Page 65 of #Lovestrong

Lena

Waking up, I'm wrapped in warmth and seriously tempted to just go back to sleep. Declan’s arms are draped around me, and my body rises and falls gently with each breath he takes. This is why I didn't have any nightmares— it's him. He keeps all the bad stuff away. Maybe I can talk to my grandparents and see if they'll let him stay the night. It looks like I'm going to have to go to school tomorrow and I won't sleep if he isn't here.

I lift my head and find Declan staring down at me with a small smirk on his face. "Hey, beautiful. You sleep okay?"

I push up and rest my forearms on his chest and smile. "Yeah. Thank you. Maybe you can stay tonight so I can sleep more."

Declan's eyes go wide. "I doubt that."

"Why?" I say, unable to hide the hurt in my voice. Declan usually jumps at any chance for us to stay together.

He clears his throat and glances over my shoulder. I follow his eyes and do a double take at my father standing in the kitchen.

"Oh my God, Dad!" I scramble off Declan and run to my father, jumping up to hug him, something I haven't done since I was nine years old.

"Hey, baby girl," he says as he catches me mid-air and wraps his arms around my middle.

I squeeze him hard, realizing all at once how much I've missed him. "What are you doing here? Why didn't you text me?"

He sets me back on my feet but keeps his hands on my shoulders. "It's your birthday. Did you really think I'd miss my only kid’s eighteenth birthday? Plus, your Grandpa told me about what happened at Homecoming. I figured I'd come find out who I need to punch."

I can't help but laugh and hug him again. He's always threatening to punch someone at home, but the truth is, he's a gentle giant. My dad hardly ever yells, let alone gets physical with people. "I'm glad you're here."

He chuckles and lets go, smiling down at me. His eyes dart over my shoulder and his smile fades some. "Lena, let's go talk for a moment, okay?"

I nod and follow my dad down the hall to my Grandpa's office. Once we step inside, he closes the door and sits down on the daybed, patting the space next to him. I sit and stare at my dad, more than happy with him being here. I really have missed him.

"So that's Declan, huh?"

My face falls. "Uh, yeah. I thought you were okay with me dating him?"

When I talked to my dad on the phone before, the day he asked to speak to Declan, he seemed fine with all this. Now, I'm not so sure.

"I am, honey. It just looks more serious than I thought it was." He reaches over and takes my hand, running his thumb over the promise ring Declan gave me.

I take my father's hand in both of mine and smile at him. "He loves me, Dad."

My dad sighs and wipes his free hand over his face. "I can see that. I've never had to worry about you making decisions about your life, Lena. You've always been smart. Smarter than I'll ever be. Just don't rush. You're young and finally moving forward with your life."

I lean forward and hug him around his middle. My hands don't even reach all the way around my dad. "We're not rushing anything. It's a promise ring, Dad, not an engagement ring. We both want to finish college and all that first. But after that, no matter what I do with my life, he's going to be who I do it with."

He wraps his arms around me and rubs my back, taking a deep breath. "He can stay the night if you want. Just sleep with the door open, okay?"

I lean back and look in my father's face, trying to understand how hard it must be for a father to face his only child growing up and doing things like an adult. "Okay, Dad. Door open."

As we both sit up straight, there's a knock and my Grandma peeks in, holding out her cordless house phone. "Lena, you have a call. It's Declan's mother."

My eyes go wide as I get up and take the phone from her, putting it to my ear. "Hello?"

"Happy Birthday, Lena!" She sounds way too excited. It makes me smile considering she and Mr. Aidan treat me like their own kid even though I'm not.

"Thanks, Mrs. Carrigan."

"Aidan wants to take everyone out on the boat to celebrate your birthday. How about that? Maybe around three? Your grandparents too."

My heart melts at how sweet the Harps are. "Thanks, but my dad showed up in town this morning."

"Oh, really? Bring him too. It's about time we meet the man who raised such a wonderful girl."

My face heats and I turn the mouthpiece away for a moment. "Declan's parents want to take us all out on the boat for my birthday. You want to go?"

My dad chuckles and nods his head. After confirming, I hang up and stand. "Come on. Let's go eat the rest of Grandpa's breakfast and you can get to know everyone."

My dad puts his hand on my shoulder and chats about what he's been up to since I left as we walk toward the kitchen. I talk with him and find all the sadness and pain from the last four days receding. It's not gone, but it's hiding for now, and that's better than nothing.

I honestly can't wait for my dad to meet Declan's family.