Since the night I snuck out with Liam, two weeks had passed. And I don't think me and him have stopped talking for a single moment.

Even now, while I was sitting at the breakfast table with David, my phone was in my right hand while my left hand carried a spoon of Frosted Flakes cereal to my mouth. We had been texting about what plans we each had for tonight. Today was the fourth of July.

"So are you just constantly checking your teeth in your phone? Or is there actually something, or someone, causing you to smile so much the past couple weeks?" I heard David ask suddenly, causing me to pause mid text/bite. I looked over at him and he was grinning at me teasingly.

I felt my cheeks flush. I wasn't sure how to talk to David about my crazy crush. Would he be excited to hear I met a boy? Would he immediately get protective? Would he completely disapprove of the fact that he was twenty and I was technically still a minor? I decided to take the chance, because I didn't like the idea of keeping secrets from David. I wanted us to have the best relationship possible.

"Well, it is someone." I said waveringly, being cautious of how David would reply.

David pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows. He put his spoon down and held his hand to his forehead. He raised a finger attempting to say something, paused and put his hand down, then raised it again and finally decided on, "You're too young for boys, Robin." He asserted, looking serious.

My eyebrows furrowed, troubled with his reaction. But before I could reply, David looked like he was thinking over what he'd just said.

"No, I don't like that." He muttered to himself. "Ah! How about; No boys until I meet them and introduce them to my guns?" He offered.

A smile spread across my face when I realized David was just messing with me. He returned a side grin when he saw I finally caught on to his antics.

"Too scary?" He asked, "Should I try something else? Sorry, I'm still getting used to my dad reactions, I skipped that lesson in the book." David joked, winking at me.

I laughed and shook my head, "No I think the gun one is perfect."

Digging back into his bowl of cereal, David started his first 'Crush Interrogation', "So, who is he?" Which was a very broad question to start with, and I wasn't sure where to start.

"Well," I began, "He's a guy I met in Primrock and he actually now happens to live in Duston. His name is Liam," I said slowly, giving David time to process everything I was saying, "He's into photography. He's very sweet, he's very funny."

"I'm guessing very cute?" David interrupted, and I nodded my head grinning wide.

"And he's a cop." I finished slow. At first David nodded his head and made a face of approval, but then paused when the motors in his head started spinning.

"And he's twenty." I input quickly, solving the question I already assumed David was going to ask.

David looked at me with eyes wide and a mouth full of cereal. "Oh," He acknowledged, with milk dripping down his mouth.

I bit my lip and played with my hands, worried about David's next response. I gave him a moment to process, wipe his mouth, and swallow his food. When he finished that, he tapped his fingers on the table, which made me anxious.

"So... Is he the good cop or the bad cop?" David finally jested.

Smiling with relief, I assured David he was a good cop. Then I sighed, "A very good cop. He won't even kiss me until I'm eighteen." 

David's lips quickly curled into a smile, but he cleared his throat and pretended to share my sorrow. "Oh nooo..." He faked, but it made me laugh.

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, yeah. Anyway. Do we have any plans for tonight? My photography club isn't meeting today because of the holiday." 

David scratched the back of his head, "I mean we could take the car down to the lake, bring some blankets, stop by a firework stand and grab some things." He looked over at me and smiled sweetly, "Sorry if that sounds boring."

It was always really cute to see David trying. I shook my head, "That sounds like a blast." I assured. And I was being honest, it would be the most eventful Fourth that I've ever had.

Every year the only thing I did was sneak onto the roof of the Foster Home with James and catch glimpses of all the fireworks people were shooting off around the city. Two years ago when James had turned 18, he snuck some little sparklers and pop-its with us. Now those were fun to throw off the roof and scare birds and squirrels out of trees with. But the sparklers were what got us caught. I might have accidentally thrown one away without the flare being fully extinguished... catching a nearby bush on fire and nearly giving Mrs. Henderson a heart attack for the umpteenth time in her life with me.

I'm not a pyro on purpose.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ooh! Can we get these?!" I squealed, carrying a heavy box of fireworks labeled 'The Biggest Bang'.

David smiled towards me and glanced at the cart-load of fireworks we already had, then glanced back at me with an 'are you sure?' look. I shrugged, getting the message and putting the box back on the shelves. 

