The Love Scheme

|03| No place like Home

Stop acting so weird Lily.

But how can I.

I slowly closed my mouth, suddenly self conscious. I was in sweats, friggin sweats and he was so....wow

He ran a huge hand through his dark black locks of hair, loose curls that gently caressed his cheekbones. His distant cold ocean eyes blinked and he pursed his lips, thinking about his sibling.

I awkwardly cleared my throat as he turned around back to the line and away from me.

He was so good looking that my mouth became dry and my legs jelly, my heart— damnit I sound like a thirteen year old.

I placed a hand over my heart on my chest, feeling it smashing into my ribs.

Get a grip.

" Hey move over, you're next in line"

I broke my trance, sending an apologetic look to the grumpy looking man behind me, he scoffed and I rolled my eyes at him, pushing my cart over to the till.

Looking around a few times before sighing disappointedly..... he was gone.

Gone, there goes my garlic and cheese snacks.

" Dad I'm home" I grumbled placing all the heavy bags I'd been balancing with all my strength on the wooden dinner table , stretching my limbs, yawning— everything hurt.

It was good to be home for a change, campus was great with the freedom and all but nothing beat home, footsteps padded down the stairs and a tall frame stood by the door to the kitchen, arms crossed across his chest.

" Three hours late, it's way past dinner time" He lectured, tilting his head to the side. His hazel eyes identical to mine narrowing seriously, although I could see right through his demeanor. A small smile pulled at his thin lips.

" Dad I can explain, just not now— please" I pulled out his keys from my Jean pocket and tossed them to him, he caught them and inspected them. My heart thumped against my chest.

I bit my upper lip, it's now or never, tell him Lily, say it.

Dad walked closer to the table, going through the bags and nodding his head in approval.
" Look flower, you're nineteen years old, in college and I get it" he paused looking up at me, I stared blankly at him.

Okay here we go again, another one of his boring motivational lectures.

Yawn.

" I want you to explore your teenage life honey, you've been in that head of yours all your life and although I couldn't ask for a better daughter, please just loosen up a bit"

My jaw dropped.

Did I hear him right.

Was dad telling me to go out there, in the big bad dangerous world make mistakes, get drunk, waisted, laid....drugs.

I cringed and visibly paled.

I'm not ready for that. I'm only nineteen not ninety.

" Lily I'm not saying go partying every Friday or do drugs" he gave me a death glare " I'm just saying, I know you don't want to be like your mom and you're not, don't blame yourself for what she did, just live life and be careful"

I felt my eyes water and blinked the tears away, opening my hands wide, Dad copied my pose and I hurriedly ran into his arms, hugging him tightly, he patted my back and sighed.

" Does pasta sounds good for dinner, pork's gonna take hours to prepare and it's already late"

I pulled back with a toothy grin.
" Sounds great Dad and about what you said"