His Girl #Wattys2016

29. Approvals and acceptances.

My father smiled at me from where he was standing. Inside the apartment. And I backed away, staring at him.

"Sarah! Come give your old man a hug," he squealed like a little girl. "It's been ages since I saw you."

"Dad! H-how...?" I stuttered.

"How I entered the apartment?" He asked and I nodded. "Oh, your sister still leaves a spare key under the mattress. I remembered it."

"It's not nice to barge in someone's apartment like that, Daddy!" I shouted, while pacing up the steps between us to hug him. "I missed you so much!"

"Me too, baby, me too. Please, come back with me."

I rolled my eyes at the walls. "Not again, Dad. You know-"

"Stop taking her side so much." My dad cut me short. "She left you for days and went with her boyfriend. He is more important to her, can't you see? And you leave your daddy behind for an ungrateful girl like her!"

I would have never let him say all that about Emily if I hadn't been thinking the same things. It was like he was voicing the thoughts in my head and I found myself nodding at the walls again. He held my hands and with a pleading face requested me to return home. And this time, I nodded at him.

"I think it's time to move again, Dad. I'm done making excuses for her."

"I'm glad to hear that. Anyway, who are all these people?" Dad asked, looking behind me for the first time.

"Oh, these are my friends. And my boyfriend."

*****

After what seemed like an hour of standing still and staring at Aaron, my Dad extended his hand towards Aaron.

"Nice to meet you, son," he said, in a gruff tone.

"Same here, sir. It's a pleasure." Aaron shook my dad's hands firmly and my dad seemed to like that.

"This is Aaron's younger brother, Adrian. He goes to school with us, a junior. And this is Drake and co. who you know quite well."

Dad nodded, and patted Drake on his back in a friendly way. Dad loved Drake ever since I had brought him home. At first, my parents thought we were dating. But when they saw the brotherly affection he had for me, they seemed to like him even better. Dad picked up Daphne, though she was too old to be picked up, and they exchanged a grin.

"I'd have brought you something had I known you were coming over," dad said to Daphne.

"Sarah spoils me enough," Daphne said, mimicking her brother.

We all laughed and went inside, into the living room. I informed dad that we were having a get-together and he was glad to join, though I never invited him. He made roasted chicken for everyone and salad for me. Being the only vegetarian in the group, I had to sit away from them during lunch.

We ate ice cream, drank beer and spent our evening watching rented movies. When it was time to leave, Aaron took me away for a moment and asked me if I was sure about moving out of Emily's apartment.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I should have done it long before. She needs her privacy, Aaron."

"At least discuss it with her and decide, Sarah. Don't make a hasty decision."

"My dad wants me home, Aaron. I can't keep pushing him away for this-this girl who doesn't even-doesn't even bother about me!" I sobbed lightly.

Aaron pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head. He hushed me up and told me that he was okay with any decision I took, and he asked me the new address.