Page 107 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
His eyes snap shut as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “Katie, you know I love you. But I can’t talk about your mother.”
“Why not? I know it’s painful. It’s painful for me, too. We both loved her so much. But don’t you want to keep her memory alive? We’re the only two people who can do that. Dad, please don’t shut me out. The last three months have been so hard, but it’s been even harder because I felt like I was losing you, too.”
He slowly lifts his eyes to mine.
“I tried to talk to you a few times, but you always pushed me away. I’ll be graduating in two years and leaving for college. If we don’t fix our relationship…Dad, I don’t want us to be strangers. But if you keep shutting me out…we might be.”
He stares at me for a long time, a whole lot of emotions passing over his face. “Sweetie, I had no idea you felt that way.” He moves closer and wraps me in his arms. “The last thing I want to do is hurt you. I love you so much. I was selfish and only thinking of myself. But I need to put you first, because you are the most important person in my life.” He pulls back to look at me, tears in his eyes. “I just…I just miss her so much.” The tears splash down his cheeks. “I don’t know if I can be the dad you need me to be. I’m not strong enough.”
“Of course you are,” I assure him. “You’re stronger than you think. And you don’t have to do this alone. I’m here.”
He gives me a sad smile. “I appreciate that, sweetie, but I don’t want to put that burden on you. I think the best thing for me is to get professional help. The last thing I want is to lose you, too.” He encloses me in his arms and kisses my cheek. “Thanks so much for telling me how you feel. I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner and that I put you through all this pain.”
“It’s okay, Dad. I was nervous to talk to you about it, but my boyfriend encouraged me not to give up.”
He slowly pulls away and gapes at me. “Boyfriend?”
“Oh,” I say with a laugh. “I have a boyfriend, Dad. And he’s amazing.”
He frowns with a painful expression. “I’ve missed so much of your life. I’m so sorry, Katie.”
“It’s okay.” I hug him. “All that matters is that we won’t miss any more of each other’s lives.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Katie
Tonight isthenight.
I pace around the girls’ dressing room, every part of me so wound up I think I might snap. Taking in a deep breath, I stare at my reflection in the mirror. Seeing how Belle’s blue dress and wig fit me perfectly makes me smile.
The other girls in the room talk animatedly as they finish getting ready. As excited as I am, I feel like I’m going to puke. I’ve been waiting for this night forever, but I don’t know if I can do this. This isn’t my first musical, but I’ve never been so nervous before. Maybe because I’ve wanted this so badly I don’t want to mess it up?
But I tell myself to relax. Eric will be up there with me on stage. Phoenix and her family and my dad are in the audience. And my mom is by my side. I can feel her.
“Ten minutes to Act One!” Miss Diaz calls.
My pep talk just flies out the window. Oh my gosh, how am I going to do this?
“Katie?” Gabby calls as she turns away from the door, holding a huge bouquet of roses in her arms. “These came for you.”
“What?” I take them from her, fishing out the card.
Break a leg, Katie. You’re the most amazing, most talented person in the world.
Love, Eric
A huge smile captures my lips. My nerves and anxiety vanish into thin air.
“Are those from Eric?” Gabby asks. “That’s so sweet.”
After carefully laying them on the table, I make my way out of the girls’ dressing room and into the guys’. I knock, and Dan, who plays Gaston, answers. “Hey, Katie.”
“Hey. Is Eric in there?”
“Sure. Come in.” He widens the door.
All the guys are dressed and ready to go. Eric sits in front of a mirror, murmuring some of his lines out loud. I sprint over to him and press a kiss to his cheek.
