Chapter 39 #2
“I’m not leaving. Ryan didn’t break his promise, Dad, I came here to find him.
You lived with me through my break up with Ryan and you saw me suffer.
I tried to do what you believed was right for me.
I was miserable the whole time and you still don’t get it, Dad.
I cannot imagine a future without Ryan. You raised me to make smart choices.
You taught me to follow my heart. My heart remains with Ryan.
I had to follow through. I’m in love with him, Dad. ”
Ryan sucks in his breath, the flat of his palm is resting on my lower back.
“I love Ishika, sir. I understand your reservations, why you wouldn’t want her to associate with a man like me.
I’m asking for one chance so that I can prove to you I’m worthy of your daughter.
That I deserve your daughter’s love. Give me one year to prove to you that I’m that man.
One chance. That’s all I’m asking for,” Ryan asks, making eye contact with my father.
My father’s eyes narrow as he looks at me and Ryan together. “One year, you say? And what happens if you fail? What happens if you cannot impress me? Will you give up trying then?”
“My father used to say to me, ‘Never aim lower than your potential. Never think of failure before you even try, even if your ambition terrifies you.’ I had forgotten about my father’s advice all these years.
Your daughter came into my life and reminded me of my forgotten goals.
She fueled the spark that my father had ignited inside me.
I’ll not let Ishika down. This is about the blind faith your daughter has in me.
There’s no way I’m going to fail, sir. I won’t even consider it. I’m not a quitter.”
My father is surprised by his answer, and he gives Ryan a stare down.
My father has his quirks and only my mother and I know what this means.
My father’s heart is softening. He is seeing Ryan in a new light.
Ryan has managed to surprise my father. And although my father wants to stay firm and intimidating, he has also discovered a newfound respect for Ryan.
My father lives with the motto that success comes to those who never quit.
‘I am not a quitter’ had been his favorite motto when he was going through rough times in his youth, trying to establish his dental practice.
“All right, you have one year, young man. Don’t make me regret this.”
Before Ryan gets to respond to my father, I leap forward and crash into my father’s arms. I would have fought for Ryan.
I was prepared to turn this power struggle between my dad and me into a war of wills, but this is better.
This way I get to be with two of my most favorite men in the world.
“Thank you, Daddy. Thank you so much,” I say, looking up at him.
“If you’re so convinced that he is your perfect man then I won’t be the one to stop you from your happiness, Ishy.
You’ll always have me on your team. I have made mistakes these last few months, I have forced my opinions on you, thinking that it would keep you safe.
But that only pushed you away further and you ended up moving out.
I miss you. But if this man ends up making you cry, he won’t have any teeth left once I am done with him.
I know a lot of dentists in very crime central places,” he says, kissing my forehead.
My Dad wouldn’t hurt a fly. It’s so sweet and funny when he tries to come off as threatening.
I laugh turning to check on Ryan, who is grinning at us. “Give it a few days, Dad, you’ll fall in love with him too.”
“Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here,” my dad replies but when Ryan walks over and extends his arm for a handshake, my father shakes it enthusiastically.
“He definately has good teeth. At least he’s not completely useless,” my dad announces. This is my father’s way of letting Ryan know—welcome to the family.
Ryan’s gaze clashes with mine and he winks at me, right before my father, flashing his brilliant set of teeth and his dazzling dimpled smile.
“Thank you, sir. My dental insurance is solid. But I was thinking perhaps I can qualify for the family discount at your clinic. Now that I’m officially your future son-in-law…”
“Don’t push your luck, young man.”
“How can you stay so cool? I can’t believe Dad’s actually letting me stay with you. That’s never happened before. My father is crazy level overprotective. This is a big deal.”
After our surprise confrontation with my dad, I was prepared for my dad to drag my ass back to his hotel and tell me I couldn’t spend the night with my boyfriend.
I was so sure he would bring up pregnancy and safe sex topics later and talk awkward stuff until we both couldn’t look each other in the eye.
Dad approving of Ryan and letting me date him is a huge deal in itself.
Right when I was preparing to say bye to Ryan and tell him I would see him tomorrow, my dad kissed my cheek and told me he expected me home for dinner on Sunday.
After that, he shook hands with Ryan again and told him to not mess this up.
Then he simply went back into the restaurant where he was having dinner with his colleagues.
Ryan nuzzles into my neck and his leg drapes over mine.
We came to his room, undressed in a hurry, and crashed together on his bed.
We are both naked and in no rush to speed up our acts of intimacy.
He is loving me like he has all the time in the world and like nothing will ever come in our way.
His fingers are massaging the tense muscles of my shoulders and he is pecking my throat with butterfly kisses, while I stare at the ceiling and thank the universe for un-complicating my life.
“You’re very pleased with yourself, aren’t you?” I elbow his ribs playfully. I feel the lift of his lips as his teeth trace the shell of my ear and with his tongue, he pulls my earlobe inside his mouth. He groans and I feel his hard cock press down on my hip bone.
“I have the woman of my dreams in my arms. My future father-in-law thinks I have good teeth. And I’m about to have the best sleepover in the history of sleepovers. Yes, babe, I’m pretty pleased with myself.” His smile radiates.
“And you’re never a quitter.”
“Never.”