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Chapter 37
Emilia
I glance at the mirror and grimace at my reflection. I’ve been crying all day and my eyes are puffy and red. The makeup I was wearing has turned into a horrible mess. I guess the way I look accurately reflects how I’m feeling. I sigh and try my best to clean up my face.
The sound of the front door closing snaps me out of my thoughts. Dad’s home. Shit. I’ll need to tell him about Carter too. I wasn’t this nervous when I told him about Landon, and to be honest, he didn’t seem to mind me dating so much. It’ll probably be okay, but I’m nervous nonetheless.
My heart is beating loudly as I walk to the living room. Dad looks up when I walk in and freezes.
“What happened?” he asks, his tone concerned. “Did you cry? Who made you cry?”
I bite down on my lip and tip my head toward the sofa. “Dad, have a seat,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
His eyes widen, and he sits down on the sofa anxiously. “You’re worrying me, Emilia. What happened? Why have you been crying?”
I shake my head and smile at him. “It’s nothing serious, I promise.”
“Are you pregnant?”
I freeze and stare at my dad with wide eyes. “What the hell, dad? No. No. Oh my god. No.”
I run a hand through my hair and shake my head. “Nothing like that, gosh. I… I’m dating someone.”
Dad looks at me through narrowed eyes. “You’re dating a boy? He made you cry?”
I bury my face in my hands and shake my head. “This is coming out all wrong.”
I groan and stare up at the ceiling before looking at my dad. “No, Dad. It’s Kate that made me cry. We had an argument… because I’m dating Carter.”
Dad stares at me speechlessly. “Carter Clarke?”
I nod. It’s not like we know another Carter.
“You’re dating Carter?”
I nod again.
“No,” Dad says.
I frown at him, tensing. “What?” I ask, confused by his intense response. Dad pauses as though he isn’t even sure why he doesn’t like the idea of Carter and me dating.
“You two… haven’t you been friends for years? You two grew up together. Why would you date Carter? Besides, you only just started college. You shouldn’t be dating anyone. You should be focusing on school.”
I inhale deeply, feeling truly worn out. Kate’s words are still grating on me, and Dad’s response on top of it has me feeling like crying all over again.
“I don’t get it, Dad. You didn’t say much when I dated Landon. Yet when it’s Carter you suddenly don’t approve?”
Dad runs a hand through his hair and sighs. “It’s not that. It’s just that Carter and you… I always thought you were as close as siblings. I’ve been trusting him to take care of you in LA, and now you’re suddenly dating?”
Dad shakes his head and sighs again. “It was bound to happen, I guess. But you’re only eighteen, honey. I don’t know. I’m just surprised.”
I nod, unsure how to reply to that. I inhale deeply and glance out the window, my eyes landing on the treehouse.
“Well, we’re dating. I thought you should know.”
Dad nods and tugs on his tie. I shake my head and smile at him. “I’m going for a walk, okay? I need some fresh air.”
Dad nods eagerly, as though he can’t wait to get out of this conversation, and the edges of my lips tip up in a reluctant smile. I’m trying my best not to take his response personally. I guess it’s odd for him that I’m dating Carter, when he’s seen us grow up together. When we were younger, we were notorious for our feud, so I shouldn’t be surprised that most people can’t imagine us ending up together. I guess my Dad is just one of those. He’ll come around, though. There’s no one Carter can’t win over.
