Austin reached over and touched my hand. He told me without saying anything that he wanted to answer the questions and he was okay.

“Currently, I work with brands on social media promoting their products and helping them with their online presence, along with taking pictures of merchandise to help them sell their brand. It’s sort of a new field, and I really enjoy how every day is different than the last. It lets me enjoy my creativity.”

I loved how Austin was gentle with my father. He wasn't trying to talk down to him, even though he was resistant to a lot of new technology. Austin could have used more complicated words and tried to seem like he was gatekeeping the information he knew. Instead, he framed it in a way that my dad would understand.

Dad cleared his throat and nodded. The Coffee Shop employee approached and shuffled the plates and drinks on his tray. The tray of mini bagel appetizers and cold drinks were placed on the table with precision. We each got soft drinks in addition to the hot coffee we already had. The cluttered table held our attention for a few beats and gave me a moment to collect my thoughts. I was curious about why we were here and how my father had become interested in who Austin was.

“Can I ask you what brought this situation of Austin and me dating to your attention, as I have not formally announced it anywhere?”

I didn’t think my father would be searching hashtags on obscure social media. It wasn’t his style.

He pushed back in his chair a little. “Funny enough, I actually got a phone call from an old friend of yours who told me she was concerned.”

I shot Austin a look. None of my friends would be concerned about me dating Austin. Literally, all of my friends would be high-fiving me for spending time with this insanely hot guy.

“Did she say her name?” Austin asked.

My father looked at the ceiling for a few beats before answering, “I’m sure she said it. I just don’t remember what it was. She was just really concerned that he’d be taking my daughter to an alternative lifestyle. And she had a point.”

At least he said it out loud. I knew that’s why we were here. The alternative lifestyle was something my father had an opinion about or a prejudice toward. I stood up and put my hands on the table.