Step Dad’s Dating App

“Hey! Why the fuck do you have a dating app on your phone?”

“Excuse me? Language, young lady. People judge you on your language. That wouldn’t be so bad but they will judge me on your language too, you know.”

“Look, I’m sorry. I mean Hey, why the Hell do you have a dating app on your phone?”

“OK. That’s better.”

We both chuckled

Um look…”

There is a silent moment as my step daughter can’t help but grin as she waits for me to respond

“Well your mom and I have this um… understanding. I’m allowed to see other people. But there are rules. No catching feelings, and I can only do it when she’s away. You know how she’s gone sometimes.”

“Ohh aright.”

And I have to be, you know, careful…

I take my eyes off the road and glance over and see that she knows what I mean.

Well, anyway. It was her idea.”

“Really?”

“Yea, but don’t go telling everyone. You know how judgmental people can be. It’s not really any of their business.”

There was a tone of annoyance in my voice as I say that last part.

“The last thing I need is your grandmother giving me more shit about my relationship with your mother. Let alone Chloe’s Grandma.”

“Oh? Well who else knows? Is this a secret?”

Selena’s eyes kind of lit up at the idea of being in on some juicy secret in my life. She seems to like to tease me about things, she likes to try to hold things over my head when she can. It’s not that she’s a bitch or anything, it’s more like a fun game for her. We had developed that kind of relationship in the couple years we’ve known each other where she teased me whenever she got the chance. Frankly, it could come across as a little flirty. She was really outgoing for someone her age. And the shit that would come out of her mouth sometimes, I swear!

“No, just us three. Well a couple friends of mine. I don’t think Chloe knows but she’s borrowed my phone a few times. So maybe she saw it? Who knows? If she did she had the good sense to be too embarrassed to say anything about it. Not like you!”

I make a face at her after I say that. OK sometimes I like to tease her back. She’s a cute girl, and it’s harmless enough. Or so I thought.

Or was I trying to convince myself?

“You seem non plussed”

“Non…?”

“A look of confusion passed over Selena’s face”

“Like, you don’t seem that phased by it.”

“Yea, I was trying to decide how to respond.”

“You, mean aside from giving me a hard time about it. For a change.”

After a moment of silence.

“So how often do you, you know?”

I thought about not answering but it’s not like I’m doing anything wrong, but still.

“Not often. To be honest I feel like I should take advantage of the opportunity more.”

“When is the last time you did it?”

I didn’t answer.

What kind of woman do you usually-

I gave her a look to let her know I thought we should talk about something else.

“Fine” *eyeroll*

We fell into a silence as we rode along for a little while. As we got close to her friend’s house she asked

“So what time are you picking me up?”

“I told you. After 10. I’m going to watch the cup semifinal at my friends house. You’ll be done studying with your friends by then, right?”

“Yea, I’m sure we will be done way before that. So why aren’t you watching the game with Chloe?”

“Chloe wants to watch with her football friends. They’re spending the night at um… I don’t know her team mates first names. The… um, one of the blond ones.”

Gesturing, wave my hand as I say it

“Brit.”

“Uhm, sure.”

By that point we were almost there, I pulled into the driveway and we said our goodbyes and I let Selina out of the car. She was going over to her friend’s house for their Thursday study group. I couldn’t really tell you which one opened the door but when I saw she was safely in I went on to my friends.