I'll Always Love You

Chapter 26

"You can't just ban her from seeing her John, that's not fair!" It was now the day after the dinner and John still seemed to feel the same way about Jennifer and Alex as he did under the influence of alcohol. He and Caitlin were currently having an argument about the whole situation.

"I don't like it Caitlin. It's wrong. I don't know her and don't approve of her seeing my daughter." John banged his fist off the counter. It had gotten to the point where he even refused to use Alex's name.

"You do know her!"

"Not enough to date my eighteen-year-old. She's my daughter, not yours so I'd appreciate it if you'd just step back and let me handle this."

Caitlin was taken aback as she watched her husband leave the room. She may not be Jennifer's biological mother but she'd take a bullet for that girl.

"Give me your phone and laptop, you're grounded until further notice." John swung open his daughter's bedroom door and stepped inside without his permission.

The girl's jaw dropped. "For doing what?" She quickly grabbed her phone from beside her before her dad could.

"I need to make sure you won't see that girl again." He said, grabbing her laptop off her desk.

"That girl has a name." Jennifer shot back. "And what the hell? Why can't I see her?" She sat up properly on her bed and narrowed her eyes at her father.

"I don't approve of the relationship." He said simply.

"I don't give a fuck what you think. The only one that's wrong here is you for treating her like shit yesterday!" Jennifer stood up and walked towards John.

"Don't you dare use that language towards me." He said through gritted teeth. "Give me your phone." He held out his hand.

"No."

"Give it to me."

"No."

"Give it to me. Now!" He raised his voice and he reached forward, successfully grabbing it out of Jennifer's hand.

The brunette looked directly up at her father, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Don't give me the waterworks Jennifer, you're not seven anymore." John warned, slipping her phone in his pocket.

"I thought you were finally realising how happy I was with her..." Jennifer said quietly, shaking her head as her eyes burned with tears. "She's the only good thing in my life right now and you're willing to take that away from me?" She asked incredulously.

"She's a bad influence Jennifer."

"No, she's not. Why have you changed your mind so quickly?"

"I was never okay with it in the first place!" He shot back, raising his voice again. "Find someone your own age and I will be okay with it."

"Oh my god... you can't seriously be using that excuse! You're making it out like she's forty or something! She's twenty-fucking-three dad!" Jennifer exclaimed as the anger within her spread around her body.

"And you're just a kid!" He shot back.

"I'm not a kid!" Jennifer yelled, banging her fist off her wardrobe beside her.

"I'm done talking about it, Jennifer. You're not allowed to leave this house apart from school, work and soccer training." He turned around to leave.

"I love her..." The teenager said quietly, her voice cracking with tears which made John stop in his tracks.

"You don't know what love is..." He shot back as he exited the room, closing the door behind him.

"I HATE YOU!" Jennifer screamed after him before punching her wardrobe again, regretting it instantly as pain shot up her forearm.