Page 34 of British Daddy to Go

Maggie

“Okay, tell me all about it!” Jenna says. We’re sitting on her bed with a tub of ice cream between us and a romantic movie on her small TV.

I take a big bite of the brownie batter ice cream and swallow slowly. “It was amazing, Jenna. The best night of my life.”

“I need more than that! For once, let me live vicariously through you.”

We both giggle. “He picked me up outside of my apartment, opened the door for me, asked me about my interests, and let me order my own food. We even kissed a lot outside the restaurant; the poor valet had to break us up.”

Jenna squeals. “How scandalous!”

“It was! He was so nice, though, Jenna. We were kissing and touching in the back of the limo. I think we both wanted to go all the way, but I stopped him because Mom and Dad could have walked out at any minute. He was totally okay with stopping. That made me love him even more.”

My friend stops with her spoon halfway between the ice cream and her mouth. “What did you say?”

“Nothing,” I reply quickly.

“You said love! You think you love him?”

I flop backwards on Jenna’s bed. “I don’t know. I think I could love him. He’s just so amazing!”

“I believe you. Just be careful, you know? This is your first boyfriend, and I don’t want you to get hurt because you fall too far too fast.”

Jenna has a point. I couldn’t possibly know what love is so quickly. I just know it feels a lot like what I think love should be.

“I know. I’ll be extra careful with my heart. And when you meet him tomorrow, you can advise me how to continue.”

She nods. “I can’t believe you’re forcing me on a double date tomorrow night. Has Sean texted you the details?”

“He said he’d pick both of us, plus your date, up here and take us to a restaurant in the city.”

I scoop up another spoonful of ice cream and savor the melty goodness. Jenna and I used to do this in her bedroom all through high school. We usually lamented over Jenna’s bad breakups or my parents’ overprotectiveness. This is the first time I’ve had a guy to talk about.

Add that to my list of firsts.

“My guy is not going to be as good as your guy,” Jenna complains. “His name is Jeff, and he works at the firm with me.”

“Not a future prospect?”

She shakes her head. “You only gave me a few days to come up with someone; he was all I had. He was more than happy to agree, of course. Who wouldn’t be?”

We both laugh, though she’s not really joking. Jenna is skinny and gorgeous. She always has a long line of guys waiting for the opportunity to date her.

“How old is Jeff?” I ask.

“He’s twenty-six or twenty-seven, why?”

I bite my lip. Yesterday after church, I was mad at my parents and wanted to talk to someone, so I’d texted Sean. One thing led to another, and I’d finally gotten up the courage to ask him how old he is.

“Sean is forty-five,” I tell Jenna quietly.

Her eyes widen. “Say that again?”

“He’s forty-five, okay!” I flip over and bury my head in Jenna’s throw pillow.

“I knew he was older, but I didn’t realize he was that much older. He could be your father, Maggie!”

“I know, I know. I’m such an idiot, right?”