Stepping Up… Rather Awkwardly

I have been dating my girlfriend for about two years. One day, we drop her six-year-old daughter off at a local school summer camp.

When it’s time to pick her up, I arrive early to see what she’s doing at the camp. I walk along the sidewalk looking over at her playing, texting her mother on the phone about the playground and how she is having fun.

Twenty minutes later, I pick her up and walk her to the car.

Me: “So, how was your day?

Child: “Okay. Some kids thought you were taking pictures or video of us.”

Me: “What?!”

I’m shocked by this claim.

Child: “Yeah, I told them I didn’t think so, but that maybe it was my stepfather. I thought you were busy so I didn’t wanna bother you.”

She’s never referred to me as her stepfather to other people before; I’ve always been the roommate or her mom’s friend. Overwhelming joy hits me hard.

Me: “Ah, I was just texting your mom to tell her about this camp.”

We soon changed the subject and headed home. I’ve never been so happy to be accused of recording children at a public school’s park in my life. She actually told the other kids I was her stepfather. I must be doing something right after all.