Dinner at Dad's...

My dad is quirky and a bit strange and I'm only realizing this as we are opening the front door of my childhood home.

"My dad is going to ask us to play board games. Lots of board games. Can we say you have ADHD and can't handle games? Or maybe we can tell him you're blind or or or we can say that board games remind you of your dead grandma so it's just too sad."

Ryder laughs, "you done?"

"Probably not. Just give me a few seconds to think," I say finally opening the door.

"I like board games," Ryder says whispering. But if my dad hears that word he can hear it. It's like a fucking dog whistle. He comes running.

"You like board games?" My dad asks. He looks good in a casual button down shirt and jeans. Sometimes my dad looks like a middle-aged widower. Tonight he seems to have stepped his game up.

"Ryder, right?" My dad asks winking in my direction.

"Yes, Mr. Thomas."

"Please, call me Jim." And that is how the night starts.

My dad made tacos because it's the only thing he knows how to make. I fucking love tacos so I don't mind for a second. Ryder makes himself comfortable with a beer and a full plate and I tell myself not to freak out.

"How do you get your beard to look like that?" My dad asks putting his taco on the plate and staring at Ryder.

He clears his throat, "what do you mean?"

"It looks soft and not ratty like some other hipsters I've seen on the internet."

"Did you really just say hipsters on the internet?" I basically scream, "what the hell sites are you on, Dad?"

He shrugs, "Pinterest. I'm reinventing myself." He gestures towards his clothes, "I'm thinking I want a beard too."

"Addy, you'd know. Is it soft?" My dad asks. My face turns bright red and Ryder chokes on his water. I'm sure my dad is asking innocently but I'm super uncomfortable.

"Oh my God. Please just feel it for yourself," I say hanging my head down and devouring another taco.

I don't actually think Ryder will get up so my dad can touch his beard but he does. My dad nods his head confirming what he assumed.

"I use beard oil," Ryder says returning to his seat, "I have an extra small sample of it. I can bring it by."

I notice then the small beard forming on my dad's face. I assumed it was scruff he forgot to shave but now the clothes and facial hair make sense.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" I ask.

Now it's my dad's turn to feel embarrassed. His face is turning pink before our eyes and I realize how alike we really are.

"Yeah," he squeaks.

"Nice! Tell us all about her," Ryder says seeming genuinely interested in my dad's love life. I feel sick.

Has Mom been gone long enough for my dad to move on? He still wears his wedding ring!

"Her name is Annie. We've been seeing each other for a couple months now," my dad says avoiding eye contact with me.

Wow, I get my avoidance techniques from him too.

"Where did you meet her?" I ask and Ryder gently squeezes my knee under the table.

"At the bakery. She is always there on Sunday mornings too," my dad is answering these questions in a timid voice. Dad picks up my favorite cookies every Sunday before I come for dinner. He is probably unsure if I'm going to explode right here all over the table or not.

"I, uh, actually invited her tonight. We can play board games," my dad smiles. He looks happy and it makes me feel fucking terrible that I'm upset about it.

"Ryder hates board games, Dad." I shrug and glance at Ryder who is shaking his head with a grin.

Somehow I overlooked the table and how it actually had a table cloth on. I assumed it was for Ryder's benefit but it must be for Annie's. My dad glances at the clock and becomes a nervous wreck. He is gathering up our plates and putting out new dessert plates and glasses for "dessert" wine.

"Who made this dessert wine?" I ask, "wine is wine. I'll drink it anytime, any place. I don't care if it's breakfast wine or lunch wine or fucking dog wine. I'll drink it." I ramble.

Ryder looks quickly from my dad to Annie who arrived right in time for my lovely speech. He smiles, "hi, we've heard a lot about you. I'm Ryder and this is Addy." He shakes Annie's hand then I do too.

Thank you for saving the day, Ryder.

"I was kidding," I protest as Ryder takes my wine glass away from me.

"If we're playing team board games I can't have you wasted."

"I hate board games," I mumble laying my head on Ryder's shoulder.

"You love other games though," Ryder smirks. I shake my head and narrow my eyes at him.

"What other kinds of games, Addy?" My dad asks.

"Video games. I love video games," I say before Ryder can mention anything about truth or dare or anything else I don't want my dad to know.

We play a quick game of Scategories and then we all head to the couch with more wine. Ryder and I are pretty tipsy by now and I don't think Dad and Annie are far behind us.

"So how did you two meet?" Annie asks. She is really pretty, dark red hair and green eyes. She looks good with my dad, which makes me only a little sad. I guess this wine and Ryder are doing a good job distracting me.

"At a bar," Ryder answers.

"Then he pretended to be my boyfriend for my ex's wedding," I continue.

My dad's eyes widen as he looks back and forth between the two of us, "that was a lie?" He asks.

"Well, we weren't officially together or anything at that point. We, uhm, had really just met and he agreed to go with me. But now it's real." I can't stop talking. I glance over at Ryder.

He must get my hint because he says, "the wedding was our first date. Graham was bothering Addy so I exaggerated a bit."

My dad smiles, "you two looked like you've been dating for years."

Annie smiles, "you do. That must mean he's the one," she winks and my dad chuckles. And I turn bright red again and Ryder grins. What a mess.

"I think you two are staying here tonight," dad says nodding towards the empty wine bottle between us.

I whisper in Ryder's ear, "ready to have silent sex in my childhood bedroom?"

This time he turns red, "no way, Addison."

I laugh, "just kidding. He's going to make you sleep on the couch. Sneak up later," I kiss him quick and say goodnight to Dad and Annie.

This went better than expected and I don't know how to feel about that.

Just be fucking happy.

I'm trying.