Chapter 50
Chapter Fifty
Thirteen Years Later
Simon
My children were going off to college, and I couldn’t believe it.
It seemed like only yesterday that I was taking them to their first day of kindergarten.
Was I okay? No. When I thought back to when they were five, I believed they were leaving me.
It was ridiculous that I’d even thought that.
But this. Going off to Harvard? They were leaving me for sure.
I had known this day was coming for eighteen years, and I still wasn’t fucking prepared for it.
“Dad, you can put that down,” Julian said.
I looked down at the box in my hands.
“I’ve got it, son.”
“I know you have it. I’m just saying you don’t have to carry everything.”
“I don’t mind. I really wish you and your sister would have gotten an apartment instead of staying in the dorms.”
“It’s freshman year.” He laughed. “Let us experience dorm life first. We’ll get an apartment next year.”
Harvard move-in day was chaos. Cars were double-parked, college students swarmed the place, and music was blaring.
And somehow, in the middle of it all, I was supposed to calmly move my son and daughter into college.
I didn’t give a shit that they were only three and a half hours away.
They weren’t coming home with us tonight.
“Simon,” I heard Bella’s voice from behind.
I turned and saw Bella standing on the sidewalk next to Olivia.
“What?”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m taking this box inside,” I said.
“That box is Olivia’s.”
I looked down at the pink packing tape sprawled across the box.
“You handed me the wrong box,” I said to Julian.
“No, I didn’t.” He laughed. “You just grabbed it from my hand. I was moving it out of the way.”
“It’s okay, Daddy. You can take it to my room.” Olivia smiled.
I looked at her and smiled. She looked so much like Bella. She had the same dark hair, the same smile, and the same ability to get whatever the hell she wanted from me with one look. Olivia grabbed the handle of her suitcase.
“You’re not carrying that,” I said.
“I can carry a suitcase, Dad.” She laughed.
“I know you can, princess. But I’m standing right here.”
She glanced at Bella and shook her head.
“Don’t bother,” Bella said. “I’ve been fighting this battle for nineteen years.”
“Eighteen years, Bella,” I corrected her.
“I was including the pregnancy, Simon.”
After we moved Julian into his room, it was Olivia’s turn.
Any normal and sane father would kill for their children to go to Harvard, but I was the exception.
I wanted them to attend NYU and stay home.
After we moved Olivia’s things into the dorm, her roommate showed up, and their room looked like a warehouse, stuffed with clothes, bedding, shoes, makeup, stuffed animals, and electronics.
I picked up one of the bags from the floor and couldn’t believe how heavy it was.
“What the hell is in this?” I asked my daughter.
“Skincare.” Olivia smiled.
“The entire bag?” I asked. “You’re moving to college, not opening a spa.”
“Dad, stop. Mom.” She looked at Bella.
“Simon, don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to. We talked about this.”
“Okay. Thanks for helping me, but you two can go home now,” Olivia said.
“Excuse me?” My brow arched.
“I love you, baby.” Bella walked over and hugged her. “I want all the college gossip.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I promise to tell you everything.”
This moment. The one I’d been dreading since they found out they were accepted into Harvard.
“Daddy.” Olivia wrapped her arms around me. “Thank you for everything.”
“You’re welcome, princess.” I hugged her. “Before I leave, I have something for you.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out an envelope.
“What is this?” Olivia grinned.
“Open it and find out.” I smiled.
She opened the envelope, took out the piece of paper, and unfolded it. Instantly, her brows furrowed.
“Simon,” Bella said in a warning tone. “What is that?”
“Business, Bella. This is between my daughter and me.”
“Mom, it’s a list of ten rules. Do something.”
“Give me that.” Bella walked over and took it from her hand.
“Rule One. Answer your phone. If I have to call three times and there’s no answer, I’m already on my way.
“Rule Two. Never get into a car with someone who’s been drinking.”
“Rule Three. Your drink never leaves your hand.”
“Rule Four. No boys in your dorm. NO EXCEPTIONS.”
“Rule Five. Trust your gut always.”
“Rule Six. Don’t walk alone at night.”
“Rule Seven. You are to call us every day.”
“Rule Eight. You will come home once a month.”
“Rule Nine. School comes before anything else.”
“Rule Ten. There’s nothing you can do that will make me stop being your father.”
“I think these are very reasonable rules,” Bella said.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” I smiled.
I took the list of rules from her and pinned it up on Olivia’s bulletin board.
“There. Now you’ll be reminded of them every day,” I said.
“Whatever,” Olivia sighed. “Okay. Bye. I’ll call you tomorrow.” She practically pushed us out of her room.