Chapter 32 – My Dad Was Actually Going To Kill Axel #3
“And you were only a teenager when you proposed to me.” She gave him a stern look. “And Penny was barely 20 when you asked her to marry you.”
“This isn’t about me,” my dad said again. “It’s about my baby girl.” He turned back to me. “Pumpkin, tell me you’re waiting until marriage.”
My mom sighed. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered silently to me.
But this wasn’t her fault. It was RJ’s for blabbing everything. I shook my head. Actually, it was no one’s fault. I was ecstatic to be engaged. Why couldn’t my dad just be happy for me?
“Pumpkin,” my dad said firmly. “Tell me that you’re still a virgin.”
And why were we having this private conversation in front of my whole family?! “I...um...” I looked to Axel for help.
“Was?” he said.
WAS?! AXEL STEVENS!
The corner of Axel’s mouth ticked up.
I stared at him. I knew there was a lot of bad blood between my dad and Axel but he didn’t need to purposely provoke him.
Uncle Rob laughed.
“Oh my God, you guys did it?” Sophie asked. “I love that for you.”
Soph! Stop talking!
“Gross.” Liam shuddered.
But I tuned them all out. Because my dad rounded the couch.
Oh God, my dad was actually going to kill Axel.
But Uncle Matt grabbed one of his arms to hold him back. “Deep breaths, man.”
“He touched her.”
“I think he did more than touch her,” Uncle Rob said.
Sophie giggled.
My dad pushed Uncle Matt off of him, which made Uncle Mason join in. He grabbed my dad’s other arm. “She’s a senior in high school,” Uncle Mason said. “We were up to so much worse at her age.”
What the hell did that mean?!
“She’s my baby,” my dad said again.
“Dad,” I said. “I’m not a baby anymore. I love Axel. I accepted his proposal because it’s what I want. Why can’t you just be happy for us?”
“Yeah, chill man,” Uncle Rob said. “She’s not pregnant after all. At least not yet. Wrap it up, Axel.”
Please stop talking.
“These are good kids, bro. All of ‘em. It’s not like they’re doing hard drugs and have a secret lair or anything.” He winked at me.
Uncle Rob!
“What is this about a secret lair?” my dad asked.
“He said they don’t have that,” Mr. Tanner said and shoved Uncle Rob off the side of the couch. “Weren’t you listening, young man?”
My dad just shook his head. “Scarlett, you will always be my baby. And I’ll always be protective of you. I...”
“I’ll protect her now,” Axel said. “I promise.”
I smiled at him.
My dad sighed. But then his eyes narrowed on the side of my neck. “Is that a hickey?”
I clapped my hand over the spot he was glaring at.
Axel cleared his throat. “Sorry. She hadn’t accepted my proposal and...”
“You wanted everyone to know she was off-limits,” my mom said. She stared at my dad. “Who does that sound like to you?”
My dad didn’t say a word. But his frown eased a bit.
My mom leaned down and hugged me. “What happened to coming to me first?” she whispered.
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She squeezed me tight. “I’m so happy for you.” She let go of me and hugged Axel. And then she kind of stood in front of him like she was shielding him from my dad. “James.”
My dad’s Adam’s apple rose and then fell as he stared at her.
“James,” my mom said again.
My dad sighed. “Okay.”
My mom nodded and stepped to the side.
My dad stared at me. “Maybe you can be engaged for a while? Your mother was 22 when she married me. Maybe...” He shrugged.
I turned to Axel. “Right now I’m most concerned about getting into the same college. Not about planning a wedding. I’m just happy being engaged.”
Axel smiled. “Me too.” He grabbed my hand.
My dad stared at our intertwined fingers. “Good.” He cleared his throat. “And I know I already apologized last night, but I am sorry, Axel. For all of it. And for my reaction to this news. But if you hurt my daughter I will kill you. And you’re not allowed in her bedroom. Do I make myself clear?”
There was always a “but” with my dad.
Axel nodded. “Crystal clear.” He turned to me. “I’ll never hurt her again.”
I smiled at him.
My dad exhaled slowly and put his non-bloody hand out for Axel to shake.
Axel shook it.
And I noticed that my dad was squeezing Axel’s hand so hard that his knuckles were turning white.
My dad turned to me. “Pumpkin...”
I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head on his chest. “I just want you to be happy for me.”
He kissed the top of my head. “I’ll never stop worrying about you. That’s what being a dad is. But you’re old enough to make your own decisions. And if you’re happy, I’m so happy for you. That’s all I care about, pumpkin.”
I squeezed him tight. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Okay, now let’s see the ring,” my mom said.
I held out my hand. Everyone oohed and aahed and took turns hugging us.
“So gross,” Liam said to Axel. “She’s my sister, man.” But then the two of them did some weird handshake. So that seemed fine.
But then my brother surprised me. “You won’t find anyone better than my sister though,” he said to Axel.
I laughed and hugged him.
“Yeah, yeah,” Liam said and hugged me back.
I even saw Aunt Hails smile at my dad. And that seemed like maybe that was her letting everything go.
Axel and I were happy. And my dad was right. That’s all that mattered.