Linger

F O R T Y - F O U R

"I can't believe you actually went over to a guy's house."

"It wasn't the first time."

"At night!"

"I already told you I was babysitting," Alice emphasized. "Did I mention he has a kid? Because he has a kid. Hence the babysitting!"

"That doesn't mean it can't be romantic."

I looked up from my homework, giving Chelsea an odd look.

"Right?" Chelsea asked, turning to me.

"He's a dad, Chelsea," Alice pressed.

"So, what? He's too old? That didn't stop Maddie."

I scoffed before rolling my eyes. "Wowwww. Thanks for that, Chels."

She winced, sucking in a sharp breath. "I totally overstepped there, didn't I?"

I gave her a playful smile. "Just a tiny bit."

"Sorry."

Chelsea, Alice and I were all gathered at Chelsea's. More specifically, her kitchen - our books and notes taking over the counter as we caught up on our homework for the weekend.

"I guess I got a little too excited that you liked someone," she sighed, leaning her elbows against the counter.

"Maybe I do . . ." Alice trailed off with a small smile.

"You do?!" Chelsea's eyes lit up.

I gasped. "Wait, who?"

"Is it the guy you babysit for?"

"No!" Alice laughed. "He's a dad."

"You like a dad?!" Chelsea asked.

"No! The guy I babysit for is a dad."

"That doesn't mean he's off limits."

"Yeah, but he's a dad." Alice shook her head. "He tells dad jokes and does all the other annoying dad things. My own dad is already annoying enough. I don't need to deal with another one." She shuddered, flipping through her book.

Chelsea stared at her. "You did not just say that."

"What? It's true! They're both dads."

"You can't compare a hot dad to your dad."

"I never said he was hot." Alice shook her head.

"Is he?"

"He tells bad dad jokes."

"That doesn't mean he's not hot."

"It makes him not hot!" Alice countered. "There's no such thing as a hot dad."

"Um, hello?" I glanced between my two friends, holding up our homework. "English quiz tomorrow. Can we please get back to studying?"

"We are!" Chelsea nodded. "We're having a debate. It's expanding our vocabulary."

"Debating hot dads?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Fine." Alice sighed before turning to Chelsea. "Chels, would you date a dad?"

Chelsea leaned back in her seat as she thought for a moment. "I mean . . ."

I knitted my eyebrows at her. "I thought you said dating older guys was a bad idea."

"Just because he's a dad doesn't mean he's way older."

"All dads are old," Alice mumbled, sifting through her book.