stated confidently. "And you can teach me some more Girl Scout songs!"

"Well, it's OK with me if it's OK with your dad," she said. Two seconds later, Stacy was stampeding back into the dining room.

As if I hadn't heard the entire conversation, Stacy reported, "Charissa said she's going to sleep in the tent with us tonight! Thanks, Daddy! I'm so excited!"

"Yeah, thanks, Dad!" Pete said.

I didn't know what I'd gotten myself into. But there could be worse places to spend the night than snuggled up next to a horny 22-year-old.