Page 71 of Where We Met

"Hi, guys." He gives them both a pat.

He walks over to me and opens his arms, inviting me in for a hug.

Even though we can't be sexual, it doesn't mean we can't be affectionate. He's hugged me every day this week.

"And hi to you," he says as his arms engulf me.

"Hi." I sigh into his chest.

"I missed you today."

I look up at him. "You did?"

He smiles. "I did. It was a stressful day at work. I kept thinking all I needed to do was push through so I could see you."

I've never been in love before, but I think I love this man. There's just no way it gets better than this. We get lost in each other's eyes, neither one of us moving, and a loud knock at the front door makes me jump.

I'm holding the dogs back as Luke opens the door. I almost fall over with shock when I see who's standing there.

"Dad," I whisper.

Luke's eyes open wide as he looks between me and my father.

My father stands there, hands in his pockets, looking angrier than I've ever seen him.

"I assume you're Luke Giannelli," he says as he stares Luke down.

"I am, sir," Luke responds as he holds the door open. "Please, come in."

"How do you know?" I ask.

"Never mind how I know, Savannah," he snaps back.

My father steps in and we all stand in silence as the door is shut, awkwardness filling the room. My eyes already start to tear up as the two most important men in my life are right in front of me, but it's not like I had imagined. It's hard to admit I had already pictured what a future with Luke would look like. One where I introduce him to my father, they shake hands, and he proudly thanks Luke for loving his daughter.

Instead, my father is glaring at him like Luke is a monster.

My father seems to dismiss speaking any words to Luke and turns to me. "Go pack your things, Savannah."

"What? Dad, don't you want to talk about this?"

"Absolutely. You and I will talk about this at your apartment."

What apartment? "Dad, I already told my landlord I moved out."

"Not there. We're going to discuss you lying to me and moving out of the place you shared with the girls. I called Shannon's father. He told me your room is still open, the girls didn't find anyone to take it over. You're finishing out the semester there with your college friends."

I look over at Luke, expecting him to tell my father I can stay here, but he just stands there frozen. I see pure panic in his eyes as he looks at me.

"Dad. I'm staying here."

My father's head snaps toward me. "Savannah. You're not living with your professor. Now, please go pack your things. We can do this the easy way or the hard way."

"What?" I ask confused.

"If you come with me, I won't turn this man into the university. If not, my hands will be tied."

I gasp in shock. Who is this man? Why is he acting like this?

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