Chapter 36 #2
She winces but doesn't back down. "Not about that."
I turn to glare at her, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. She meets my look head-on, completely unfazed. Typical Malia.
"Well," she says after a moment, "You’re going to talk to me like a person, not a kid, okay? Just listen." She exhales sharply, her tone softening. "You’re going to tell me why you’re acting so weird on the trip. But first, I want to talk about who I'm going to prom with."
That throws me. "Okay." I say, unsure where she's going with this. "Devon?"
"Yeah. Devon."
"Well, I figured you'd go with your boyfriend—" I stop mid-sentence, my brain short-circuiting as my words catch up to me.
Wait.
My heart lurches, then starts pounding.
"Oh, God," I blurt. "Shit. Fuck! Are you pregnant?" My voice climbs a little higher than I intend. "I swear, Malia, if Devon—"
"God, no!" Her face flushes crimson, eyes widening in horror. "Devon's my girlfriend, not my boyfriend. I've never even had a boyfriend. I like girls, Dad. That's what I'm trying to tell you."
I blink.
My mind struggles to process her words as the tension dissolves into nothingness.
"Oh," I finally say.
We stare at each other for a long, awkward beat. Neither of us moves.
"Malia," I say finally, letting out an embarrassed laugh. "I’m so sorry, I just assumed…” I pause. “Why didn't you just tell me earlier, instead of letting me look like a dumbass for so long? Is this why you’ve been so mad at me all the time?"
Malia's eyes soften as she processes my words. Then, like a lightbulb flickering on, I suddenly understand why she’s been on my case about Andy. It’s not teasing, or childish curiosity.
It's relief. Relief because she realizes what I have with Andy means I'll understand her coming out to me.
My heart squeezes at the thought.
Why hadn't she told me sooner? Why hadn't she felt safe to come out earlier?
Before I can ask, her eyes fill with tears, and she throws herself into my chest, sobbing. Everything clicks: the way she's never been as boy-crazy as Tina, how she always avoids inviting Devon over for dinner.
I hug her tightly, my chin resting on the top of her head as her tears soak through the fabric of my shirt. My heart fractures at the sound of her muffled sobs.
"Sweetheart, why are you crying?" I ask, my voice gentle against her hair.
"I was so scared to tell you..." she mumbles into my chest, the words muffled by damp cotton.
"Why?"
"I didn't think you'd get it," she says, her voice cracking like thin ice. "I thought you'd be mad or disappointed. Make me break it off, or tell me I'm confused... Some shit like that. You and Mom just seemed so fucking old school, you know?"
"You girls really need to watch your language, Malia," I say, my tone light but pointed.
"I know that you and Andy are an item, Dad."
I blink. "Excuse me?"
"Andy won't tell me either, but it's obvious. And you, asking why I didn't tell you earlier? I don't know why you're not telling me either, old man. You’re just as scared."
I stare at her, utterly speechless, the city lights blurring behind her.
"You're always talking about him, or what he was doing last time you guys were hanging out," she says, her words picking up speed like a train gaining momentum. "You call him every night before bed. And you hang out, like, constantly."
"Its not constant."
"Yes it is! And every time you text him, you get this weird crinkle on the side of your eyes. I thought that's what you were doing when we were buying Tina's dress. You were looking at your phone like you were going to cry. And guess what? I was right. You were looking at his Insta."
"My eyes don't crinkle," I say, even as I feel heat creeping up my neck, betraying me.
"Oh! And the time we all played hockey? Oh God! You two were flirting the entire time. It was so awkward, like me and Tina weren’t even there," she says, laughing now, the sound brighter in the dim room.
"And he was checking you out the whole game! I mean, seriously, Dad. It was so eww. And then you were all lovey, saying goodbye at the car in private and touching his hair. I looked out of the window, Dad. I saw you.”
"There was nothing lovey about any of that," I say quickly, trying to rein her in. "We weren't even together back then."
"And now?" she pushes, her voice dropping to that knowing tone that makes me want to crawl out of my skin. She leans closer, the scent of her jasmine perfume filling the space between us, her eyes boring into mine like she can see every secret I've been trying to hide.
I take a deep breath, the air catching in my throat. "And now..." I begin, my voice rougher than I intended. "And now, he's... he's everything, Malia."
Her face lights up, a brilliant smile breaking through her tears. She throws her arms around me again, and this time, I hug her back without hesitation, letting the truth settle between us like a long-awaited promise finally being kept.
"Finally!" she exclaims, her voice muffled against my shoulder. "God, Dad, you're so slow!"
I laugh, the sound shaky but genuine, relief flooding my chest like a dam breaking. "I'm sorry, baby. I should've told you sooner. I just... I didn't know how. I felt distant from you. I didn't want to upset you or make things weird."
She pulls back, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Too late for that. You're already weird. But it's fine. I've known for a while. And I love him, by the way. He's a total dork, but in a good way. Like you. You’re good for each other."
I shake my head, smiling despite myself. "You're ridiculous. And smart. Too smart for your own good."
She grins, her confidence radiating like the city lights beyond the window. "I get it from you, old man. So... when are you going to tell Tina? She's clueless. But she's going to love Andy too, I swear."
I sigh, rubbing my forehead. "Soon. Let me figure out how to bring it up without causing a scene."
Malia stands, stretching her arms above her head, the hotel robe fluttering slightly with the movement. "Good luck with that. She's still pissed off about the dress situation. Anyway, I'm going to bed. But… don't think this means I'll stop giving you a hard time."
I raise an eyebrow. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
She pauses at the doorway to her room, turning back to face me with a soft smile. "Night, Dad. Love you."
"Love you too, Malia. More than you know."
She disappears into her room, closing the door quietly behind her, and I let out a long breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. The whiskey on the coffee table sits untouched, forgotten, as I lean back against the couch, the tension finally draining from my body.
My phone buzzes, the screen lighting up with Andy's name. I grab it, the weight of the day slipping away as I answer.
"Hey," he says, his voice warm and familiar, the perfect balm to my frayed nerves. "Did you talk to Malia?"
"Yeah," I say, a smile tugging at my lips. "She knows about us."
Andy laughs softly. "She told me she figured it out weeks ago. She's been waiting for you to tell her. She told me she’d get an answer out of you today..."
"Of course she did," I mutter, shaking my head. "She's relentless."
"I love her," Andy says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
"Me too," I admit, staring out at the skyline. "I love you too, by the way."
"I know," he says, and the way he says it, like it's the most natural thing in the world, makes my chest feel full. "I love you too."
I close my eyes, leaning my head back against the couch as the city lights blur beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. "I miss you," I whisper, the words barely audible in the quiet suite.
"I'll see you after you get home tomorrow night," he says softly, his voice a warm current across the miles. "Oh, and one more thing before I let you go."
"What's that?" I ask, already anticipating his usual playful teasing.
There's a pause, just long enough for me to sit up straighter, the whiskey glass forgotten as my heart begins to hammer against my ribs.
"I found out who broke into my apartment."