Because of You (Because of You 1)

I bit my lip, but smiled anyway.

He shook his head, sitting down next to me. "Okay, so... I gave you the condoms. I don't really kno

w how to have this talk with a girl, not my daughter anyway, so... Be safe. And don't ever let me see anything like that again," he said, shaking his head.

I grimaced a little. "Well, I didn't think you were home."

"My car is in the driveway," he stated.

"I was preoccupied," I said, blushing.

That time, he was the one to grimace. "Wow, we're doing this now? Wasn't I just buying you an ice cream cone and flipping your pigtails yesterday?"

I had to smile, as that was the first fatherly type of thing Alex had ever said to me. "No, that was last week."

He smiled at me, shaking his head. "I have one last rule," he stated.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Don't ever bring home anyone like me."

That caused me to laugh, and I shook my head. "Don't worry, I won't."

He gave me a sardonic smile and shook his head, standing up. "Go... do your homework or call your boyfriend or something."

"Can I invite him over?" I asked hopefully.

"Absolutely not."

I frowned, pouting a little, but went to my room anyway, deciding not to push my luck.

"So, did you get in trouble?" Derek asked me later on the phone.

"No, he just told me not to bring home anyone like him. It just freaked him out a little. I guess it would freak me out too if my daughter walked in making out with some guy I had never seen before."

"Especially if he was undressing her," Derek added.

"Oh, especially then," I agreed.

"I guess I made a really good first impression then, huh?"

"Oh yeah," I replied. "He's definitely going to be inviting you hunting any day now."

"Am I what we're hunting?" he asked.

"No, he isn't that protective," I told him. "I was actually a little surprised he said anything at all. Alex has never been very excited about inheriting a daughter."

"Is that why you don't call him dad?" he asked me.

I nodded, flopping down on my bed. "Yeah. I guess it just seems... odd."

"Well, look on the bright side, at least he didn't walk in on us."

"Yeah, that's something, I guess."

"Hey, my dad needs to use the phone. Want me to call you back on my cell?"

"No, I have some homework to do anyway. Why don't we just see each other tomorrow?"