Family Troubles || Redlyn

Hold Her Back

Big Red's POV

"So..." I sat near Ashlyn, who had soon ended up with her own room in the hospital.

"It's sprained." She told me. I brought her into a hug.

"I'm sorry."

"It'll be fine." She shrugged. I kissed her forehead.

"You look good." I smiled at her, gently playing with her hair.

"Just trying to be optimistic." She said.

"I'm glad, that's good." We sat there in a comfortable silence, Ashlyn's forehead against my shoulder. "What are they doing about it?"

"A brace."

"Okay, at least it's not... way too hurt then?"

"Mhm." She agreed. "Bit of a bummer after Jaylee though." She said, referring to her newly named sister.

"But you're dad's here, that's good."

"Yeah." She smiled.

"I love you." I kissed her quickly.

"Love you too." She kissed me back. "Speaking off, any idea where my dad is right now? Kinda wanna see him."

"Yeah, he's almost right outside the door." I nodded. "I'll, um... tell him to come in."

After Ashlyn had told me the story of how her mom didn't necessarily want us to break up and was the one letting us get together, I wasn't exactly enthusiastic about talking to her dad. I don't think he ever really liked me anyways.

"Thanks." She nodded.

"Yeah..."

"Hey, come on. He'll know. You'll talk. It'll be fine." She assured me, as if reading my mind.

"Thanks babe." I kissed her again before walking outside. "Um, she, uh, wants to see you." I told her dad, who nodded before going in and closing the door. I walked into the waiting room, sat, and let out a sigh of relief.

Of course it wasn't long before her dad and I were both sitting there. The doctors were with Ashlyn and her mom and sister were resting. "So Ashlyn said you're back together?" He asked. I quietly fidgeted with the zipper on my jacket.

"Yeah." I confirmed.

"Why?" He harshly spoke. Maybe I imagined the tone, I was nervous after all.

"Um, because I love her, and, uh, she loves me." I answered awkwardly.

"You hold her back."

"I, er— respect that opinion, but your daughter is in tons of AP classes, and about 12 thousand clubs at once. She's... the best."

"And, without you, could be better."

"I... that doesn't really matter if she wants to be with me." I said quietly. "Look, I mean... she's got potential and she's using it. And... I'm also here. It's her choice what she wants to do anyways." I said as politely as possible.

"She's 15, her parents have a say in what goes on in her life."

"She spends time with the people she wants to spend time with. I mean this in the calmest way possible, but maybe you could... spend time with your daughter if you wanted her to be as happy with you as she seems to be with me."

"She's happy with me, but I'm not sure about you." He said.

At first this conversation had me doubting myself, but now he's talking nonsense.

"I've seen Ashlyn smile, and I've also seen her fake a smile. I've seen her put up a happy front for the sake of others. I do it too." I looked over at the room Ashlyn was in, seeing the door open and her waving at me as the doctors left. Relieved to be able to leave, I said goodbye and walked over to her.