Page 130 of Control Us (Next Generation 1)

“Only if I touch it or walk into a wall,” I told him.

He grunted. “You’re not funny.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” I pulled my head from his grasp. “I’m fine and it was an accident.” Guilt rested heavily on my shoulders that I had kicked Zach out. I needed to talk to him. If he ever wanted to talk to me again that is.

“Piccola,” Dad said gently.

“No.” I stomped around him. “This wouldn’t have even happened if you wouldn’t have butt your nose in to my business, in the first place.”

“Luna,” he said, his voice firm. “I went over to apologize.”

“Well that obviously never happened, now did it?”

“I told him to prove to me that he’s good enough for you.” Dad crossed his arms under his broad chest. “I was going to say that it hasn’t happened yet, but I’ve been watching him. He thinks I’m not watching but I always am. I see the way he looks at you. But the problem no longer lies with me.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, wishing this whole mess would end and we could go back to the way things were.

“I mean that Zach needs to prove to himself that he’s good enough for you.”

I opened my mouth to argue but nothing came out. “I know he believes that but hearing you say it…”

Dad’s face softened. “He loves you.”

I nodded, looking down at my feet. “I love him too.”

“I lost your mom when you were six months old.”

I looked up then, meeting eyes that matched my own.

“We had stopped dating long before that. We were better off as friends. But I loved her. Not the way I love…” He glanced at my stepmom. “Not the way I love you.”

“I know,” she said softly.

“Your mom got caught up with the wrong people. That’s why she died. It fucked me up, Luna. It fucked me up bad.” Dad rubbed a hand over his nape, looking everywhere but at me. “Zach reminds me of me,” he finally confessed. “At first, I didn’t like it. Hell, I wouldn’t like it if any man laid their hands on you. You’re my first. MyPiccola.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I whispered.

“I know you aren’t. I know that now. And I’m sorry for everything. But after last night…after seeing the hurt in your eyes over me butting into your business, I decided to back off. But Zach needs to know that you’re there for him and that you’re not going anywhere.”

I shook my head. “I’m not.”

Dad reached out for my stepmom, the only mother I had ever known, and pulled her into his side. “When I met you, if your father would have been alive, I’m sure he would have said the same thing. I didn’t deserve you then. Hell, I still don’t deserve you, but I will live the rest of my life until I do.”

Mom’s eyes welled. She cupped his face. “I love you, Stone, and Luna loves Zach. He looks at her how you look at me.”

“I know.” Dad kissed her forehead before looking my way. “I’ll make this right, but this is no longer on me.”

“Do you think Zach could ever let me in?” I asked, hope twisting throughout my body.

“Yeah.” Dad smiled. “I do.” He came toward me. “Iamsorry,Piccola. I didn’t realize that I was causing more damage.”

“I know what you went through was hard and losing Mom was even harder. But I love Creena like she’s my real mom. She’s the best mother I could ever ask for and Zach is the best man for me.” I just needed him to realize that too.

Dad leaned his forehead against mine. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“You…” My breath hitched. “You haven’t lost me,” I whispered. “I’ll always be your little girl, but I need him.”

“I know.” He paused. “I love you,Piccola.”

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