"Careful!"
"Am I too close to the car next to us Daddy?" Sable McKellen moved her eyes from one mirror to the next in her desired perfection. She wanted to impress her Father even though he was barely aware with a hellish hangover at the moment.
Window rolled down in anticipation of yelling stop he realized his daughter's skills were pretty accurate overall, "As long as I can get my door open. I just don't want you gunning the vehicle and crashing through the dentist's office."
"I didn't have to park right up front. You told me too."
"Just ease to the front curb and put it in park."
"I know how to drive Daddy, you just never let us. I've had my license for a year now. Geez! Piper never panicked like you're doing when she let Dakota and I drive home from school earlier this week."
"Piper let you drive?' Henry winced with disbelief, "Why am I just now learning this?"
"Because you might have kept us from driving her car again."
Henry McKellen still reeling from his whiskey hangover didn't want to argue, "This is good. Put it in park and shut off the engine. Good job by the way."
"So can I have a car for my birthday?"
"Bus pass is cheaper."
"Noooo! I'll even get a part time job if I have to, insurance and stuff." She appealed to his financial wisdom. It wasn't working!
"No. I've told both of you I want you to finish high school first. Let me and your Mother go over finances more. If not for your birthdays I'll aim for Graduation...from college."
"Daaaaadddddyyy!" She swatted him on the arm pouting.
"I'm joking! Look just take one thing at a time, for now just go get those cheese graters taken off."
"But you love my cheesy grin."
"I love you. Now go. Tell them you're on my insurance card if they ask. I need to sit here with my coffee and get my brain functional. Tell your Dentist Duncan I said hi. Oh! And, his assistant Marie...tell her hubba hubba."
"Whatever! I'm not flirting with Marie for you. She's not that much older than we are. I will tell Duncan hubba hubba though."
"Too old for you. He's about 35."
"He's still cute for his age."
Shaking his head at her sudden appeal toward men he growled, "You're sounding more and more like your sister. GO ALREADY!" Compliment indeed! It did make her mind wander.
"I'm nervous."
"Why? It's going to be a huge improvement. I won't be able to tell you and Kota apart."
"You didn't earlier and I had my braces still."
"As if I could tell you had braces from behind. You wore the same damned clothes and you were in her bedroom. Look I'm sorry I snuck up on you like I did. That was wrong and I'm ashamed of myself. I should have gotten dressed first."
"Daddy?" She pouts at him, "You don't need to apologize. I'm way old enough to not let things like that bother me."
"I was fucking naked. It SHOULD bother you."
"It didn't. All I'm saying." She offered a sheepish grin, "Besides, if Dakota can see you so can I."
"Ohhhh God! I should have brought my bottle of Scotch." He looks from side to side for a sense of direction, "I think there's a liquor store close by."
"You never drink so much Daddy. Is it...because of us? Mom playing around?" She knew she still had ten minutes before having to check in. She just felt like getting to the root of the cause.
"I'm over what your Mom is doing and no, It's not due to you two either. I just needed to blow off steam."
"Like you did going over to Piper's last night?" She feared mentioning his spying on Kelly Herbert knowing too much too soon would result in his losing his temper.
"You knew I was at Piper's?"
"Yes. I saw you through Trav's telescope. Sorry Daddy."
"Great! You watched me have sex with Piper. If you two get married you'll be Sable Perbert."
"DADDY!" She slapped his arm with a pout. "I only spyed for a few minutes. You were...interesting to watch."
"I swear I'm going to put curtains up over Piper's windows whether she approves or not."
"I even heard her screaming when I walked home from the Herbert's."
"Will you go to your goddamned appointment already? How about we get you a tattoo saying Sable on your wrist so I can tell you two apart after we're done here."
"I don't like tattoos. Mom would be mad."
"Ugggh! GO!"
"Fine! Wish me luck Daddy."
"Good luck Nosey Rosy. I'll be here sobering up. Don't slam the car door."
"Okay! No more alcohol." She points threateningly.
"Yep."
Going inside she halted in the opened doorway and pointed at him one last time to make sure he listened to her advice. Henry merely toasted her with his coffee cup then sat it in a cup holder as he eased his power seat back for a more relaxed angle. He needed a nap. Shades down, eyes closed he was out like a light.
********
Horton-Dexter High School...just before first bell.
Walking together Angus Furlong and Dakota McKellen chatted on their way to her locker. "Did you get jealous of your friends messing with my butt zipper?" She had to know.
"I wouldn't say jealous. I'm just looking out for you. The guys get a little carried away sometimes is all."
"So do you." She giggled.
"What me?" He grinned, "Can I say something without you thinking bad of me?"
"Sure." She reached her locker and began turning her combination right, left, then right one last time until it clicked open. "I'm listening."
"You did that fast." He eyed how quickly her lock was tumbled open.
"What? I know my combination by heart."
"I still take three times to get mine right."
"My combination is easy. It's Ate Up." She giggles, "Number 8 for Ate...the U in up is the number 21 in the alphabet...the P is letter 16. Soooo 8-21-16. I think it's funny."
"It is actually." He laughed, "Now I can sneak into your locker and leave love notes."
"Awww! You don't love me yet. But, you can leave me snacks. I like Cool Ranch Doritos. What were you going to say?"
"That I can't blame my boys...you have a nice ass. I looked when I zipped you up. Sorry."
"That's 8-21-16." She dropped her jaw. "I can't believe you?"
"Huh?" Flew right over his head, "Ohhhh! That's Ate up! Gotcha! You're hilarious. No, I mean it, you have a perfect body. Gonna shut up now before I start kissing you again."
"Did you think I kissed you to make Mace jealous?"
"Naaa! If you like him more I guess I'm cool."
"Really? I do kind of think he's hot."
"He's a dead man." Angus riled up then relaxed, "Just kidding! You kissed me pretty convincingly. I think you're a good kisser."
"I've been practicing." She giggled switching books in her back to accommodate her next two classes. No need for him to know her lessons involved her Father.
"On that Mace guy?"
"You do know he's Counsellor Cherry's nephew right?"
"Only reason I'm not whupping his ass." That was partially true. He didn't want to risk the fun he was having in Detention. He was doing his best to seem neutral, truthfully he was jealous as hell just good at covering his tracks. "So, if not him who you been practicing with?"
"Paper boy." She razzed him, "We get free newspapers if I make out with him ten minutes each day."
"Uh huh! Tell me." He took her by the hand and studied her expression. She definitely liked his sincere approach, although nosey. No way was she going to admit her Dad was coaching her.
"A peach. No lie!" It was! "Messy but effective once the pit is removed."
"No shit? That's how I learned to eat pussy."