Daryl tried to get busy all the week. Avoiding Sophia and avoiding talking to the kiss thing. She asked about it several times, but he refused to answer her every time. He knew he was being childish with all this thing, but he couldn't deal with it. He wasn't sure why he had kissed her. Well, he knew why. She was nice, and pretty. Quite funny too. And he was drunk. He had the drunk courage he needed to make a move. But now everything was messed up. Sophia was happy about it, and she was pushing a bit, but he wasn't sure. Megan was coming the next day, and he knew what would be happening.
It was late when Merle showed up at the garage, grinning like an idiot.
- Hello lil' bro!
- Hey Merle.- he answered.- what are you doing here? I though you were on holidays.
- Oh, I am…I just came here to say hi, see how are you doing.
- I'm fine, I can run a garage on my own, Merle.- he said harshly.- I'm not stupid.
- I know that. – Merle took a sit.- I'm concerned about ya.
- What?
- Well, you hooked up with a girl you picked up a bar, and 2 days later you were kissing some kid's mum.
- Soph has a big mouth.
- She is worried about ya. Like I am.
- There is nothing to be worried about.
- If you say so.
- I do. I'm fine, dammit.- he replied.- I'm a grown man, I know…
- You are acting like a teenager, though.
- So, let's get it straight.- he continued.- You are always telling me that I'm a bore 'cause I don't go out and get laid. But when I actually do exactly that, I'm a teenager.
- It's just…that's not who you are.
- Whatever.
- Daryl, come on. – Merle said softer.- All this is because of Megan?
- What? NO!
- Don't lie to me. You are still in love with her. That's why you haven't been with anyone. You are still waiting for her to come around. To be the wife and mum you want her to be.
- As if.
- But you and I know that's not going to happen. She is not wife material. She is not mum material either.
- I know that. – he confessed.- I just….fuck. I wanted for Soph to have a mum, ok?
- Daryl…
- I just thought that if we pretended to be a family once in a while, she will come around you know…that it will be a day when we were not pretending anymore…but it's too late for that. I know that, fuck, even Soph knows. She realized before I did. I've fucked up big time.
- No, you didn't. You just wanted to give your little girl the family we didn't have.
- And I failed. So, what kind of father am I, huh?
- A good one. – Merle gave Daryl's shoulder a squeeze.- You care about her and you love her. That's enough. That's what family is.
- God, you sound like a self-help guru.
- I've been reading.
- That's a first.
- Very funny, lil' bro.
- I lied.- Daryl confessed, Merle looked at him confused.- I didn't hook up with that chick. We kissed but I went home alone.
- Good.
- Good?
- Yeah, she was too young for ya. – Merle smiled- 'sides, you probably don't know how to do it after all this time.
- Fuck off.
- Just kidding.- Merle helped Daryl closing the garage door. – so, what's going on with that mum?
- Nothing.
- Come on….is she hot? she's a MILF?
- Merle! – he shouted.- She is just…she is funny, and nice. And pretty too.
- Well, look at you…noticing women out there, that's a first.
- Pff…I don't think she will talk to me again.
- Why?
- I…I left….and I have not called her again…I'm just…
- Give her a call. Right now. Ask her to go out. You need to start living again. Soph told me your were fondling each other.
- Merle…
- I gotta go home. Call her, ok?
- Fine.
He scrolled her phone searching for Carols' phone. He took a long breath and dialed her number.
- Hello? – she answered quite sleepy.
- Oh, hi…were you sleeping?
- No…yes…who is this?
- I'm Daryl…but I, I can call you tomorrow…I…
- It's alright…I just fell sleep on the sofa.
- Whoa, you are living like a rock star.
- Hell yeah. – she paused.- Just having a rave at my apartment.
- Look, I…
- You don't have to say anything. I'm not waiting for you to say or do anything.
- I know but I…
- It's fine, Daryl. Don't worry.
- Ok, but I…look, I wanted to talk to you, it's just I didn't know what to say or if you wanted me to call.
- There's nothing to talk about.
- You sure?
- Yeah, we drank and we kissed. Not big deal.
- Oh, ok.
- Good.
- But I….I want you to know that I don't usually do that, I just…
- You don't have to justify to me, Daryl. We're grown ups.
- Ok, so…everything…
- Everything's fine. Don't worry.
- Fine…but, would you like to go to grab a coffee sometime?
- I don't think that will be a good idea.
- Yeah, sure…ok.
- I just think it will be best if we let it be.
- Yeah, alright. I guess we will see each other on Saturday at the friendly match, right?
- Of course.
- Ok, then, I will let you go back to your party.
- Yeah, bye Daryl.
- Bye.