Greg suddenly fell in love with her.
They were sitting at the kitchen table – he and his two teenage daughters, and their friend Amanda.
Amanda had been a friend of the family since she was seven. She had always looked up to Greg, perhaps as a Father figure. She was effusive with her physical and verbal affection for him. “I love you Mr. Jones,” flowed effortlessly from her lips. “Hugs!”
Greg had always felt a little uncomfortable with it. Partly because of its over-the-top nature. Partly because he wanted to keep a safe distance - for fear of the appearance of impropriety, or even of his own impulses. And did she feel a little awkward too? It always felt more comfortable with his daughters around; on those rare occasions when they happened to be alone together it felt stiff and formal. Like the wheels had lost their grease.
She wasn’t a knockout, but she was a cute, petite blonde, and that was his type. But something was different this night. Amanda was almost 16. She was no longer the little girl he had known. She was a young woman. And she was beautiful.
He was surprised by this. Why had he not noticed this earlier? How could someone become so alluring in one year? Her eyes were beautiful. Her lips and teeth (so important to him) were exquisite. Combined with the blonde hair and the freckles it was a lovely ensemble. And her petite body had developed just right. He fell for her in an instant.
Sitting right next to him, within touching distance, sat a nice, lovely young woman who really liked him. He could barely keep himself from coming on to her right there, right then.
Oh my god. What was he to do? How old is she? 15? Damn. How can he possibly hold out for two-plus years until it would be legal to have her? He wanted her now! The wait seemed like an impossible eternity away. Could they still have a relationship in the meantime, as long as it wasn’t sexual? What would people think?
He envisioned talking to her Dad, asking permission to date her. How would he react, especially since he was on the sex offender registry for inappropriately touching his other daughter when she was young. The irony was difficult for Greg to wrap his head around. There’s no way that conversation would go down well. But did they need permission anyway? Couldn't they just love each other, come what may?
What would his friends and family think? He had just seen a documentary following Woody Allen around. Woody and Sun-Li seemed to be so happy together. What could be more awkward than marrying your adopted daughter? People eventually got used to it, didn’t they? Love has its reasons.
But maybe he was like the Dad in American Beauty. A middle-aged man who finds life and renewal through his infatuation with his daughter’s sexy friend. It didn’t eventuate into much of a real relationship, for obvious reasons; but it was good while it lasted. It served a purpose. For both of them.
Greg was worried about being a cliché.
He slipped back into fantasizing about their life together. How nice it would be to have a lovely woman who adored him and gave him the feminine love he had craved for so long. He had had numerous snafus with women, including a 15-year marriage that was chinese water torture. Eight years ago he decided to take a year off from women so he could get himself together. One year had turned into two, and two to eight. He was starving. And she was steak dinner with all the trimmings.
Somehow he resisted mauling her that night.
He ran into her the next two times he went to the mall. The first time he was eating lunch in the food court with his friend, and she came up and said hi and gave him a hug. Greg was much more open than usual. He gave her a big hug, enthusiastic smile, talked with her, introduced her to his friend. She was with her Father and her Father’s fiancée, and he chatted with the fiancée some. He was wooing her and the family! The next time they were walking towards each other in the mall and he stared at her, was it her? She stopped. “I was like, who is this strange man staring at me?” They laughed and hugged.
Greg began wondering just how special he was to her. He decided to ask his 21-year-old son what he thought of Amanda. Immediately he said, "There's reasons why she's screwed up."
"What do you mean screwed up?" Greg replied.
"Boy crazy.
"Oh.
"Her mother's basically a slut. And her Dad, well you know his problem.
"Yeah. Does she act all lovey with all men?"
"She's always telling me she loves me and giving me hugs."
"Oh," murmured Greg. "She does that with me too."
"Well, we were pretty much her substitute family, so she may treat you and me different than other men. I'm not sure."
Some of the air went out of Greg's penile sails. Maybe he wasn't that special after all.
He remembered that she was a Facebook friend, so he went home and looked up her profile, her wall. It was littered with over-the-top expressions of love for her current boyfriend.
Now he felt really not special at all, and a little embarrassed about the whole thing. What had he been thinking??
He retreated back into his celibate cell, awaiting the next chance encounter with a damsel who would finally save him from himself.
