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Sixteen

When Channing said she didn’t want the weekend to end, I wasn’t sure what to do with that. It was amazing, every single thing about it, but we both knew it was just a dirty weekend. The thing is, dropping her off just now, it hit me in the gut more than I want to admit. Having her there with me like that, it was better than even my wildest dreams. But the triplets are on the way home and after the last time she was there and they interrupted us, I think for now it’s best we just keep things separate.

I’m not even halfway home when my phone rings loudly through the in-car system.

“Kalon. Hello.”

“Hi, Mr. Ward.”

“Yes, this is Kalon Ward.”

“Hi, this is Jim from the 9 on Hudson HOA team, is this a convenient time?” It’s six in the evening on a Sunday.

“Sure, how can I help?”

“Sir, I had a few complaints from residents this weekend. That you, and your, umm, lady friend were upsetting people at the pool.”

“There was no one at the pool when we were there.”

“Yes, but sir, they’re saying you were — acting inappropriately. The lady from 8B says she could see you having se— Sir, please don’t make me say it. I just had to call and say please don’t do that in the pool. Other residents use the pool too.” I’ll bet they piss in it, not fuck in it.

“I think the lady at 8B needs new binoculars, because that’s not what we were doing. But, thanks for the call. I appreciate you doing your job so well.” People are so bored, they have to spy on me for entertainment. How sad must their lives be.

“No problem, Mr. Ward, I’m sorry. You know if I didn’t call, I would get in trouble.”

“Jim, I understand you have to deal with the desperate housewives club. It’s not your fault.” I’m irritated by the call, but taking it out on him won’t help. By the time I park and get upstairs, the kids are home, I hear all about the weekend’s polo, and who was doing what. Tala has ambushed me with her boyfriend coming to dinner. I am overwhelmed, I was sorting through the emotions I had when dropping Channing off, and now I have to switch back to dad-mode. I had planned to call her when I got home, to talk about what she said. It’ll have to wait until later. The boys seem to be doing a good enough job of interrogating and victimizing the poor guy, so I go easy on him for now.

“He’s not staying over,” I say to Tala as we unpack the dinner they’ve ordered in.

“Like you can talk,” she says, and I wait for the rest of that bomb to drop. “Every single mother there this weekend was talking about you and Channing, and most of the dads too.” She looks very unhappy for someone who a week ago was pushing me to pursue this. “You know what isn’t great to see in a group chat?”

“What, Tala?” I’m getting annoyed with her attitude right now.

“Let me show you.” She pulls her phone out, scrolls, and flips it so I can see a very revealing photo of me and Channing in the pool. No doubt from Mrs. 8B. “You have no idea how embarrassing that is. You could have been discreet, Dad.”

“You, and everyone else, should be minding their own fucking business.” I’m now just downright angry. “And your boyfriend isn’t staying in my house.”

“Fine, I’ll go stay at his parents’ house,” she snaps at me, taking the food to the table outside on the balcony. “For someone who didn’t want to date, you sure are making a very big show of your much younger girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend, Tala. And do I have to remind you that this was your fucking idea. You and your brothers started this shit. I can’t help it, I actually like her.”

“You could have picked someone older, someone more appropriate, Dad!” Oh, this has their mother written all over it. “What about our reputation?”

“My reputation is none of your concern and what, please tell me, is my enjoying time with a classy, young fashion designer, from the right side of town going to do to it?” I want to know where this sudden protest is coming from. The boys all stay silent just watching our exchange with wide eyes. I might as well address the lot of them, because in a few weeks they’re ‘adults’ and then I can’t tell them what to do any longer. “For the record, since we are all here at the table together, this subject is no longer up for discussion. Channing and I are none of your or anybody else's business. If we are here, you can make yourselves scarce. If you get gossip in your little chat-boxes or whatever, you delete them and shut it down.” Lycan and Emily glance at each other, and Richard, Tala’s boyfriend, doesn't quite know where to look. Fallon just looks at me with a smile on his face — Fallon couldn’t give a shit about reputation or anything else in life. He’s my son, and I wish so much I had held onto that carefree attitude.

“Go, Dad,” Fallon says and tucks into his dinner. Tala’s cheeks are red with unspoken anger, as she sits beside the boy that thinks he’s good enough for her — he’s not. One look and I can tell, he’s bad news. I’ll have my chance to have at him — tonight isn’t it though.

Tala leaves with him, and I don’t fight. I let her go; I have to let her make mistakes or she won’t learn in life. The boys are playing some shit on their game station, so I go to my study. Normally I’d scroll the internet for stamps, but tonight my mind isn’t on that. It’s on Channing, and why I am feeling things we both agreed we wouldn’t.

When the house is silent, I put my phone on charge and go to my bed, which still smells like her. I miss the warmth of her next to me as soon as I lie down.

Shit.

I am in trouble.

This isn’t what she wants. It’s not what I want either.

Maybe I need to slow my roll and think about this.