Waiting

Chapter 5

The moment I stepped inside, I saw Carter and my father sitting on the couch. I closed the door slowly, locking the knob and deadbolt.

“What are you guys doing?” I asked. They were sitting on the couch, but the television wasn’t on and they weren’t talking to each other.

“How was your date tonight, Kenz?” Carter asked, turning to me with a small grin.

I furrowed my eyebrows, “It was fun… why did both of you wait up?”

Carter stood from the couch and stood a few feet away from me.

“I’m sure you know that Dad stayed up to make sure that you didn’t try to sneak that One Direction guy in here, and I stayed up to save Dad from having a heart attack if you did bring that guy in here,” Carter answered with a smirk, making me roll my eyes.

“I would not have brought him inside,” I lied. “And ‘that guy’ has a name; Niall,” I added somewhat defensively.

Carter’s eyebrows rose in a mixture of surprise and disbelief. I knew that he could see right through me. Our father on the other hand, could not, so I was praying that Carter wouldn’t say anything out loud.

“Alright, well good night baby sister. I’m glad that you had a good time on your date,” Carter began, wrapping his arms around me in a hug. “We’re talking about this later,” he whispered into my hair before leaving to his bedroom.

I stood awkwardly, waiting for my father to speak up. When he didn’t, I began to turn to walk to my bedroom.

“McKenzie, can you sit here, please?” my father called softly, patting the space on the couch beside him.

I nodded and walked to the couch, sitting beside him and placing my purse on the coffee table. I waited for my father to speak. I wasn’t positive on what he would say to me, but I was praying that it wasn’t the sex talk.

“I am glad that you had a good time tonight, McKenzie,” my father began, “But you know how I feel when you go out with guys.”

Of course I knew how he felt. I felt the same way. The only difference was that I knew what was going on and he didn’t. It made sense for him to worry.

I just nodded and let him continue.

“After everything that your mother did to you…” he started, cutting off when I shook my head.

“Don’t think about that, Dad. It’s in the past and we can’t change it if we keep fixating on it,” I ordered softly.

My father shook his head, “You were so young, McKenzie…”

“I know,” I stated, “I don’t think I’m going to go out with Niall anymore, though.”

I watched as my father’s eyebrows furrowed, “Why not?”

I wasn’t as awkward as I should have been, talking to my father about boys.

“I don’t like having to hide from people to hang out with him. Besides, it’s not realistic to start anything with him… famous people date other famous people. They don’t bother with girls like me,” I explained.

My father chuckled a bit, “You’re not aware of how… intriguing you are, are you?”

I laughed out loud and shook my head, “Don’t patronize me, Dad.”

I earned an eye roll from my father, but ignored it. He sighed and stood from the couch, glancing back at me.

“Don’t ever put yourself down, McKenzie. I understand that you feel vulnerable around guys, but when you meet the right one, you’ll know. And he will be the one to treat you the way that you deserve to be treated.”