Me and David had spent about an hour at this huge building called 'Double Barrel Fireworks'. We had fireworks, firecrackers, squealers and sparklers. I began getting giddy thinking about all the possibly dangerous fun we would have, but still remembering that earlier I had promised David that I would be safe for my own sake and for everyone else's around us.

As we finished getting our load scanned at the register, our total came out to $180. My jaw dropped as I gawked at the price. I worriedly looked over at David, expecting him to quickly ask to put a few items away, but instead he took out his card without hesitation and swiped away.

I looked at the card, then at David, then back at the card., then finally, "David, who the heck do you do for work? NASA? The mafia?" I asked, bewildered. 

He smirked at me, "I'm just a guy who works in an office. I haven't had much I needed to pour money into the past couple years besides bills and necessities. Besides you think that's a lot of money? Wait till your birthday." He winked.

I beamed at the thought of being spoiled for my first birthday with David, especially with it being the big one-eight. Though as much as still I wanted to argue with him and assure him I didn't want anything, I knew he had no intention of changing his mind. I was curious to see what he'd pull off. I honestly don't have even an idea of what things I wanted. I had learned early on in life to just be happy with what I have and not ask for more. 

After being cashed out, David thanked the cashier and put our boxes and bags back in our buggy. We exited out and into the parking lot with our cart of explody-thingys and I started getting excited about tonight. I looked over at David while we walked. Of course he was smiling.

 You know how people have serious cases of RBF? Resting Bitch Face? Well David had a serious case of SDF. Smiling Dork Face. But it was another thing I liked about him, it made him approachable. He probably was the kind of guy who could hold a conversation with someone he just met for an hour. Then I wondered if David had any friends. Like, any buddies to go out to bars, or golfing, or whatever he likes to do with. I'd never heard him on the phone with anyone, nor seen him with another person. Instead of pondering the thought to myself, I decided just to ask.

"David? Do you have any friends?" I queried as we reached his car.

He looked at me curiously, "You do like to ask questions at the most random times, huh?" He joked as he loaded our stuff into his trunk. "Well, I've got a few guys that live out of state, haven't seen them since college. But I suppose since I've lived here in Duston, I've mostly kept to myself."

I could understand how someone would like to keep their circle to a minimum, but to have no one at all? "But, don't you ever get bored? Just working and working, just to go back home and still do nothing?"

David closed the trunk when he was done and shrugged, "I mean I used to go out to the bar, I'd have some laughs with a few people I'd meet. But I mean now I have you. And I have no problem with you being my only friend." He gave me a warm-hearted smile, and I returned one, even though I still felt a little bad. 

As we climbed into the car, I felt my back pocket buzz. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, a little too quickly and excitedly. Probably looking like a crack head. Glancing at the contact name above my message notification, it was Liam. Who for some reason didn't have a special name in my phone yet. Oh the ideas I had, though for some reason 'Officer Dreamy' was starting to stick in my brain. I shook off my dorky thoughts and just opened the text.

I miss you.

My heart fluttered for a moment before I received another text from him mere seconds later.

Sorry, that was supposed to be sent to my dog.

I still grinned. He was such a cute jerk sometimes.

Me: Hey it's fine, I'm sure your dog gets more kisses from you than I do.

Liam: You make me feel bad for trying to be a gentleman.

Me: Are you being a gentleman? Or do you just love teasing me?

Liam: The world may never know. ;)

"David?" I suddenly asked, pulling his attention away from driving for a moment.

"What's up, buttercup?"

I looked down at my phone, then back at David, still wondering if this was a good idea. But too late, I was already asking, "Would it be alright if I invited, Liam to come to the lake with us?"

David smiled at me, "The cute cop?"

I felt myself blushing, slightly embarrassed about my crush. "Yes the cute cop." I mumbled.

"Of course it's okay. Id like to meet this boy. And what better place to meet him than in an area with a bunch of exploding things I can shoot?" He teased, still grinning at me.

I rolled my eyes, but chuckled at his try-hard 'cliche dad' approach. I turned back to my phone and replied, Well, you have a chance to redeem yourself tonight. But you'll have to meet my Uncle. 

I nervously sent the text, worried about waiting for his answer. But less than a minute after I hit send, my phone buzzed in my hand.

A wide grin spread across my lips at Liam's immediate response:

Time and place.