“I’m not ready to talk to him.”
“Maybe not, but he loves you.”
“Why are you defending him?”
He shrugs. “I’m trying to put myself in his shoes. He has three beautiful daughters, and he’s famous. He has to be worried about men taking advantage of you, even without his fame. Maybe cut him some slack.”
“After the way he treated you?”
“I got to defend myself. I also got the girl.” He winks. “Come on, let’s go inside, and you can call him back.” He climbs out of the truck, and I do the same. “I was going to get your door.”
“I know how to open doors, Cameron,” I remind him.
“I know you do. It’s not about you not being able to. It’s about me spoiling you and showing you in small ways, like opening your door, how much you mean to me.”
“Silver tongue,” I mutter, making him laugh.
“Come on, beautiful.” He places his hand on the small of my back and leads me to his door. He unlocks it and pushes it open, allowing me to walk in first.
As soon as we step inside, my phone rings again. “It’s him again,” I tell Cameron.
“Answer it, baby. You’ll both feel better once you do. I’m going to go change.” He kisses me quickly before walking down the hall to his room.
Plopping down on the couch, I swipe at the screen and accept what is now a video call. “Hey.”
“Princess.” My dad’s voice cracks.
“Dad.”
“I owe you an apology.”
“You owe Cameron an apology.”
“He chose you.”
“Of course he did. He loves me,” I say without thinking.
Dad sucks in a breath. “I had to make sure. I know that dating has been hard for you. Your mother and I talked,” he confesses. “I know he’s playing for the Blaze, and he has his own career, but I had to be sure. I needed to push him to see how he felt about you.”
“I understand what you’re saying, but you need to learn to trust me. I can make my own choices. I’ve made it this far and done all right for myself.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, princess. I do. I just… I love you so damn much. You made me a dad for the first time, and I know you’re an adult, but dammit, I’m having a hard time with that.”
Cameron comes to sit next to me and kisses my cheek. “Cameron,” Dad says.
“Mr. Monroe.”
“My daughter tells me you’re good to her.”
“I love her.”
Dad nods. “I owe you an apology. Part of me was being an ass earlier, and part of me was testing you. I know Paisley has had too many guys in her life using her. Whether that’s to get to me or to the league or to her uncles, hell, I don’t know, but my daughter is my priority.”
“She’s mine too.”
Dad nods. “I’m having a hard time with that. For too long I was the man in her life. It’s not sunshine and roses knowing you’re being replaced.”
“Daddy, I’m not replacing you,” I say, tears welling in my eyes.