His Sunflower

Chapter 11

I decided I wanted to visit dad again today, so as soon as I gave grandma, Max, and Clara their dinner I made them, I walked to dad's place.

I knock on dad's door, and a minute later he opens it. "Zoey? You're here? Again?"

"Yeah, it's boring at home, so I thought I'd come hang here. Mind if I come in?"

Dad immediately shakes his head. "No, not at all. Come in."

I smile, walking in and kicking off my shoes. "Have you made your dinner yet?"

"No. I was gonna do that... eventually."

"How about we go out for dinner? Like a father daughter thing?" I suggest. Last night I realized just how much I missed my dad, and how being away from him for like two years sorta effected me. I need him, he's my dad. Plus, I think dad needs me too, being alone can't be good on his mental health. It rarely ever is good for anyone's mental health.

"Really?"

I nod. "Yeah, my treat."

"Your treat? Zoey, you aren't going to pay."

"Watch me." I still have money from my summer job, so I can definitely afford to take us out for dinner.

"Fine. Where do you want to go?"

I shrug. "I don't care."

Dad grins. "Chick-fil-A?"

I nod grinning as well. "Heck yeah!"

Chick-fil-A sounds awesome, plus I still have my employee discount even though I don't work there during the school year.

Dad drives us to the nearest Chick-fil-A, which is about thirty minutes away, there's no Chick-fil-A's in our area, we have to go to the town over, but it's always worth it.

Dad orders our food while I go find us a booth. I sit down, seeing a snap from Ethan. I open it, seeing a picture of a baby carrot. Rolling my eyes I send him a picture of the playground slide in the little play area for the young kids here.

Dad sits down a second later, smiling one of the most biggest smiles I've ever seen on him. One of the smiles he wore the day he proposed to my mom, the day they got married, the day they found out mom was pregnant with my younger brother Matthew, the day my younger brother Matthew was born, the day they found out mom was pregnant with the twins, and the day the twins were born. It makes me smile myself knowing how happy he must be feeling.

"You know Zoey, I wanted to question your sudden involvement with me, but then I realized I don't give a flying crap as long as we're both happy. You're happy, right?"

I nod my head. "Yeah dad, I'm happy right now." And for once I'm not lying about it, I really am happy in this moment.

"So how's school going?" Dad asks, leaning forward in his chair, resting his head on his hand.

"It's fine. I mean the school year started not even a week ago, but I still have a 4.0 gpa." I say shrugging.

"Remember when you were freaking out the day you were starting high school, saying you were going to fail the first year, or at least lose your perfect grades?"

I nod, remembering when he was talking about.

"Look at you! Halfway through still getting A's. I'm proud of you Zoey. I really am."

I can't help but grin. "Thank you dad."

Just then our food comes, and we switch topics as we eat.

"So really Zoey, who was that boy from yesterday?" Dad asks, giving me a look.

"He's just a friend dad." I say immediately without even thinking.

Wait a second, I just called Ethan my friend. Ew. Ethan my friend? Gross.

"I mean he's just my acquaintance." I correct myself. He's not my friend. Just an acquaintance. Obviously.

"Mhm, right." Dad says sending me a sly smile.

"Dad, don't look at me like that. He really is just my acquaintance."

"I'm not looking at you in any way." Dad says, still smiling like he knows some big secret of mine. Like he thinks me and Ethan are more than friends. "Oh, did you know your aunt Emily was just friends with your uncle River? Same with your aunt Abbey and uncle Wyatt, they were just friends too. And don't forget your mother and I, we were best friends as well."

"Dad! I do not even like Ethan!"

"Oh I know. Don't worry."

I roll my eyes and take a bite of my food.

"Hey Zoey?" Dad says randomly after a minute.

"Yeah dad?"

"I just really love you."

"I really love you too."

*****
Sorry it's shorter then normal. Lowkey just a filler chapter. Bye :)

Oh but I'll probably update this and Beautiful Crazy again sometime today.