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Lily paced in her room while on her cell.
”You would think all eye contact is good; yeah, brief bursts.”
”Lily, it will be fine; parents love me.”
”Yes, straight soccer moms, my papa was literally banned for one season of my cheer competition because my spotter's hand slipped and he came tearing into the mat.”
”Ok, well, Jarod’s dads love me, and they are gay.”
”Ok, but his dads are not my dads. My dads are not the fun gay dads who watch drag race with you. My dads are heavily tattooed and spent time together as con weed and security dads. And yes, my daddy is Mr. Yoga, a blogging celeb, but papa, yeah, just let’s plan an intro and get out the door.”
” Lily I really think you are working yourself up for no reason. See you in like 10.”
Lily sighed and headed downstairs. She sat on the steps, pulling on her gray boots, when she heard it.
”Aye, you think you're wearing that.” The tone was pure sternness.
She looked up and matched her papa's ice-blue stare for ice-blue stare.
“Papa, I wore this last week, and you said nothing, not one thing.”
”Wore it to family dinner? That’s fine. Not a date. Don’t you have something like jeans and an ugly chunky sweater or something? That’s barely past your knees, and...”
” DAAAAADDDDY” The screech was all, Come help me.
Mickey drained his beer and raised his brow. “Way to sell me out, punk.”
Ian came out and took one look at the smirk on his husband's face and Lily’s face of thunder, then turned to Mickey.
”Mick, we discussed this. She can ride to the party with him.“
”We did; we meant I was not a fan. I am most certainly not a fan of this skimpy little number she is donning.”
Ian took a good look at their daughter. Lily Gazer now 15. She had the Milkovich traits. Small frame, piercing blue eyes, and creamy pale skin. Mandy's regular, John, looked like Ian. To that effect, she had curly red hair and freckles. She looked biologically like a mix of them both. Most certainly had Mickey and Mandy’s spitfire attitude. Today she wore a black skater-like skirt, grey tights, a long-sleeve blue shirt, and a cropped cardigan with hearts.
”Mick, she is fine. Besides, she wore that to Lips like last week, and you said she looked nice.” Lily raised her brow to her hairline, smirking in silent victory.
“Yeah, yeah, fucking tough guy. Hey, isn’t Toby supposed to be here soon?”
Lily stamped her foot. “Papa, it’s Tyson, and you know it! You said you would be nice.
”No, I said I would try, not be. Try!” He shifted, still scowling.
The debate was cut off by the doorbell as Bazooka and Rueger went to the door, tails wagging.
She watched her daddy sit on the edge of the chair and lean over, giving Papa's dark hair a tussle. Papa took a more leaned-back, aggressive stance, and his eyes became hawklike, like fixed on the door.
She opened it to Tyson and smiled weakly. Tyson was 16 and went to the school next to hers. Lily was in a private girls school, but both schools had off-campus lunch. She and Tyson had hit it off. They were not serious about dating, as Lily was still not allowed to solo date for another year. Group dating was semi-allowable; she had to run each activity with her dads. Daddy tended to say yes easier, and Papa could be convinced by two determined red heads. But this was the first time they had okayed it for Tyson to pick her up and take the L—just them.
She nodded at the tall blonde and just murmured, “Stick to the plan, ok?”
She pulled him into the living room, chewing nervously on her bottom lip.
”Papa, daddy, this is Tyson.” She looked at her papa, willing him to be nice.
Her daddy smiled warmly while Mickey scanned the taller 16-year-old, who was way too fucking close to his baby girl.
Tyson grinned at Lily, like he had forgotten the plan.
”Hi sir, great to meet you.” He waved
Ian leaned toward the pair. “Hello Tyson”
Mickey just grunted.
Ian looked at Mick, who grunted again. So Ian jumped in.
“Great sweater, so you go next door to Lily’s school. Do you take school seriously, Tyson? What’s your GPA?”
” Daddy!” Lily looked mortified.
”I am just chatting, Lily.“
”No, it’s cool, Lily. I have a 3.2, sir.” Tyson smiled.
”Oh, so you don’t apply yourself for a 4.0?”
“Daddy, I swear.” Lily gritted her teeth.
”Aye, don’t sass your daddy punk. So Tiny, not even 5 minutes and my daughters talking back, you teach her that?”
"Hmm, it’s Tyson, and no, sir.”
While Mickey tried to set the young man on fire with a look, Ian patted Lily’s hand and “whispered” so loudly that her brother Liam at college probably heard, “He is a cutie, Lily.“
Tyson blushed, Lily glared, and Mickey kicked him.
Mickey grumbled, "So Tommy.“
”Tyson Sir” The smile stayed on.
”Tyler, have you ever been to juive? If so, were you ever prison gay?”
”Oh man, no sir, never been in trouble; um, the other thing moot point, but um, not sure what that even means.” Tyson was looking confused.
"Papa, plllleease” Lily put on her best pout that usually distracted Mickey, but not today.
”Lily, I am just getting to know Travis.“ He waved his beer around.
” Tyson”
”Whatever, I agree with my husband, such fancy words, but that low a GPA, wow. Lily has a 3.9. Also, I have “
"Sorry, sir, have what?”
”Been to juvie years ago. Been to prison too, ex-con both of us, but that’s behind us now.“ Ian was rubbing his back, trying to stop the train wreck.
”Umm, that’s great, sir.”
Mickey took a long swig of beer while watching the kids face. Actually watching Lily lay a comforting hand on the kids bicep.
”But I got two red heads, which I would go back for.” His eyes darkened, and he stared down at Tyson.
” Papa”
Ian smiled. “Do you get along with your parents, Tyson?”
Tyson looked at Ian and said, “Umm, I...“
Lily tossed her hands up and snatched her jacket. “Okay, you two weirdos, we are out of here.”
"Lily, come home by 11 or I will come looking for you and Teddy.”
” Tyson”
” whatever”
”Argggggggggh, you are the most. Fine home by 11.”
Tyson turned to look at the men as Lily began to shove him out the door.
”Sooooo nice too... Lily shit, don’t hit me, bye!”
The dogs, now that Lily was gone, saddled up to Mickey, hoping for the popcorn on his side table. Blue eyes locked green.
Ian smiled and said, “I like him,” while at the same time Mickey snarled, "I hate him.”
Ian just shook his head and sat on Mickey’s lap, giving the older man a kiss.
”Mick, she is getting older; we have to let her try things, like riding the L with a boy. I know this freaks you out, but last time I checked, convents only take willing candidates, not girls whose gay dads are freaking about her growing up.”
”Fucking Fine Red but does not mean I need to get used to it; I never will.”
”Yeah, me either; I just stand by her bed and cry while she sleeps.“
Mickey snorted, then kissed his husband fondly.
He felt Ian’s hand on his thigh. “Beside Mick, we have a couple hours alone.” He unbuttoned Mickey's shirt and kissed his neck and chest.
Mickey took one glum look at the door, then turned all his attention to his husband of almost 20 years and partner of almost 30 years. He lovingly traced his thumb on the faded freckles on Ian's cheeks.
"What are you thinking, Mr. Gallagher?”
”Well, we have that new sex wedge that gets your ass in the position I like and that new gag we have yet to try.” He stood up and pulled Mickey into an embrace. They grinned like kids, tossed handfuls of popcorn to the dogs, and ran up the stairs.
Lily made it home at 10.55 p.m. . The house was quiet. Knocking on her dad's door, she pushed it open carefully. The dads were sleeping as they always did, spooning, the TV flickering.
She just shook her head and went to bed, knowing she would be grilled in the morning over pancakes.