These Awkward Moments

Chapter 10 Courting

The next day
Daryl's POV
Shit, I didn't have no idea how to "date" a woman. I didn't know how to do it before, and I sure as hell didn't know how to now. I did know that I couldn't just have a few drinks in a bar with Delilah then take her home, fuck her, and leave. I knew without a doubt that if Merle were still around he'd be telling me how I should just fuck her and be done with it, and that feelings were for pussies.

Who was I supposed ta ask about shit like this? I couldn't talk ta Rick about it. He and Michonne were best friends for the longest time before they hooked up one night and changed their relationship. It wasn't like he courted her and took her on dates with romantic candlelit dinners.

It dawned on me at some point that I was gonna need ta speak with her brother. Her daddy wasn't around no more ta ask permission. It sounded kinda stupid, cuz I knew she was a grown ass woman, but I really wanted ta do this right. And since Roe was single, and was closer to Delilah than anyone else, maybe he could clue me in.

I knew that she'd be at the infirmary today, and Roe's watch shift didn't start till noon. This morning was prolly as good a time as any, so I headed to their house. I knocked on the door before I could lose my nerve.

Roe's massive frame filled the doorway. "Dixon. What's up?" 

I nodded. "Hey Roe, just wondered if I could talk to ya for a few."

He invited me in. "Have a seat. I'll getcha a cup a coffee." 

I sat on the sofa and took the cup he handed me. He sat in the easy chair and waited for me to start.

"So, I'm not real good at this sorta thing... I'm not real sure where... how... Aw hell!" Roe smirked, not making it any easier on me. "Look. I wanna court your sister. I dunno what else ta call it since there ain't really such a thing as datin' anymore."

Roe scowled. "Dixon, is this your redneck way of sayin' ya wanna ball my baby sister?"

I shook my head "No! Hell no! I mean not until we get to know... Shit! What I mean is, I like her a lot, and I wanna spend time with her and get ta know her. If that eventually leads to a relationship of some kind will depend mostly on her." 

Roe guffawed. "I'm just bustin' yer balls a little." He slapped my knee. "Shit. Lila's a grown woman. She's been makin' her own bad relationship choices for the last 20 some years. I ain't about ta start tryin' ta tell her who she can and can't sleep with at this point!"

I raised my eyebrows doubtfully, "She can't have been making choices for too many years at her age. That's another thing that bothers me. Have you given any thought to the age difference? I mean, I must be almost old enough to be Delilah's daddy."

Roe grinned, "I don't think you're that old Dixon... unless you're just incredibly well preserved for a 58 year old man."

I snickered "Nah man, I'm an incredibly not well preserved, beat up guy... and I guess I'm about 47 or so now?"

Roe nodded, "And how old do ya think my sister is?"

I shrugged, "Mmmm, maybe 26 or 27?"

Roe chuckled, "Oh you're gonna score some points with her on that one! She's about 38 now I reckon."

My eyebrows rose in surprise, "Wow! No way!"

Roe nodded, "Yup. I means it's sort of hard keepin' track of dates and stuff now, but she's two years younger than I am and we've passed two winters since this all started... so that's about right."

I breathed a sigh of relief, "Well thank God I don't gotta feel like such an old creeper now."

Roe threw his head back and laughed. "Nah man, believe me, she's had years of experience in choosing loser boyfriends up ta now."