"I really think you should do something with dad," Josh said to his daughter as he made dinner while she sat at the bar in the kitchen. "He's been wanting to do something with just you guys for a long time."

"No he hasn't," Ruby said.

"Yes he has," Josh replied. "Every night he tells me "I want to do something with Ruby but I don't know how to ask her or what to do,"" Josh said.

Ruby shrugged.

"Can you please do something with him?" Josh asked. "He's really starting to get upset with himself over it."

"Why?"

"Because he thinks he's a bad parent," Josh answered.

"Why?"

"Because you don't always... I don't know."

"I don't always what?"

"Nothing."

"What?" Ruby asked.

"You aren't always the nicest to him," he finally said. "He holds it together until you leave then he starts crying and saying he's the worst parent ever and he doesn't deserve to have a kid."

"How am I not nice to him?" Ruby asked.

"You criticize the way he parents," Josh said. "You have to understand that it's hard parenting a 16 year old. Especially a 16 year old girl. You've gotta remember we're both guys. No matter how hard we try, we aren't going to understand what it's like to be a teenage girl. And he's trying his best, Ruby. He's tried his hardest since the day we got you."

"How do I criticize the way he parents?"

"You always say he doesn't understand you, he isn't doing anything right, his ideas are stupid, he needs to stop doing this and start doing that. He's really, really trying, Ruby. You've gotta give him credit for that."

Ruby sighed softly.

"All he wants is to maybe get to spend a little time with you, just you and him. But he's too nervous to ask you because he thinks you're going to say he's stupid for thinking a 17 year old girl would want to do anything with her dad."

"He really cries because of me?" She asked.

"Yes!" Josh exclaimed. "All the time. And we love you so much, Ruby. You're our only kid and we love you more than anything, but it's starting to effect Ty and I'd relationship. We haven't actually talked about each other's jobs or life in general besides him being sad all the time in weeks."

Ruby ran his fingers through her hair and she sighed again.

"I understand how hard it is to be a teenager, okay?" Josh said, putting his hand on top of Ruby's. "And I know it's even harder to be a teenage girl, but he's trying his best. Can you please, please just give him one little thing in return?"

***

Two days later, Ruby came home from school to see Tyler sitting at the kitchen table.

"H-hey, honey," he quickly said, closing his laptop so she had his full attention. "H-how was school?"

"It was good," Ruby said.

"C-cool," Tyler said. "C-can I get you anything? I-I can make you something to eat."

Ruby shook her head. "I'm okay, thank you."

Tyler nodded.

"Do you wanna maybe like... watch a movie tonight?" Ruby asked.

"R-really??" Tyler asked, his eyes wide.

Ruby nodded.

"O-okay," Tyler nodded. "M-maybe we could go like... m-maybe eat dinner?"

Ruby nodded. "Okay."

So they went out for dinner at Ruby's favorite restaurant, actually talking for the first time in a long time.

"S-so hows school?" Tyler asked.

"It's okay," Ruby said. "I just am kind of stressed with all the AP classes and stuff," she shrugged.

"I-I can help," Tyler said. "I-I can help you with your classes a-and I can email your teachers if you need a-and I can-"

"That would be great," Ruby said. "Thank you."

Tyler nodded, very excited that he got to help Ruby with something.

They continued to talk, Tyler unable to stop being so excited about getting to talk to his daughter for the first time in what felt like forever while she wasn't bringing him down.

***

They went back home and watched a movie together.

After it was over, Ruby even gave Tyler a hug.

Tyler smiled, hugging her back tightly.

She went to pull back but realized this meant a lot to Tyler, so she instead stayed hugging him.

Eventually he pulled back. "I love you," Tyler said. "Tell me next time you get stressed so I-I can maybe try to help."

"I-I will dad," Ruby said. "Thank you. I love you too."

Ruby went to bed, Tyler going to his room as well.

"Hey, baby," Josh smiled from the bed. "How was it?"

"R-really good," Tyler smiled shyly with a nod. "R-really, really good."

Josh grinned happily. He was so happy it went well.

***

Over time, he noticed Tyler starting to be happier. Ruby started to be nicer to him, making his confidence repair a little bit.

The tears from Tyler stopped, Ruby started spending more time with him, and all three of them were happy.