Dream Date: 30.12.2022
Start Date: 01.01.2023
Finish Date: 20.11.2023
Word Count: 5434
Even over the buzzing of the closing roller door he could hear some clattering of pans and plates.
Great, he thought. What mess is he going to make this time?
He walked down the hallway into the kitchen and lounge area. His son skidded into view.
"Great timing, Dad. We're just about ready!"
"Hey, Dad!" A hand popped up from the lounge. Belinda was here. Well, he did see her car on the street.
"Dad, I want you to meet someone."
He didn't even notice there was someone besides Tracey in the kitchen. A girl with her hair tied back. He'd never seen her before.
"Dad, this is Mona, my girlfriend. Mona, this is my dad, Zack."
Zack's eyes quickly darted to Belinda who's eyes were peering over the lounge. Not her? Without letting the pause get too noticeable, he held out his hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too." Mona replied with a smile as she shook it.
Zack moved along to put his work things away. He glanced again at Belinda, who met his gaze and with his eyes, tried to convey, "When did this happen?"
"Bel, plates aren't warm yet, can you clear the table and put the cutlery down, please?"
Her eyes followed Tracey's voice. "Yeah, all good."
With the other two further away, Mona took her chance to whisper to Tracey while they checked over the food and prepared it for plating.
"I still don't get what Belinda's here for if it's all about me meeting your dad."
Tracey batted his hand like he was swatting a fly with a smile. "He's easier to deal with when Bel's around. I think he's got a daughter crush on her or something." He chuckled as he opened the oven to get the warm plates out. "He'll be nicer this way, trust me."
Zack walked back out having nearly finished rolling his shirt sleeve up. There's no way Tracey cooked this food, it smells way too good. He went to the fridge and got himself a beer.
"Anything interesting happen at work, Dad?"
"No." He replied in a flat voice as he continued on into the dining room.
Belinda had the table cleared and cutlery set. Before getting into his seat he noticed on the surface of the display cabinet was a pile of paper crap he knew for certain was Tracey's Uni stuff that he definitely had sprawled all over the table. Never packs his stuff away when he's done.
"Good day at work today?"
Bel's voice distracted him from his current thoughts. He took a breath in a smiled at her.
"Just a normal day." He opened his beer bottle. "Not any issues like beginning of the week. Just nice and smooth." He took a sip and then nodded towards the kitchen. "How long's that been going on?"
"Um... you remember that party we went to about a month ago? They met there and just been hanging out since. The whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing's only been about a week or so."
"You like her?"
She sucked air through gritted teeth. "You know, I've just not had the time to get to know her."
Why did he get the feeling she was holding back a little?
"Dinner time!" announced Tracey. He and Mona came in with plates of food and set them down for them all to eat.
When it was about time to leave, Tracey and Zack walked Belinda out to her car to say goodbye. They waved as she drove away.
"So let me just, figure something out."
Tracey looked at his dad, puzzled.
"You and Bel... nothing's happening with you two?"
Tracey cracked a smile as he knew this was coming. At least he waited for when Mona wasn't around.
"No, Dad. Me and Bel aren't a thing." He started walking back towards the house.
"Alright, you just..." He followed along. "spent a lot of time together over the years."
"Well, maybe some people just work better as friends." Tracey shrugged.
"So... is she with someone that you've just not mentioned?"
He shook his head as he grabbed the door handle. "No, her and her high school boyfriend broke up a little bit into first year. I didn't know him 'cause we didn't start talking 'til end of first semester working on the group project. In the end he was pretty much just being a dick and apparently gave her a lot of shit for taking a gap year. She's not been in a relationship since as far as I know."
They walked inside and Zack locked the door behind them.
Hmm...
Over a month later...
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!
Zack stirred in drowsy frustration that someone was banging on the front door. There's no way the postie would be coming this early. He wasn't even expecting anything.
With half closed eyes, he stumbled out of bed and to the front door. To his surprise, on the other side was Belinda. She looked like she was ready for a workout. She wore leggings with a fish scale design and a baggy muscle shirt. Her hair was in braids and completed the look with a smile as he had opened the door.