Same Kinda Different

Chapter 4

*Couple days later*
As I'm working on a song dad sits down beside me and says, "Something you need to tell me, Lake?"
I grin at him and shrug my shoulders.
He says, "Well I heard through the grapevine that my daughter is now dating someone. You could have told me, Laken Abilene."
I shake my head and look at him with puppy dog eyes.
He smiles and says, "Lake, he knows your past right? He knows that Kaitlyn comes first right? He understands that he has to take his time with you right?"
I laugh and shake my head and say, "Dad, if it makes you feel better we're having lunch together today. Would you like to come?"
Dad grins and says, "Yes. Your mother needs to be invited, too."
I groan and give him a look. Then state, "Y'all are going to cause Tucker to run off. We just started dating and now he's going to have to have lunch with my parents. We haven't even talked about that yet. We do good having breakfast with Remi." I quickly put my hand over my mouth and look at dad.
Dad raises his eyebrow and says, "So he has breakfast with you two girls?"
I groan and mumble, "Dad, it's not what your thinking. He usually either brings breakfast by the house or we meet him before I take Remi to day care."
He says, "So he's not staying at your house? In your bed?"
I mumble, "Oh my god! Really, Dad? No, we're not sleeping together. Yes, he stayed at the house the night we started dating but that's because it was late and Remi was sick."
Dad kinda smiles and says, "He stayed to help you care for Remi. That was nice of him."
I smile and say, "Dad, he's a nice guy. He super sweet to Remi and Remi already loves him."
Dad nods and says, "I'm going to call your mom and tell her we're all having lunch together."
I nod and say, "Great! Want me to get Remi, too?"
He shakes his head and says, "Nah."

*A couple hours later at the restaurant*
I grab Tucker's hand and squeeze it.
He looks at me and says, "Lake, it's fine. Yes, it's a lot earlier than I'd like to meet your parents. I want them to like me but you and KR come first."
I smile at him and say, "I know. I just know how my parents are. Your dating the daughter of Anastasia and Tony Brown; they know too many people in Nashville and I'm scared if anything happens it'll hurt you."
He brushes my bangs out of my face and says, "Baby, stop worrying about it. I'll be fine. I'm not going to be worried unless something happens between us." He kisses my forehead.
I wrap my arms around his waist and bury my head into his chest. I take a deep breath and mumble, "But I know how my parents are."
He kisses the top of my head and says, "Stop, Lake. It's going to be fine. I think your parents are here."
I move my head so it's facing the door and mumble, "Yep. They're here." I lean up and kiss Tucker real quick before I unwrap my arms from around his waist. I smile at my parents as they walk up to us. Mom hugs me and looks at Tucker.
I say, "Mom, Dad this is Tucker Beathard. Tucker these are my parents Anastasia and Tony Brown."
I watch him shake my dad and mom's hand. He hands mom the flowers he picked up. Mom smiles and says, "They're beautiful, Tucker."
Tucker grins and says, "Thank you."
I intertwine our fingers and say, "Let's go in and eat. I'm starving."
Tucker opens and holds the door for us. I smile at him and wink. He grins and pops me on the bottom when I walk by him. I look at him and raise an eyebrow. He just nods his head towards my parents. I shake my head at him and walk up to my parents.
Mom whispers, "Saw that, Lake."
I look at her and blush. She laughs and wraps an arm around me as we walk to the table. We start looking at the menu when I feel Tucker's hand grab mine. He squeezes it. I look at him and smile. Our waitress comes by and takes our order.
Dad finally looks at us and says, "What are your intentions with my daughter?"
Tucker smiles and says, "I'll tell you the same thing I told her the night we started dating. I want to give her what Whitt wouldn't give her. The same thing goes for KR. They both come first to me. I spent weeks getting to know Laken and KR; I really care for them. Do I love them right this second? No, but I know I'm slowly falling in love with them."
Dad nods his head and says, "I'll make sure to hold you to all of that just so you know."
I groan and say, "Dad, we just started dating."
He looks at me and says, "I know, Laken Abilene. I just want Tucker, here, to know that I'm watching him."
Mom finally says, "Okay, Tony, leave the boy alone before he decides to run off and leave our daughter."
Tucker smiles at my mom and says, "It would probably take a lot more than that to cause me to run off."
I smile at him as our food is brought out. We all start eating. After a little bit we are all finished and we say our good byes. I look at Tucker and mumble, "I'm sorry honey."
He grins at me and says, "It's okay. I don't think it was that bad. It's about time for us to go get KR."

We get up and leave. I go and get Remi from day care and go back to my house. I see Tucker's truck already parked in my drive way. I park my car and get out. I look at Remi and say, "Tuck's here baby girl." She starts clapping and giggling. I smile and get her out. Tucker is standing at the front of my car so I watch Remi run off to him and him pick her up and spin her around. I start listening to her rambling about day care while I grab our stuff.
Tucker says, "Baby, you know there's some flowers up here?"
I groan and go unlock the front door and carry our stuff in the room. I go back out and grab the flowers. I start to dispose of them as Tucker puts his hand on mine and gives me a look.
"They're from Whitt. He keeps sending them to me. He wants me to forgive him and give him another chance." I inform him as I real quick turn away from him to finish throwing them away.
I turn to face Tucker see the look on his face. "Damnit, Tuck, I don't want my ex-husband. I'm very happy with what we have going on. My daughter loves you. She doesn't even know him. I forgave him long ago but I don't want him back."
He buries his head into the crook of my neck and mumbles, "I know baby. I just worry I'm going to lose you and KR."
I laugh and say, "You may lose us but it won't be to him. I don't even know how he got my new address but I wish he hadn't. I'm tired of the flowers."
Tucker says, "We will figure it out baby. There's probably something you can do to get them to stop sending them."
I nod my head then walk to the living room. It's been a semi-kinda stressful day and I just want to relax.