The Road That Leads to Us (Us 1)

“It makes me love you even more that you want my dad to approve of this. I know he might not right now, but that’s because he knows too that you and me…this isn’t fleeting, and that’s gotta be scary for him. Talk to him.” I grabbed his phone and put it in his hand. “Tell him what you told me.”

He stared down at his phone and all the missed calls lighting up the screen. He swallowed thickly and nodded. “Okay.” Kissing my forehead, he said, “I’ll be right back.”

He stepped out of the room with his phone and I said a silent prayer that my dad would give him a chance to explain. I didn’t need my dad’s approval for my relationship, but I wanted it.

Dean

I paced the length of the hotel hallway as my phone buzzed incessantly in the palm of my hand.

I knew I needed to answer it and explain things, but as crazy as my thoughts were at the moment I didn’t know if I could speak English.

I pressed my fingers against my temples and applied pressure.

I’d never reacted this way to a girl’s dad before, but this was so different. I’d known Maddox for as long as I could remember—and Willow didn’t know it, but from the time I was twelve years old he’d been warning me to stay away from her. I’d promised I would, but some promises were meant to be broken.

I came to the door that led to the stairwell and opened it. I took a seat on one of the steps and inhaled a deep lungful of air.

I gave myself a silent, and mildly stupid pep talk, but it made me feel better so it must’ve worked.

After the last missed call, my phone hadn’t rung again.

I swiped the button to return the call and within one second Maddox answered.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing with my daughter?” His anger vibrated over the phone like a physical force.

“Sir,” I figured it was best to address him as formally as possible, “Willow and I are dating.”

“How long?” He seethed. “How long has this been going on? Months? Years?”

“No!” I scrubbed a hand over my face. “It’s only been a few days.”

His uneven breaths echoed across the line. I feared this was the calm before the storm.

“I told you to stay away from my little girl,” he growled.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I tried. I really did. I never wanted to go against your wishes, but I love Willow. I’m in love with her and I can’t fight it anymore. She’s beautiful and amazing and she makes me laugh and I love the way she loves life and she’s pretty damn perfect.”

“I don’t like this,” he mumbled. “But if she’s going to be with anyone, might as well be you.”

My eyes widened with shock and I sat open-mouthed, trying to get a handle on my thoughts so I could say something.

“Um, thank you,” I finally responded.

“I still don’t like this.” His voice rose. “And I’ll kill you if you hurt her. Ow, ow, ow!” He exclaimed on the other end. “Emma! Stop pinching my ear! I told him it might as well be him! Oh come on!” He cleared his throat. “Emma told me, ow! Fuck, woman, stop that!”

I pinched my lips together so I wouldn’t laugh.

“What I mean to say is that I a-a-approve,” it sounded like it killed him to say the word, “and I’ll stop being a jerk. Anything else?” I assumed the last part was directed at Emma. “Yeah, well that’s it.”

“Thank you.” I said and went to hang up.

“Wait! One more thing.” He cried suddenly and I heard shuffling on the other end and it sounded like a door closed. I heard him take a deep breath before speaking. “You’ve always scared me because I knew you had the power to take my baby girl away from me.”

“I wouldn’t—”

“Let me finish.”

I shut up.