--The following morning, I was seated at my desk in my bedroom working on my biology review when my phone buzzed. I picked it up.
"Hello?"
"How's my little Superstar?"
I immediately broke out into a smile, rolling my eyes. "Dad, I'm not five anymore."
He sighed. "I know. It's just hard to believe that my little girl is all grown up. Now, she's living half way across the country, studying to be a doctor."
I thought I heard a sniffle on the other end. "Dad, you're not going to cry, are you?" I said warily.
I knew he was only teasing, since he often acted like this at least once a month for the past three years since I moved out here. So, I've learned that it's best to go along with it.
"No, no," he said quickly. "Just got a little dust in my eyes, that's all."
I smirked, sitting back in my chair. "Uh huh."
"So, how's the studying going?" He asked, changing the subject.
"Good. I'm working on biology right now. Got a big test coming up."
"Oh, good. I mean, not the test, but the studying. I always hated taking tests when I was your age--"
I smiled at his mumbling. "Dad?"
"Yeah, Hon'?"
"I miss you," I said, my tone softening.
There was a short pause. "I miss you, too."
The line went quiet for a moment as a dull mood hung in the air.
I only visited my Dad back home in Chicago at least three times a year, but we made sure to keep in contact as often as we could. When he was diagnosed with stage one cancer last year, I was ready to take the first flight home and drop the whole dream of going to Stanford medical school. But my Dad somehow convinced me to stay, cleverly using his role as a Father to his advantage,
"I'd like to be able to tell people that my daughter goes to one of the most renowned medical schools in the country, studying to be a doctor just like her Father," He had told me, pridefully. "I can't do that if you're here and not in Los Angeles finishing your premed courses. So, don't even think about getting on that plane. I'll be fine here. All you need to worry about is your classes."
So, I had stayed, but under the condition that he kept me informed about how his treatments were going and if anything changed.
I shook my head, not wanting to think about it. This time, it was my turn to change the subject. "So, how's Boots behaving?"
Boots was our black and white Great Dane puppy. I bought him for Dad for his birthday last year to keep him company so I wasn't so worried about Dad being alone at home. Though, I only saw Boots twice since I got him, so I imagine he wasn't much of a puppy anymore.
"He's keeping me busy that's for sure," Dad said with a chuckle. "I told him to go sit down and he darted off into the living room and knocked over an end table. Maybe I should consider investing in some obedience classes."
I laughed. "Those obedience classes are pretty elaborate. Don't be surprised if you catch him on the toilet reading a newspaper," I joked.
"Now, that would be something," He replied, mischief in his tone. "At least I'd save money on plastic bags."
I shook my head, grinning. Phone calls between my Dad and I were always interesting.
"So, how is everything there?" He questioned. "You're not still dating that band guy, are you?" His tone was playful, but there was a hint of seriousness beneath it.
My Dad was okay with me dating, but when he found out that Derek was in a band, he wasn't exactly pleased about it. He had this idea that being in a band wasn't a serious career choice, and since he came from a family of doctors, I could understand his reasoning. So, needless to say, he wasn't disappointed when we broke it off.
YOU ARE READING
When It Rains (Riker Lynch Fanfic)
FanfictionHe licked his dry lips as she approached, "Well?" Mikaela swallowed hard before looking up to meet his anxious eyes, "It's yours." Two simple words, yet they had the power to stop Riker's heart cold. One fateful night was all it took. One fateful...