It Started As A Dare

Following The General Rules

I walk in the front door, throwing my backpack and shoes on the floor.

"Devyn?"

"Yeah?"

My dad comes out from the kitchen, phone securely in his hand.

"Do you want anything specific for dinner? I'm getting take-out."

"Um, anything sounds good to me."

He nods, dialing a number. He puts the phone to his ear, walking back into the kitchen. Even though I don't see him often, I'm not the kind of person who gets all emotional and excited over the return of a loved one. I don't really care. I mean, I love my dad, but I'm not a little kid anymore. Returning from a business trip isn't as special anymore.

"I'm attending dinner with a few of my colleagues tomorrow. You are more than welcome to join."

"I'm actually tutoring a kid in my psychology class tomorrow."

He holds up a finger, signaling the restaurant finally picked up their phone. I hop up onto the counter while he speaks. I pull out my phone, scrolling mindlessly through Snapchat. I send my daily streaks as my father hangs up the phone.

"Where are you tutoring this kid?"

"At his house."

His eyebrows raise. I knew the fact that I'm tutoring a boy would send red flags.

"Will his parents be home?"

"Yes, Dad."

"Remember my rules. No inside bedrooms and no behind closed doors."

Just to poke fun at his rules and be the sarcastic teenage girl I am, I throw a comment at him.

"I'll make sure to tell his parents to leave their front door open."

"You know what I mean, Devyn."

"I know, Dad. I'm sure his parents will have the same general rules."

His face seems to relax a little.

"Food will be here within the hour."

I hop of the counter as he turns to the fridge, probably to get a beer.

"Just letting you know, I don't like this boy. He's just a kid I'm tutoring."

He grabs a beer, as predicted, before standing straight and looking at me.

"That's what I told my parents when I met your mother. 'It's just assisting her with her car. She wants me to show her how to do the basic repairs, nothing more'. See where that got me?"

I don't know if he is trying to throw shade, or if it's accidental. He could either be saying that they got married and had me, or that they ended up divorced and now he is stuck with me. Either way, I don't really care.

"I'm going to catch up on a book for English."