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“Should I call down to IT? The call is coming from the building or I would be able to block it.”
“No, it’s okay.” I don’t offer anymore details.
I think about Molly’s words, it is coming from inside the building? Had he gotten the job? No way had someone gotten a job that easily. Unless they had already offered it to him? Part of me wants to ask Molly if she knows who is hiring on the eighth floor.
I can hear the phone ringing and see the blinking light on my phone. How many times is he going to call? I’m not seeing him, tonight or ever again. Molly’s voice gets louder as she insists I’m not here nor am I taking his calls. Good for her, I am impressed at her dedication to this.
I pull out my phone and text Cody, he hadn’t given more info to what the bar emergency was or even checked in. I ask what the emergency was and if he’s doing okay. He doesn’t respond right away and I consider calling, but it isn’t unlikely to not hear from him right away. He is running a bar which takes a lot more work than I had anticipated. Maybe after dinner with my dad tonight I’ll stop by for a drink and see how he’s doing.
Every first Friday of the month my dad and I make it a standing plan to go to dinner. It had started when I was in high school, insistent that we make time for a family dinner at least one night a week. When my mom was still around, she always said it was her favorite time. I think it was my dad’s way of honoring her in that way. So tonight we are going to his favorite steak place in the city, Uncle Jack’s. It isn’t my favorite place, but I have to admit they cook a mean steak.
I dive back into the case notes I am reading and see if I can finish this up a bit quicker. I am the leading attorney on this case so I need to make sure I’m not going to be blindsided by anything in court. I reread through everything twice to make sure I don’t miss anything.
Molly knocks a little while later, letting me know she’s going home for the night. I say goodnight and realize it is later than I thought. I clean off my desk and get ready to go meet my dad. It is a cool day again, so I hadn’t bothered with a jacket. Part of me wishes I had packed a dress for dinner but that’s what I get for being late.
“I almost ordered without you!” my dad jokes as I find him in the back of the restaurant.
It is pretty crowded so I had to make my way to him. He is sitting on the chair side of the table, holding a menu up, his glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose. The restaurant is fancy, not so fancy where I feet underdressed but they have cloth table cloths and servers to cut your steak for you. With both of us dressed for work, we probably look more like a business dinner than a family one.
I kiss his cheek lightly, and slip past him to sit down in the booth. He smiles at me, his age showing in the lines on his face. His hair is light, the sandy brown he’s always had peppered with grays. For pushing sixty, he looked good for his age, although he could retire I am sure he’d work until they push him out. He is where I get my work ethic from.
“Big case,” I say, smiling. Those words I have been on the receiving end of most of my childhood.
“Well, I ordered you a glass of wine. I hope that’s okay?”
“Perfect, I need one after the day I’ve had.” And just as if they heard me, the waiter brings over our glasses of red wine.
We clink glasses and I take a hearty sip. We place our orders and dive into talking about what’s been new with us. My dad talks about work, well as much as he can without sharing too much detail. He asks me about everything, and I decide to tell him about Cody.
I wasn’t necessarily keeping him a secret, but I knew once I told my dad about him, he’d want to meet him and I definitely am not ready for that. Meeting the parents makes itreal. I am happy and content where we are, let’s not rock the boat. But tonight feels different, maybe it i seeing Parker again that has thrown me for a loop.
“That’s great! Where did you guys meet?” He smiles.
“Riley’s girlfriend, Sawyer, and him own the bar Puzzles, so she kind of introduced us.” I leave out the part about Riley punching someone to defend my honor from an asshole at the bar.
“How long have you been seeing each other?” I knew this question was coming.
“Not too long.” I look down at my glass of wine.
“For a lawyer, you’re a terrible liar.” He chuckles.
“About six months now,” I say finally.
“So I get to meet him soon then?” My dad is used to me being private about my dating life.
“Dad…” I groan. I am a grown up, my dad doesn’t need to meet everyone I am dating.
“I see, well when you’re ready to introduce him I’d love to meet him.” I let a breath go, thankful he is letting this go.
I know he means well, but I’m just not ready for that. He has rarely met anyone I've dated. I had always broken things off before it got too serious. Through law school I had someone I hooked up with regularly and sure we weren’t seeing anyone else, but it wasn’t serious. I hadn’t been with anyone serious since well,Parker.
Parker is the last one my dad had met. Even meeting him had taken more than six months of dating, I waited until our one year. Made sure it was serious enough, and even then I was clearly wrong. Parker and I had never truly been as serious as I thought. I pushed away the thoughts. The last thing I needed to do was think about Parker.
“I’m glad you’re seeing someone is all, I worried after Parker maybe you had given up on that,” he says, looking at me solemnly.
“Not at all.” I need to change the subject and fast. “What about you, Dad, you seeing anyone?”
“Good one, I should say I’m impressed at your deflection skills. I taught you well.” He laughs.
