Little Miss Nosy

Chapter 40- Friendly Introductions

"What if he doesn't like me?"

"Stop worrying. He'll love you."

"Dads don't like their daughter's boyfriends. There will probably be friendly introductions, and then an interrogation." Ashton whispered like we were spilling some type of forbidden secret.

I rolled my eyes and continued to lead us down the hallway of the rehabilitation center.

Turns out that regular therapy did little to no help in healing dad's back. So, they took him in for surgery. The process went smoothly with dad's major annoyance stemming from him having to stay in the hospital for a few more weeks. He hated the place just as much as I did.

"And how would you know that? Experience from past girlfriends?" I ask, pushing down the slight jealousy I felt.

"No, movies. I never really had girlfriends. They were more uh..."

"You don't need to say it," I say and smile at a nurse walking by.

One night stands.

Ashton laughed nervously but quickly straightened up as we reached the correct door.

"You're sure he'll like me? What if he doesn't? What if I screw up and say something idiotic? What if he forbids you from seeing me? What if-"

I raise my hand to stop his rambling and groan.

"20 questions is supposed to be my game. Now I know why you get so irritated. Anyway, I'm sure he will like you. If he doesn't, oh well. His loss. You're Ashton Brooks. If you screw up just turn on that polite smile of yours and charm your way through the rest of the meeting. And forget about the whole 'forbidding' thing. My mom is the only one who can do that and she already loves you." I took a deep breath and smiled, happy that I was able to answer all of his questions so we could finally go in.

But Ashton wasn't looking at me. His attention stayed glued on the door we were supposed to be through by now.

"Ashton!" I snapped my fingers in front of his face and he blinked a couple of times, focusing his attention back on me.

"Did you say something?" he asked. "Sorry! Sorry. I was just playing out all of the possible ways this could go horribly wrong," he rushed out after receiving a glare from me.

All that motivation, now wasted!

"We're going inside." I grabbed his wrist and pulled him forward. He didn't object so I took that as a good sign.

Was he being incredibly annoying?

Yes.

Was he being incredibly cute?

Double yes!

I've never seen this side of him before but I knew he just wanted to impress my dad and make me happy. And for that, I couldn't fault him.

The room was incredibly spacious. On one side sat the couches and tables where the patients could relax. On the other was where the equipment was kept. The whole room was bathed in sunlight being let in by the open windows near the furniture.

I saw my dad and a person who I could only guess was his nurse near the exercise equipment.

I beamed as dad walked forward on a mat. He wasn't using his walker or cane like he usually needed to get around. Instead, he held onto a railing next to him. His footsteps were slow and a bit shaky, but it was progress.