Murphy
“I have a date tonight.” Lux had barreled inside after spending the afternoon at the pool with her friends, and I could hear the roaring sound of blood pumping throughout my body. A stroke...I think I was having a stroke. I was fully prepared to start panicking before I felt the comforting touch I’d know anywhere.
Odette. My peace.
Surely, she would talk some sense into our daughter. There would beno dating,not while she lived under my roof, and even then, I wasn’t sold on the idea.
“Absolutely not,” I said at the exact same time as my wife asked, “What’s his name?”
She shot me a look of surprise while I couldn’t help but glare at her and her question.Who cares what his name is? She’s not going.
“You’re fourteen,” I stuttered.No way. No fuckin’ way!
“I’m in high school now Dad.”
“Barely,” I said through gritted teeth, still waiting for Odette to back me up. Our girl took after her mother completely, and Iknew she was gorgeous. The thought of her in high school was already a lot for me to take in, but dating? I don’t think my heart could handle this.
“Lux, why don’t you go upstairs, and I’ll talk to your dad, okay?”
“Mom…” She started to argue but Odette gave her a look that I’d been on the receiving end of multiple times—meaning there was absolutely no room for debate.
“Ugh, fine.” She stomped off, and I couldn’t help the look I shot at my wife.
“Don’t give me that look, Murph. At least she told us about it. Would you rather shelied?”
“She wouldn’t do that.”
“She’s fourteen.”
Odette started to giggle, and no matter howstressedI was, her giggling had always been my undoing. I felt my anxiety start to fade into background noise while I found normalcy in handling this situation with the woman who was the love of my life.
“Exactly why she shouldn’t be dating! My god, Odette, I really think you’re trying to kill me. Did you raise my life insurance policy? Is that it? Finally, you’ve had enough of me?” Her giggles turned into full-blown laughter and just continued to ease my worries and fears. “She can’t date, babe... She just can’t. I’m not ready.”
I pulled my wife to me and groaned into her neck, but breathing in her scent helped to calm me further.
“If we tell her no, she’ll just want to do it more.”
“I hate when you’re right.”
“I’m always right. Why don’t we ask if he wants to have dinner here? Okay? That way we can see who this boy is for ourselves.”
The wheels in my head were spinning.Fine,but like hell was I going to make it easy.
I didn’t realize I hadn’t spoken my thoughts out loud until my wife called after me, “Uh, Murph, where ya going?”
“To get a goddamn shotgun, Odette. Where the hell do you think?”
She busted out laughing. “You always surprise me Murph.”
Always.
Chapter 8
August 2027
Odette
“I can’t believe you picked out our daughter's sophomore year homecoming dress without letting me see it.” Murphy huffed and puffed in our bathroom behind me as I was removing my makeup.
