Tangled Roots

Chapter Eight: Letting Him In

Jinae's POV

It was one of those quiet nights when everything felt too still, like the calm before a storm. The kind of night that made me feel a little restless, my mind wandering. It was late, but I hadn't spoken to my dad in a while, and I missed him. My father was my world-always had been, and always would be. I thought about everything he'd sacrificed for me, the way he'd worked so hard to make sure I had a future. It wasn't always easy, and we didn't have much, but we had each other. That was enough.

I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, unlocked it, and scrolled through my contacts until I found his number. The moment I hit *call*, my heart gave a little skip, like it always did when I spoke to him.

"Hey, baby girl," my dad answered, his voice as warm and steady as ever.

"Hey, Daddy," I smiled, even though he couldn't see me. I sank back into the pillows, pulling the covers around me as I stretched out. "How are you?"

"Same old, same old," he chuckled. "Work's been crazy, but you know me. Always got my head in the game. How's Princeton treatin' you?"

I smiled, feeling my chest warm at the mention of my school. "It's great, Dad. You know, stressful at times, but I'm hangin' in there. I've been busy with this food blog stuff, too. You know how it is." I said the last part lightly, trying not to reveal how much pressure I felt juggling everything. I wanted him to be proud, but sometimes it felt like I was barely keeping it all together.

"That's my girl," he said proudly. "You always make it work. I know you've been working hard, but don't forget to rest, okay? You're still my little girl, no matter how old you get."

I laughed softly. "I know, Dad. I'll take care of myself. How's everything at home? You still workin' that late shift?"

"Yeah, still pullin' them hours. It's tough, but you know I gotta keep the lights on. But enough about me. What about you? You sound a little... different. What's goin' on?"

My dad could always tell when something was off. I could never hide anything from him. My stomach fluttered, and I hesitated for a moment. I hadn't told him much about Dave yet. About *us*. And the thought of it made me feel a little nervous, even though I knew he wouldn't judge me.

"Well..." I bit my lip, sitting up a little straighter in bed. "I've been seeing someone."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. "Oh yeah?" My dad's voice was calm, but I could tell he was curious. "Who's this lucky guy?"

I sighed, trying to find the right words. "His name is Dave. He's from New York. He's a little older than me, but... he's a good guy." I paused, my heart beating faster. "He's kind of a big deal, too. He's got this... presence about him. But he's sweet to me, Dad. I swear. He treats me right."

"Mm," he hummed, clearly thinking. "Well, I can tell you've been happy lately. If he makes you smile, that's good enough for me." My dad's voice softened, and I could hear the affection in it. "But you're gonna have to tell me more about him, baby girl. I need to know who I'm trusting my little girl with."

I couldn't help but smile at that. "I know, Daddy. He's actually been really great with me... and with Kaiari, too."

"Kaiari?" he asked, his tone curious.

I sighed, feeling a lump in my throat as I thought about Dave's daughter. "Yeah... She's his little girl. She's four now. And, Daddy, she's been through a lot. Her mom passed away right after she was born. So Dave's been raising her on his own, and... well, I've been spending time with them." I paused, my heart aching for Kaiari. "She reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger... you know, losing my mom like that."

There was a long pause, and I could feel my dad processing everything I said. "You've been taking care of her, huh?" His voice softened with understanding. "You're a good soul, Jinae. You always were. Look at you, stepping up for someone else's kid."

"Yeah," I said quietly, looking out the window, feeling a bittersweet sense of connection between me and Kaiari. "I want to be there for her. And for Dave. They've both been through so much."

My dad's voice grew thoughtful, almost a little heavy. "You know, you gotta be careful with people like that. Especially someone like him. Sounds like he's got a lot going on, and when people have a lot of weight on them, it can mess with their head."

"I know, Dad," I said quickly, sitting up straighter. "I'm being careful. I promise. But... I think he's different. I just feel... safe with him."

"Safe?" My dad's voice was sharp, protective. "Baby girl, no one's gonna make you feel safer than me. You know that, right?"

I smiled softly, feeling that familiar comfort. "I know, Daddy. I just... I think you'll like him when you meet him."

"Well, I look forward to it. I gotta size this guy up, make sure he's worthy of you." There was a brief pause before he added, "You're still my baby girl, no matter how old you get, Jinae."

I chuckled softly, my heart full. "I know, Daddy. Always will be."

Later that week...

It had been a few days since my conversation with my dad, and it was finally time for me to introduce Dave to him. I was nervous. For the first time in my life, I wanted my dad to approve of the guy I was with. I didn't want to feel torn between them-between the man I was falling for and the man who raised me.

Dave knocked on the door around 7 p.m., dressed casually but still carrying that effortlessly cool vibe that made him look like he belonged in a magazine. I opened the door, feeling my heart race. He smiled when he saw me, leaning in to kiss my cheek.

"You ready for this?" he asked while stepping in and giving me a kiss, his voice teasing but with a hint of nervousness that surprised me.

"I think so," I said, biting my lip. I hadn't told my dad when Dave was arriving, so it was going to be a bit of a surprise. But I was confident my dad would take it in stride.

I dialed my dad's number and hit *call*, the phone ringing once, twice, three times before he picked up.

"Hey, baby girl," my dad answered, a warm note in his voice.

"Hey, Daddy," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "So... I have someone here with me. I wanted you to meet him."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Who's that?" my dad asked, his tone curious but calm.

I glanced at Dave, who was standing just behind me, hands stuffed in his pockets, a little smile tugging at the corners of his lips. I could feel the energy between us shift. There was something magnetic, something real, about this moment.

"It's Dave," I said softly. "I want you to meet him."

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Author's Note

This chapter focuses on the anticipation and excitement of Jinae introducing Dave to her dad, highlighting her nervousness and the growing closeness between her and Dave. The emotional dynamics with her father are explored, as well as the tenderness in Jinae and Dave's relationship.