I smile. I keep telling him not to call me that, that it’s embarrassing. But a few kids from my high school who were first-gen college students as well have told me about their parents being bitter or mad at them for having opportunities they couldn’t have dreamed of. I’ll take overly proud any day.

“I’m doing pretty good,” I say. “It’s been a pretty crazy week, but I had a free moment so I wanted to call to update you on the app launch.”

“Thank you, but you know I don’t understand any of that tech stuff.” He laughs. “I’d rather hear more about this girl.”

“What? What girl?” I say. My gaze darts to the door of my suite, which I left half-open. Although it is unlikely Sara will be ready yet, and she probably won’t be walking down my hall anytime soon, I kick it closed.

“Every time you call to talk about the app,” he says, “it’s, ‘Sara said this, Sara said that, Sara is so brilliant.’ What’s going on with that? Have you told her you love her?”

“No! Dad, what?” I pace the common room. “I don’t love her, okay?” I’m speaking rapidly now. “She’s my partner in this company, and she’s very smart, that’s why I said my professional opinion is that her ideas are brilliant.”

He clicks his tongue. “Nope, I don’t buy it. You love her.”

“Dad, you’re not getting it—”

“No,” he says. “I think I am right.”

Of course you do, I think but don’t dare say.

“If you care about her, you should tell her,” he says.

“It’s not that simple,” I say. “We work together, after all. And she is one of my closest friends here. My best friend.”

I actually had been thinking about it—telling her. A few nights ago, I started tinkering with some code, building a cute game filled with inside jokes that would tell her how I felt. At 2:00 a.m. it seemed like the type of thing a guy would do in a movie, and something that Sara, who has a bunch of Nora Ephron movie posters on her wall, might appreciate.

I woke up the next morning and immediately dragged the game into my trash. It was way too intense. She’d probably never have talked to me again if I’d sent it to her.

“True love is simple,” he says.

I exhale. “Will you please just let me tell you about this project? I’m excited about it.”

“Yes, yes.” I can picture him nodding. “I’m sorry, go ahead.”

“Okay, thank you.” I shake my head. “So basically, it’s an app that helps people meet people, like to date...”

“Oh, the irony,” he says. “You two, building an app you don’t need.”

“Dad!”