Daddy Issues

51 - Messy

'So how was it with Dan?' Mel asks, clearly a little reluctantly.

'It was fine.'

I focus on cutting the vegetables she cooked me rather than looking her in the eye. I didn't give her a very elaborate response when she texted me the other night to ask how it went, because I know him much she disapproves. But she asked me over for dinner and it's a lot harder to ignore her questions when we're face to face.

The truth is, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. It was a little awkward sometimes. But it was fun, mostly. I wasn't always sure what to say or not to say, but that will probably just take some time to figure out again.

At least I didn't try to kiss him this time. I guess he was right, I am happy that that horrible moment wasn't the last time I ever talked to him. And it wasn't that difficult to just be friendly with him, nothing more. At the end of the night, I thought that it might actually work. We could really be friends.

But of course, I can't deny that it's weird. I've been carefully avoiding Mom ever since I got back from his apartment. Worried she might, I don't know... smell him on me.

'Just fine?' Mel says, pulling a face. 'After everything that happened and after being pissed off at him for so long, seeing him was just... fine.'

'Yeah,' I shrug. 'It was nice. We just watched a movie, talked a little... No big deal.'

'No big deal,' Mel mutters. Then she looks sideways to Luke and gives him an exasperated look. I'm a little annoyed that I can't just talk to Mel alone about this, but well, it's not like there's a point in keeping anything from him. I told him all about it on the first night we met.

'Luke, please help me out,' she tells him. 'Tell her that from a psychology standpoint it is not a good idea to hang out with your mother's ex that you have feelings for, especially when you clearly have daddy issues-'

'Hey!'

Luke clears his throat and puts on a serious face.

'Emma, from a psychology standpoint-'

'I get it, I get it,' I interrupt him. 'But, look... First of all, I don't have feelings for him anymore.'

Mel snorts so loudly, I'm surprised her drink doesn't come up her nose.

'I don't! Well, not like I used to anyway. They'll go away. Eventually.'

'They'll go away if you stay away from him,' she says sharply. 'Like, what are you hoping to get out of this? You know you can never date him, right? It's messed up!'

'I know! I won't. I don't want to get anything out of it. Just, I don't know... friendship. Is that so bad?'

'You've got me!' she tells out. 'What do you need another friend for?'

'And you're the best friend anyone could ever ask for, but I can't always be up your butt, can I? Besides, you've got him now.'

Luke looks up when I wave towards him. Clearly, he's also a little uncomfortable being stuck in the middle of this conversation.

'You're spending an awful lot of time with him now.'

'Sorry?' Luke says, looking over at Mel.

'I always make time for you,' Mel says, a little offended.

'I know,' I say quickly. 'Of course you do, but I mean, I want you to spend time with Luke. I love you guys together. But it might be nice to have someone else to talk to sometimes. I mean, besides you Mel... Dan seems to be the only one that cares.'