“But, we both know that once that bull is out the gate well…”
“Jackson stop talking to the poor boy in riddles and come out with it.”
“Oh I’m pretty sure he knows what I mean. Anyway like I was saying, my no isn’t a personal no, it’s a dad’s duty to keep all sniveling little piss-ants away from his little girl.
I’d still be saying no when she’s thirty, but I’m pretty sure that we can’t really stop you two at this point if this is what you want.
I have to say I’m very impressed with the way you came here to us. It shows you have something that quite frankly I’d despaired of ever seeing again, especially in one so young.
With all that being said there’re a few things that we have to clear up. If Sian isn’t interested it’s obvious that you will leave her alone, though I don’t think that will be the case.
And, just because I admire your approach doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t break every bone in your body if you make her cry. Understood?”
“Yes sir, you won’t regret it.” We stood and shook hands while I came down from that precipice I’d been balancing on.
As confident as I was in myself, there had always been the chance that there could’ve been a problem. Now with that out of the way, I just needed to convince my little slugger.
Chapter 4
SIAN
“Jared.” I dragged my brother into my room when I caught him out in the hallway. “What’s going on, why is Jace in there with mom and dad?”
“I don’t know sis you’ll have to ask him when he comes out.” He smirked at me and I was about to gut punch my second jock for the night. I was a little worried though and it must’ve shown on my face.
“Sis, do you like, like Jace even a little bit?” What kind of moron was he? Didn’t he know no teenage girl worth her salt would discuss such a thing with her brother?
I started to give him my withering glare designed to make all lesser beings whimper, but he caught me off guard with his next words.
“This is serious sis; I don’t even think you two have even met yet, well before tonight. But are you interested in him?”
“What if I am?” I folded my arms and leaned against the wall. I still wasn’t willing to give anything away yet.
I haven’t been thinking straight since that car pulled up in our driveway and now he’s downstairs locked away with both my parents, after sending me to my room of all things.
I was having an out of body experience, that’s the only explanation for what was going on here. And that kiss; well it was more like a peck really but…
“I think he’s a nice guy Si, like seriously nice.”
“Yeah but he has a girlfriend.”
“I don’t think so, I think they broke up. He doesn’t say much about it which is another great thing about the guy, but I’m pretty sure they’re not together. Plus I don’t think he’d be here practically asking mom and dad for your hand if he wasn’t serious…”
“He did what?”
“Oh shit…” He tried scampering away but I was too quick for him and blocked off the doorway.
“Start talking or your signed Danny Marino pigskin is going the way of Jimmy Hoffa.”
“Dude, don’t even joke about that shit.”
I had to roll my eyes at him, because he was acting like I nut punched him.
“Spill.” I advanced on him and he backed up, dad would skin him if he even looked at me wrong and I had no problem using that to my advantage. I know it’s unfair but meh, you use what you’ve got.
“Start talking Jared Claiborne, what is going on down there?”
“Oh man, look here’s the deal. I’m not really sure since I’m not in the room. I think you should wait until mom and dad calls you or something.”
“But you said he was asking for my hand.”
“Kinda, sorta, I think he’s asking if he can date you, but I’m not sure.” He tacked on that last piece when I folded my fist and gritted my teeth.
“How can he be asking them when he hasn’t even asked me?”
“Actually I think his approach is very affective, I’m thinking of using it myself next time I meet a girl. Dad was looking kind of shell-shocked.”
“I guess it is kinda sweet and old fashioned…”
“Sian, come down here please.”
Oh shit oh shit oh shit. I was suddenly the most nervous that I’d ever been in my life. I didn’t know what to do.
The thing was I wasn’t certain if I was more nervous about a boy asking my dad to take me out, or the fact that that ‘boy’ was Jace, the hottest guy in the world, and he was interested in me.
“Coming dad.” I looked at Jared but he was no help the idiot. He was grinning like the fool that he is as I crept out of my room at a crawl.
This is almost embarrassing. The hottest guy ever was standing in my kitchen with my dad and they had been discussing me.
What if dad had said no? I sped up a little faster on that thought. If he had I’d just have to change his mind.
Uh-oh, I didn’t have time to pursue that thought because mom met me in the hallway outside the kitchen and hugged me and kissed my forehead with this look on her face like she was sending me off somewhere.
“My little girl is growing up.” She sniffled into a tissue and pushed me towards the kitchen. “Go on honey your dad is waiting.”
What the hell, had that freak really asked for my hand in marriage or some crap?
“Dad what’s wrong with mom?” It was as good a cover as any, to hide my nervousness. I didn’t look at Jace just long enough to see him lounging back against the island with his arms folded and his legs crossed.
He didn’t look like he’d been asked to leave, or threatened with dad’s gun and I felt a stirring in my heart. A soft warm flush went through me and I felt like smiling.