"So tell me about you now. Tell me about being the daughter of a man who carries a gun for a job."
"Ha, you mean the fact that I didn’t start dating until I was seventeen and that my boyfriends were thoroughly screened? Yeah, it was a blast," she said humorously.
"Tell me something else that I don't know about the deliciously beautiful Alexandria. Were you a good or terrible student? What do you do for fun?"
"I was a great student, but a bit of a goof-off. I couldn't help myself. I was the class clown. As for fun, I like to have wild monkey sex on my parents’ couch," she said that as straight faced as she could, but I knew it was bullshit, or it better be bullshit. My anger was starting to make its way to the surface. Then she started laughing and shaking her head at me.
“You should see the look on your face. Like you were on the verge of losing it. I was just kidding. It’s not the couch, it’s the garage.”
“Do you think it’s funny? Telling me you like fucking men. I don’t want to think about my wife having sex with anyone but me.”
“I think you are getting a bit ahead of yourself, don’t you think? The whole wife thing.” Again she looked at me like I was crazy, but she hadn’t seen crazy yet. The girl had gotten me obsessed.
“No, I don’t. I know what I want, Alexandria, so get the idea in your mind now and hold on to it because it is going to happen.”
“Wow,” she mouthed it out with slow emphasis.
“Yeah, that’s what it is. Can you handle that?”
“I don’t know,” she said as she stood to pick up our plates.
“Let me.” I picked up the plates, cleared them, and started the washing process.
“Are you trying to convince me to marry you, a supposedly reformed playboy, by doing the dishes?”
“Why? Is it working?” I gave her a smirk.
“No, I was just curious.” No give with this one.
“You know you are being difficult, but that is okay. I can handle difficult. Now come and help me so we can go sit down and talk some more. Or we could make out some more, or I could make you come again,” I whispered in her ear before sneaking a peck on her lips. “I am finding that I have a hard time staying away from your mouth.”
"So enough with being a smart ass. What do you really do for fun?" I asked as I washed the plates.
She took the plates and rinsed them. "I am kind of boring. I hang out with some friends or watch TV, or I go for a run."
"You run around here?"
"Yeah. It is not that big of a deal. This may not be the best neighborhood, but we are not living in the ghetto."
"It is not about that—it is that you are young and beautiful, and it's dangerous. I totally took you for a girl who watches crime shows. Don’t you? You know, women and kids get snatched easy. Tell me you do not wear your headphones."
She gave me a look full of guilt.
"Damn it. I’m going to have to talk to your father about it. Do you go alone?" I was starting to give myself a headache with the ill-placed worry since she was safe and well in front of me.
"Yes, most of the time. Sometimes my mom or dad come with me. I promise I keep the volume down low."
"Well, it doesn't matter anymore. I am here. If you want to run, we can run together, or I can get you a treadmill."
"We have a treadmill. You are just being paranoid," she said frustratingly.
"Look I don’t want anything to happen to you. So just give me a break, will ya?" I said sweetly. Hey, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
"Fine." She started to sulk.
We had just finished the dishes when we heard the front door.
"Alex! I’m home!" her mother called out from the front door. We dried our hands and walked toward her.
"Hi, Mom!"
"Who is this? Please tell me this is the handsome guy that texted you, and not the scum."
"Mom, this is Max McCain. Max, this is my mother, Vanessa Davis."
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Davis. I can see where my Alexandria gets her good looks from." I took her hand and gave it a kiss.
"Uh oh, we have a charmer on our hands, don't we?"
"Yeah, just ignore him. Seriously, Max, don't hit on my mother. Remember my father carries a big gun, and he is even rougher about those who talk to my mother."
"It's okay, babe. I will behave as long as you take a walk with me so I can see this neighborhood you feel so comfortable running in."
"So she told you that she drives me and her father insane with her running by herself?"
"Good. I’m not alone when it comes to this. I am starting to think your parents and I are going to see eye to eye about a lot."