"Graduation is in May, it's March." Mom's voice is even and hard.
"Yes." Dad looks at Steve, and the two of them exchange a smirk. "And I'll be in London in May, so I'm giving it to her now. No big conspiracy, Mar, just convenience."
Ethan strolls around the Yaris. "Nice! I hear these get great mileage too." Oh, Ethan, with his helpful cheerfulness.
Mom ignores him. "You should have asked me first."
"I don't have to ask permission to give my own daughter a gift." There's an edge to Dad's voice.
"Ethan and I were going to give her a car for graduation! A Jeep. And now you've undermined me yet again!" Mom is shouting now, and Steve rolls his eyes at me.
"Please don't fight!" I step between them and turn to Mom. "You guys can get me something else, it's no big deal. Please, Mom, chill out!"
Mom throws her hands up in defeat. "Whatever." Jesus, sometimes she's worse than me!
"And on that note," Steve claps his hands and looks at Dad. "We wanted to take Taryn out for lunch, if that's alright with you, Marissa?"
Mom snorts. "Oh, that youask me about! Yes, fine, whatever. I mean, you don't need my permission or anything!" She gives me a tight smile. "It's a nice car, Taryn. Enjoy it. Just drive carefully."
"Thanks, Mom." I kiss her proffered cheek, and she turns and motions for Ethan to follow her into the house.
Dad shakes his head then looks at me, the bright smile back on his face. "So, lunch. What is your desire, my princess?"
I grin. "Chinese, Dad. Lots and lots of Chinese."
"Mmm, yum!" Steve says.
"Chinese it is," says Dad. He motions to my new car. "You drive."
◆◆◆
Dad won't let me drive over 20 miles per hour to the restaurant. It's beyond embarrassing, but we finally make it to the Bearded Dragon after twenty-five minutes of honking and middle fingers.
Over soup, hot tea, and crab rangoon appetizers, I bring Dad and Steve up to speed on school and sports. And my social life.
"So how is Mr. Tight Pants?" Steve asks. "What was your boyfriends name?"
I burst out laughing. "Well, it's not Mr. Tight Pants! His name is Patrick, and he's fine."
Dad looks at me, his brow furrowed. "Is it just me, or do you not seem as ga-ga over Patrick as you were the last time I saw you?"
I pour myself some more tea and fiddle with the napkin across my lap. "I don't know. He's just...I'm just not that into him anymore, you know?"
"Oh dear." Steve sips his soup. "What seems to be the problem?"
"He's irritating as hell!" I pause as our entree's come and wait for the waitress to leave before going on. "I mean, every single thing the boy does, I just want to scream. He's so immature!"
Dad nods and reaches for the Duck Sauce. "That's a boy for you. I have to tell you, Tar, males, don't reach maturity until at least thirty."
"And sometimes not even then!" Steve adds.
"Surely, there must be someone else you like?" Dad takes a pair of chopsticks out. No forks for him and Steve, they're pros after their time in China.
"Umm, well, there is one guy." I munch on some broccoli, my mind on Ryan.
"Ohhh," Steve raises his eyebrows. "Well, tell us everything!"
"It doesn't matter, though." I wave my hand in the air. "He's already going out with my best friend. So it's hands-off."
"Bummer." Dad expertly picks up a shrimp with his chopsticks and pops it into his mouth.
"Oh, the good ones are always taken, right, Marty?" Steve sighs. "Or gay!" He cracks up loudly, and several diners give us annoyed glances.
"Shut up, Steven," Dad gives his partner a loving glance then turns back to me. "Have you ever considered not having a boyfriend for a while, Tar? You know, just take some time for yourself. You have such a busy schedule anyway. I don't know how you do it."
"But Prom is right around the corner!" I tell him. "I have to go to Prom, Dad. Seriously."
Dad gives me a gentle smile. "Sure, I know you do. But you could always go stag, right? Or with a group of your friends who don't have dates."
"We used to do that!" says Steve. "It was a blast, just a bunch of single girls and me. Great memories!"
"Oh, my God!" I laugh and shake my head. "I don't have any friends who wouldn't have dates, Dad. See, that's the problem. Everyone in my group is hooked up with someone else. Well, except for Jason, but he's Kim's ex and one of the untouchables. There is no one to date except Patrick. "
Dad and Steve are looking at me like I'm speaking gibberish. They exchange glances.
"Honey, I'm worried about you!" Steve refills my teacup. "It sounds like hanging with these kids means you're not allowed to do what you want, to make your own decisions. That's not right, Taryn."
Dad nods. "Exactly. Don't let some teen queen try to order you around. Come on, you're better than that!"
I bite my lip, playing with my food. Dad and Steve can't possibly understand what it's like to be in my shoes. That being under Kim's control is exactly the price I have to pay to be popular, to be a somebody at my school.
"Can we just talk about something else?" I beg, looking up at the two of them finally.
"Of course." Dad looks back at Steve and winks. "We can talk about the cruise."
"Cruise?" I start dismantling my egg roll. I don't eat the gunky stinky insides; I just like the skin.
"Caribbean Queen, here we come!" Steve sing songs.
"Wait, I thought you were going to London?"
Dad nods at me. "Yes, but the cruise is this summer. In June. Eleven nights: Haiti, Aruba, Curacao, Grand Cayman. Sound good?"
I'm impressed. "Yeah, sounds awesome. You guys will have a blast."
"What about you?" Dad is giving me a little smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Would you have a blast?"
My mouth drops. "What? Dad!" I look
