Page 8 of Dad's Cop Buddy

“Well, I didn’t think this would be your first taste of alcohol. At this rate, we should drop the legal age to seventeen. By then, most kids have been drunk a time or two.”

“It’s so weird…” I say without realizing that I’ve said it aloud.

“What is?” he asks.

“That was the first time since we met that you’ve said anything about our age difference.”

He closes the menu and folds his hands on the table. “Does it bother you? The age difference, I mean?”

“No… Well, I don’t know. I guess that depends on what’s going on here.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, are you just being nice to me because you’re friends with my dad or is there something more?” I look down at my feet and hold my breath as I await his reply. I can’t believe I actually said that. Being direct is not exactly my forte. But I need to know. I need to know he’s into me the way I’m into him.

“I don’t make a habit of kissing my old college buddy's daughters if that’s what you’re asking. When we met, I felt very strongly that there could be something between us. That’s why we’re here. I assumed you felt the same way. Why else would you accept my invitation…and my kiss?”

“No, I mean… Yes, I do feel the same way,” I feel my face flush with heat as he reaches under the table and takes my hand.

“Good. Now that we’re on the same page, just relax and enjoy dinner.”

The chicken piccata is just as I remember it, and Kent seems to be enjoying it just as much as me. Two glasses of wine later, I begin to think that there might be a promising future for me with the Chief. He’s handsome, smart, and tough, but when it comes to me, he’s tender. Not in a cautious way, like he’s being deliberate about it. It feels genuine, and for me, that’s a real turn-on.

We complete our meal, and as we’re leaving, I begin to wonder what comes next. Do I invite him in when he drives me home? Is he expecting to have sex with me? My heart flutters as I consider that option. He’s a grown man. I would assume he’s had lots of sexual partners and deciding to have sex with someone isn’t the obtuse, mathematical equation for him that it is for me.

There’s a bar next door to the restaurant, and as we walk toward the SUV, a group of young men spills out into the parking lot with a large bouncer following close behind them. Kent keeps his eye on them as they exchange words, but he continues walking toward the car.

“Hey, Kendal! Is that you? What the fuck are you doing over there?” someone shouts at me and Kent turns just as the group of drunken frat boys approaches us.

“Do you know them?” he asks me. I see his demeanor change in an instant. His stance changes as if he’s preparing for a fight.

“I’m not sure. I can’t really see their faces,” I answer as I strain to make them out.

“Kendal, leave your dad here and come with us. There’s a party at the house tonight. We were here warming up for it,” the guy slurs and Kent closes his fists.

“Which one of you is driving?” Kent steps between the boys and me and asks them. “It doesn’t look like any of you are under the legal limit.”

The guy looks at the SUV. His lips move as he reads the letters on the side.

“You’re the police chief? Kendall, I didn’t know your dad was the law.”

“You don’t know anything about me except that I sit in front of you in chemistry.”

“No, I know we have chemistry,” he says and takes two steps forward, but Kent places his hand on his chest and holds him back.

“What’s the problem, man? I’m just talking to the girl.”

“Kendal, do you want to go with these drunk bitch boys?” Kent asks me.

“Bitch boys?” the guy asks.

“You fucking heard me. Now, shut your mouth before I embarrass you in front of your girlfriends,” Kent snarls, motioning to the other two guys.

“I don’t even know them. Not really,” I tell him.

“You heard the lady. Now, if I were you, I’d walk to the convenience store and get some coffee. You need to sober up before you drive.”

“Man, no wonder she’s such a tight ass,” the guy turns to laugh with his buddies. In an instant, Kent rears his arm back and punches him in the jaw.

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