Page 60 of Clueless
I couldn’t talk about this anymore without losing it.“Codie, I gotta hit the shower.I’ve got a rehearsal in a bit.”
“Sure.”She hesitated.“I think you’re a great guy?—”
“Just not the right guy for your sister.”
“Hey, I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”I heard her message, loud and clear.
I was getting out of the shower when my phone rang again.I thought about it ignoring it, but when I saw Quinn’s name flash across the screen, my heart started to race.
“Hey, Quinn.What’s up?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you have a girlfriend?”
“Uh, it never came up.You asked me if I was married, and I told you I’m not.”I didn’t need to ask how she knew about my girlfriend.Grace was featured in my profile pics.I wouldn’t have done that if we were casual.
“But you do have a girlfriend… and you never thought to mention it?”
I stared at the haunted expression on my face in the mirror.I shouldn’t feel this way talking to my own daughter.Maybe Codie was right.I did need help.
“We had one brief conversation.I didn’t have time to tell you much about my life or ask about yours.But I’m an open book, anything you want to know?—”
“Do you love her?”
There was an edge to her voice that told me she wasn’t going to like the answer, but I could never lie to her.“Yeah, I do.”
“See, that’s a problem.”
“Why?”
“Because I grew up with more uncles than I can count.Mama always had a new boyfriend.And I’m not going through that crap with you.How long have you been with this chick anyway?”
My heart ached for all she’d been through.And the anger lacing every word told me she was still going through it.I couldn’t help feeling it was my fault.If I’d been there for her…
“Well?How long?”
“Uh, not long.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.Here’s the deal, Taz.If you want to have a relationship with me, get to know me, I’m open to that, but not if there’s a girlfriend in the picture.”
“What?Why would my relationship with Grace have any impact on my relationship with you?”
“Gimme a break.I know how this goes, okay.If the girlfriend hates me, you want nothing to do with me.And I’m not putting myself out there just to get rejected by some stuck-up bitch who thinks she owns you.”
I closed my eyes, trying to process what this ultimatum meant.Either way, I was going to lose someone I loved.“First of all, Grace is not a bitch.She’s a sweetheart, and I think you’d really like her if you give her a chance.”
“I’m barely willing to give you a chance, never mind your gold-digging girlfriend.”
I would have unleashed on anyone else by now, but I couldn’t afford to blow my one shot at having a relationship with my daughter.If I did, I’d never forgive myself.
“Grace is not a gold-digger.She’s a professional?—”
“I don’t care.I don’t want to know anything about her.Look, it’s simple.If you want to have a relationship with me, you dump her.”
I was stunned.I never imagined Quinn would give me an ultimatum.How the hell could I let Grace go now?But how could I prioritize my relationship with her above getting to know my daughter?
“Why don’t we think about getting some professional help to figure this thing out?I get that you’re pissed at me, and you have every right to hate me.But I love you?—”
