Page 83 of Where We Met

"Well, it seems to me that that's something between her and her father. If he chooses to throw a fit and not approve, he will only have himself to blame for a broken relationship. It won't be your fault. You're a good man, Lucas. Don't let anybody make you feel any differently."

"Thanks, Pa."

Alexis fans her face as tears start to stream down her cheeks. "Don't mind me. Pregnancy hormones."

It breaks the tension and makes me laugh.

"I'm gonna get going. I have a lot to think about. But thanks for being so supportive. It really means a lot," I tell them.

As I'm walking out the door, Ma grabs my face and gives me an unnecessary amount of kisses on my cheek.

I think about my dad's words as I drive home. Pa doesn't speak up often, but when he does, you listen. If he thinks that's true, that if her father won't approve, it would be on him, not me—that changes everything. The question is, do I think he's right? Can I get over what could happen to them and worry about what her and I want?

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Savannah

Thelightshinesdownin my eyes, forcing me to open them to the world. I do my best to ignore it and go back to sleep, but to no avail. When I open them again, I see Bailey standing by my bedroom door, wagging her tail. She's always been so patient. She won't wake me, even when she desperately needs to go to the bathroom.

But she'll make it very obvious when I'm awake that she would very much like to go outside.

I smile at her. "You wanna go outside?"

She scoots around excitedly, tail wagging at full speed.

I pull myself out of bed, not bothering to change out of my pajamas yet, and open the door.

Just as I'm about to open the front door, there's a knock. I open it cautiously, wondering who it could be at this hour.

“Hi, honey” Veronica, my stepmom, says with a smile.

I'm shocked to see her standing here alone.

“Hi…” I stare at her.

“I know this is a surprise. I was hoping I could take you out to breakfast before your first class."

I know she’s been a little lonely lately. My stepsiblings Lainey and Gavin are with their father for the month of May. I wonder if this has anything to do with that.

“Umm, yeah, sure,” I reply with a smile, not wanting to be rude, but still a bit skeptical about her visit.

I wonder if my dad sent her. I've been texting with him to let him know I'm okay, but I'm still just struggling to move on like nothing happened.

A big smile instantly takes up her face. “Great.”

“Of course. Come on in, I just need to get ready. I'm gonna let Bailey out first, I'll be right back.”

An hour later, we’re sitting outside on a beautiful patio covered in flowers. We picked a table in the shade, so we didn’t die from the heat, which is starting to become unbearable these days. The humidity in Ohio can sneak up on you.

“How are you doing?” she asks me after she taking a sip of her coffee.

“I’m doing pretty good.” It’s my typical response to the question whenever anybody asks these days.

What else can I say? That I lie awake at night, missing him so much it hurts. Nobody wants to hear that.

She sighs. “Maybe you can answer again but be honest this time. I'm here for you, to see how you're doing. I'm not here for your father.”

I’m a little taken aback by her response. It’s more forward than she’s ever been with me. She appears genuine, not being judgmental or threatening.

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