Page 28 of Daddy Vibes (The Anti-Bachelorette 2)

Chapter 11

Angela

Every night for the next week we spend cuddled up in his bed. Sometimes we watch our show. Other times we just talk. He asks me all the serious questions you usually don’t get to quite so soon in the relationship. What I want for my future? Do I want to get married someday? Do I want kids? Am I planning on living in this area long-term? What are my future career goals? Some of them I don’t even have answers for myself. All I know is whenever I picture anything for my future, he’s always in it with me.

He said before we can seriously consider dating each other, all of these things need to be discussed. There’s no point in potentially risking our reputations over a fling. He said he doesn’t want anyone talking shit about me. I know he’s right, but I’m scared he’s going to back out when he finds out I’ve never been in a long term relationship. I mean he has to somewhat know already right? Like the same guy never came hanging around with me and Emory. I think the longest I’ve ever dated someone was 3 months.

It’s different with Eric though. Those other guys always wanted me to be serious and sexy at all hours of the day. With Eric, I can just be myself. He always laughs at my corny jokes, and he comes up with his own dad jokes right back. It just feels like we are in sync with each other. Whenever I dated anyone before, I’d feel relieved when I finally got home and could just act like myself again. I was always putting out an image of who they wanted me to be. I never feel that way with Eric. I never have.

We decided we should wait to tell Emory that we are dating until we got to know each other better. No point in adding another person to the mix. I kind of liked having him all to myself for a couple days anyway. On the third day though, Emory pulls me aside after dinner. “Oh my God. You’re boning my dad again.” I guess we weren’t very discreet.

I just smile at her. “No I’m not. I can’t even do that yet.”

She just rolls her eyes at me. “Well, you’re doing other things then. You really thought I wouldn’t be able to tell? My best friend and my dad? Really?”

I just give her a shy smile and mumble. “We’re trying to make it work.”

She opens her eyes in surprise. “Oh my God!” She leans forward and hugs me. “This is so weird but so great at the same time. You’re going to be my neighbor!”

I just laugh. “Woah there. No one said anything about moving in yet.”

She just laughs. “Sorry you have to move things fast when you’re dating an older guy. That’s the rules.”

I raise an eyebrow at her. “Oh really? You’re the expert on that now huh? Weren’t you just telling me last week how neither of you have even told each other that you love each other yet?”

She just shrugs. “Hey, Alaric isn’t as old as my dad.”

I push at her shoulder. “Shut up.”

Just then Eric walks into the kitchen where Emory pulled me away to. “What’s going on in here?”

Emory gives him a bitchy face. “You’re trying to sneak around with my best friend like I wouldn’t even notice?”

He laughs and taps his chin. “Hmm...this situation sounds awfully familiar.”

She rolls her eyes, and he comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “I don’t even like her. I’m only doing this as payback for having to watch you and Alaric together.”

I make a shocked noise and shove my elbow back into his stomach. “Ouch! I was kidding! You need to be more careful with those things. I didn’t really realize I was dating a bodybuilder.” He jokes.

I pretend I’m still mad by trying to wiggle free from his arms even though hearing him say we are together to his daughter really made things feel real, and I feel super excited. He just squeezes his arms tighter and places a few kisses on my neck.

Emory pretends to be grossed out. “Me and Alaric are never this bad!”

Me and Eric both stop fighting each other at the same time and look into each other’s eyes. Then we both look back at Emory and burst out laughing. I lean against the counter and clutch my chest trying to catch a breath. “That’s the funniest thing you’ve ever said!”

She rolls her eyes again. “Whatever.” Then Alaric walks in the kitchen, and she turns to him. “Do you think we do more PDA than these love birds?”

Alaric glances back at us since Eric wrapped me back up in his arms again. Then he looks back to Emory. “Oh yeah. You literally cannot keep your hands off of me. You’re a little obsessed to be honest.”

Emory just makes an angry noise. “Asshole,” but then he walks over, and she smiles at him before he leans down and kisses her lips.

Me and Eric both say, “Awww...” at the same time. Alaric just glances back at us. “You two are too freakishly alike.”

I just turn and smile up at Eric. “I’m okay with that.”

???

We decided to head out to the grocery store today. I have been getting super stir crazy. I’ve been weaning myself off the pain meds the past couple weeks. The sooner that’s done, the sooner I can start driving again. I switched to just ibuprofen this week, so I technically am free to go anywhere I want. Eric insists I don’t go anywhere alone though.

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