I can’t help but be proud. I know our relationship hasn’t been picture-perfect with every day like how tonight was—minus my mom walking in on us—but it’s been perfect in my heart. “Like I told my mom, I think we’re growing a lot, together, and it’s been awesome.”
“I don’t want you growing with my daughter!”
“Benji!”
“I understand—”
“Angela is too good for anyone. And no one, and I mean no one, deserves her. And if you have any respect for me, you’ll stay away from her. She doesn’t need the distraction of some boy,” Benji says, his voice low and threatening. “She has goals, and she will get there.”
“Benji! She’s an adult. She makes her own choices! We are to support them and her.”
But he isn’t hearing her. “Do you understand, Adler?”
I clear my throat, keeping myself level. “Yes, sir.”
“Good—”
“I understand, and I agree she is absolutely too good for anyone, even me, and I definitely don’t deserve her. She’s a gift. As for staying away, I understand your fears and feel for you, but I will do no such thing. As long as Angie wants me, I’m there.”
Because I love her something insane.
I wanted to tell Benji that. Problem was, he wasn’t hearing anything I had to say. I’m the enemy, and I get it. I’ve watched my dad give away his daughters, punch one of the guys because he knocked up his daughter. I understand a father’s love. With Angie and Benji, it’s different. He didn’t get to love her her whole life, and he wants nothing more than to be the father she deserved from the beginning. So, yeah, it’s cool, I’ll be the enemy to him. For now. I’ve been on this playing field before, where I was doubted off the top.
And I always come out a winner.
I know for a fact that when he sees us together, he’ll agree we’re good together.
He’ll have to.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was scared, but I’m confident in Angie’s and my relationship. We’re in love. I lie with Angie in my arms. She sleeps under my chin as I move my fingers through her hair. She smells like my shampoo and conditioner, along with my body wash. Very woodsy, and it’s causing me confusion, but I know she isn’t trying to hear my joke.
After a solid hour of trying to figure things out even when I told her not to worry about it until tomorrow, she fell asleep. I want so badly to take on her pain and worry and fight it for her, but I know she’s too proud to allow me to. I’m not sure what will happen with London, her jackass of a boyfriend, or Angie’s living situation or job, but like I told her, we’ll figure it out together.
I’m not entirely sure what will happen when she finds out her dad doesn’t want us together, but I’m sure as hell not telling her that. Not with everything else going on. We’ll battle everything as it comes. First things first, I’ve got to convince this girl to live with me. Because having her in my arms, with her little snore she makes and the feel of her, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep alone again. She tightens her grip on my hand, holding me closer, and I close my eyes, feeling whole.
I was sure of myself when I said, “As long as Angie wants me, I’m there.” But as a smile moves across her lips and she cuddles deeper into me, I fear if she didn’t want me, I’d still be there.
Doing everything and anything to convince her to want me.
I dragged ass at morning skate, but at least I showed up, unlike Dart.
Not that I would tell him that, or even tell Coach that Dart wasn’t there because he was partying all night with Thatcher and a few of the other guys. Not me, though. I was tucked into bed with my girl. I left before she got up, and when I got back, she had already left for school. She had two classes this morning and then an afternoon shift at the compound since the office shuts down at four today. First, though, we’re gonna meet for lunch.
I wait outside the restaurant for her in my truck since she’s running late. She had to talk to her professor about a paper. She says she’s okay, but of course I’m worried for her. I hate that all of this is weighing her down. I want to make it better, but I don’t know how, other than to be supportive and be there for her. I have half a mind to go take out the boyfriend, but she asked me not to.
Unfortunately.
Instead of going in and filling up on chips and salsa, I decide to play on my phone. I don’t Instagram much—really, only to post my accomplishments and to watch my siblings and friends. But I somehow find myself on the app instead of playing a game. It looks like Posey and Shelli posted together because Posey has posted a picture of her son Zac holding Shelli’s growing belly with the caption “Future BFFs.” And then Shelli has posted the same picture with a different filter and the caption, “My favorite with my favorite.”
How stinkin’ adorable.
I comment on both of them with the hashtag #ProudUncle
I can’t wait to meet my new nephew because I love my current nephew as if he’s mine. I wonder if Angie wants kids? I do. A lot. I want a huge family since mine was so much fun growing up. Angie comes from a big family too. Between her uncles and their kids and then her siblings, I know she could handle a big family. She’d be a great mom too. I know that from watching her with her plants.
Wow, getting ahead of ourselves, are we?
I scoff and find myself posting my own life update. I could have used any picture of Angie and me from last night, but I wanted to go in a different direction. It takes me a few minutes, but it’s okay since I’m waiting for her. I want to choose the right words, knowing both our families will see this, and when I hit post, I’m proud of the status. I’m proud of the girl who’s mine. I’m about to text Angie and get a time update, but then my dad calls.
Here we go, round two, I think as I answer, “Hey, Dad. What’s up?”
“Nothing much. What are you off doing?”
“Waiting for Angie to meet me for lunch.”
“Awesome. You got a second?”
“For you, always,” I answer, leaning back in the seat. “Calling to yell at me?”
Dad laughs. “I don’t have anything to yell at you for,” he says, and I nod. “I’m actually calling to tell you how proud I am of you for holding your composure when you were talking to Benji.”
“He call and tell you that?”
“No, Lucy did. She was highly impressed and said she thought you would lose it at any moment, but you were very level-headed. Very different from the boy she knew who got into fights on the ice at every turn.”
I make a face. “In my defense, I was fighting for Evan.”
“I know,” he agrees. “But nonetheless, she was very complimentary about you.”
“No surprise. I’m a charming dude, even when I’m being yelled at,” I laugh, and he laughs along with me. “Truthfully, I get it. He loves his daughter.”
“Absolutely. But you deserve respect too, Owen, which is what I told them.”
“I appreciate that, Dad,” I answer, my heart swelling. “But I’m not too worried about it. Angie has a lot going on right now. I don’t want to add her dad’s craziness to it.”