Dinner with Dad Part Two
1181 Words
Webb
I am fighting back serious laughter watching Sofie and her dad at our table.
Colby answers him “I do. Her name is Ava and she’s a journalism major. She writes for the school paper.”
I just shake my head no hoping he doesn’t ask me anything more specific.
“You’re Sofie’s writing partner, guess you’ve discovered she’s not the best at essays.”
“Yeah he knows Dad. Why our professor stuck him with me. He’s much better at it than I will ever be.” Sofie says dryly.
“Are you always like this with people Sofie? No wonder you haven’t been on a date in six…”
She cuts him off “Dad if you finish that sentence I am leaving.” Her voice is firm and she looks angry now. No more playful anything in her face.
He nods slowly “Sorry sweetpea. I rarely see you interact with anyone other than Delaney. Didn’t realize you are so dry with them.”
“It’s ok Dad. Sorry I overreacted.” She looks down at her hands which I see are twisted together to stop them from shaking.
I clear my throat hoping to save her from the embarrassment that appears to be consuming her. “She’s not going to be a NY Times top ten author this year but her writing is funny and witty. I enjoy reading it.” I go on to tell him how we are writing our current essay and he looks at her proudly.
“She’s always been very smart.”
“You can tell.” I add quietly and feel her look at me.
“But she doesn’t suffer stupidity well.” Arthur says dryly now eyeing her.
“It’s really entertaining when she doesn’t. I think we all enjoy her creative nicknames for people.” I say with a laugh. Colby joins in shaking his head in agreement.
“What are you talking about?” Sofie asks surprised.
“Creepy Casanova.” I tell her with a smile. Her eyes widen as her cheeks turn red.
“Oh yeah…maybe I should learn to keep that kind of thing to myself.” Her dad excuses himself to the restroom.
“No way! I laughed all week when I saw him at practice thinking of that. Got anymore?” I ask her.
“You laughed? I might call his friends Baylor’s Bumblebutts.” I let out a laugh and Colby dissolves in giggles. She points at him “You are giggling Jello Jiggler.”
“And that is how I will see them from now on.” Colby declares with tears leaking from his eyes.
“That’s awesome. Anymore?” I ask her with a smile. She looks sheepish but meets my eyes.
“Mila’s Magpies. I hope you two aren’t going to run to the locker room and sell me out.”
“Never ever, ever Peppermint.” Colby promises her.
Dad comes back “What is so funny? More Sofie nicknames?”
“Classroom commentary.” I tell him to save her.
“Who wants dessert?” He asks brightly.
Colby and I planned to order milkshakes already and tell him that. “Sofie?” He asks her.
“I’ll get one. I can always freeze it when I can’t finish it.” I look down at her. She seems so tiny sitting next to me.
Arthur orders pie and we all get a chocolate shake. When the waitress comes back with our bill, he pays for all of us. Colby and I protest but he holds a hand up. “We interrupted your peaceful dinner since you kindly let us sit with you. And I never get to see Sofie with any friends other than Delaney. The pleasure is all mine to treat you to dinner.”
We thank him and all get up to leave when he finishes his pie. He shakes our hands again before we leave. I watch as Sofie stares at the ground while he tells us goodbye.
Colby loses it as soon as we get in my truck. “That was the funniest dinner I’ve been to in a while.”
“I wonder if she’s giving her dad a piece of her mind right now. I think she died of embarrassment probably five times tonight.” I laugh remembering her faces at different times.
Colby “my absolute favorite was him telling her to go to a party but then amending how she could go. I wonder what it’s like when her brother’s around.”
“She knew your football stats well.” I muse thoughtfully.
“She’s got them all down. Rattled Clint’s off the other day too. There’s some kind of disconnect there.” Colby is right.
As we walk into our apartment, we hear Clint and Delaney talking. He’s asking her about her parents and she’s talking animatedly. They hear us and Clint calls out “How was the diner?”
“Great. We had dinner with Sofie and her dad.” Colby says as we enter the kitchen area where they sit.
“Mr. Arthur was here? Aw man, I missed him. He’s great.” Delaney says with a fond smile.
“I don’t think Sofie believes that at the moment.” Colby says with glee.
“Did he embarrass her? He has no shame where Sofie is concerned.”
“Oh yeah. He told her to go to a party but no drugs or drinking and not to wear anything too revealing.” I laugh remembering her face again.
“She’s going to kill him.” Delaney giggles. She looks at the clock and says “I should get home. I have calculus homework to finish.”
“I’ll uh walk you to your car.” Clint offers. Colby eyes him hard and makes a rolling motion with his hand. Clint rolls his eyes and nods.
I give Colby a questioning look after they leave. “He’s going to ask her out.” He grins.
“Finally!” I say with feeling.
Clint comes back in ten minutes later and we wait for him on the couch. “Coming to play the game?” Colby asks him.
“Sure let me put my crap away.”
“She say yes?” Colby doesn’t beat around the bush.
“So subtle Colby.” He mutters as he sits down with us.
“And that means yes or no…” I ask.
“She said yes….” He smiles a little and Colby claps him on the back. “Now was that so hard?” He needles him.
“Yes it was. I was sweating bullets. You have no idea. Ava asked you out first.” Clint frowns at him.
“Can’t help I’m irresistible.” Colby grins.
Clint “Now we just need to set Webb up with a girl and we can group date.”
I frown at that. “Sure because I’m going to be able to ask one out on a real date.”
- Writer
