Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“You know,” he started, his voice low, “there’s something I need to say before we do this.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t ask for her hand,” I said immediately, knowing this was a conversation I should have had before this moment. “I know I should have gotten your blessing, your permission, before I even—”
“Permission?” Charlie’s eyebrows shot up, his lips twitching as if to hold back a laugh. “Aleks, she’s my daughter, not my property. She doesn’t need anyone’s permission to live her life.”
“I know,” I said quickly. “It’s just… I wish I’d told you sooner. I know how you feel about—”
“Do you?” Charlie cut me off, his tone light but firm, his brow furrowing. “Because I’m not sure you do. You think I don’t approve of this?”
“I know you’re not happy about it,” I said, standing straighter under his gaze. “I know you don’t think—”
“How do you know what I think?” he interrupted again, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Son, I’ve been protective of my daughter since the day she was born. Do you blame me for keeping an eye on the teenage boy living under my roof with her at such a vulnerable age?”
I opened my mouth, then shut it again, unsure how to respond. I didn’t blame him. Like I’d said to Mia, I would have been more upset if he hadn’t threatened me. He was protecting her, just like I was now — like I’d always wanted to.
“And when you two came to me with this whole ‘pretend to date’ stunt, I’ll admit, I was worried,” he continued. “Not because I didn’t trust you, but because I’ve always known how Mia feels about you.”
My stomach hollowed at his words, and Charlie’s eyes softened as he nodded.
“Oh, I’ve seen it,” he said, a faint smile curving his lips. “The way she looks at you… it’s been there for years. I just wasn’t sure what you wanted.”
I couldn’t fault him for that. Sure, he’d put boundaries in place when we lived under the same roof, and at the time, I’d resented it. But after that… we never spoke about any of it again, mostly because I was afraid. Afraid of what he’d say. Afraid he’d confirm my biggest fear — that he didn’t think I was the right one for his little girl.
“I honestly thought you’d go after her once you both moved out of this house,” Charlie added, like he was reading my thoughts. “But you didn’t. And I guess I worried that maybe you didn’t feel the same way. At least, until that July Fourth.” He swallowed then, his expression serious. “I wondered then if you loved her so much it was killing you.”
His words hung in the air between us, heavy and unspoken for far too long. When I finally replied, my voice was low, thick with emotion.
“I did,” I said, my chest tightening as I admitted it aloud. “I always did. I just… I didn’t think I was good enough for her. I didn’t think I deserved her. And I especially didn’t think you thought I did.”
Charlie’s expression softened, and he let out a long breath, nodding like he’d known all along. “Aleks,” he said, his voice steady, deliberate, “I’ve watched you love my daughter for years. I may not have known your true feelings for sure, but I knew you cared about her. I knew you’d always look out for her. I knew you wanted to see her happy — even if that hurt you sometimes.”
I swallowed.
“You’re not here because you’re perfect,” he continued. “You’re here because you’re exactly who she wants. Exactly who she’s always wanted. And that’s all the proof I’ll ever need that you deserve her.”
His words hit harder than I expected, like a fist to the dusty cage around my lungs. All the doubts about my worth fluttered away with the hit, my next breath lighter, and that emotion that had threatened to strangle me all day tightened its grip.
My eyes welled a bit, but I held the tears at bay. Charlie gave me a knowing smile and clapped my shoulder again, his grip firm. “Now go stand where you’re supposed to be,” he said, his voice breaking the tension with a small grin. “She’s been waiting long enough.”
Before I could respond, there was a small commotion at the top of the stairs. Both of us turned just in time to see Mia step into view, the cream satin train of her dress gathered in her hands as her mom fussed with the hem.
The house, the noise, the entire world fell away.
She was radiant, her silky brown hair framing her face in curls that dusted the heart-shaped bust of her gown. Her cobalt eyes were lined and smoky, her lips a sunset pink. I caught sight of her dimple, of the beauty mark just above it, the one I could draw with a marker in the exact right spot even blindfolded.