Page 39 of Lilly

"Wouldn't he tell you if he had?"

"I don't know but I don't like talking about this." I stand in front of him. "Are we gonna go or what?"

He sits down on the bed. "Given that I value my life, I'm choosing to stay here."

I sigh. "You're seriously that worried about my dad?"

"It's not just that. I'm trying to be respectful. He told us to stay here and I don't want to disrespect his wishes."

"You're not disrespecting him."

"Well, I disagree." He pulls me down on his lap. "And given that I want to marry his daughter someday, I want him to like me. I want him to know I'm a good guy who's respectful and mature and will make a good husband to his beautiful daughter."

I smile. "You know that's like at least ten years in the future. I'm not ready to get married. Live together, maybe. But not get married."

"Your brother got married when he was 19."

"Yeah, and that was crazy."

"Why? He's still happily married all these years later."

I turn to face him. "Are you trying to talk me into getting married?"

"Not right away, but ten years seems like a really long time. I mean, ten years ago we were in grade school. A lot can happen in ten years."

I kiss him. "I'll still be in love with you in ten years, if that's what you're worried about."

"How about five?" He's not joking, his face completely serious. "Would you do it in five years?"

"You really want to get married five years from now?"

"I'd prefer three, but you wanted ten so I picked something in between."

"Why three? What's the rush?"

"Three years is hardly rushing it. By then, we'll have dated for four years. And we'll be done with school, so it'd be a good time."

"I'll give it some thought but I'm not making any promises."

He kisses me. "But you promise to marry me, right? At some point?"

I smile. "You haven't proposed yet so I'm keeping my answer to myself until you ask."

He thinks a moment, his lips turning up. "Okay."

"Wait!" I push off his lap and stand up. "I didn't mean you had to ask me right now. Not yet. It's too soon. If you asked now, my dad might actually use that gun."

"You just promised me he wouldn't."

"I never promised you that. I just said he wouldn't, but if you propose now, he might."

"Even though your brother was engaged at 19? And married?"

"My dad has different rules for me. It's completely unfair but it's just the way it is." I sit on his lap again. "Speaking of dads, is yours still acting strange?"

"It depends on the day. Yesterday his phone rang and he got all secretive, like he didn't want me to hear what he was saying. He raced into his room and shut the door and when I walked by, he was whispering."

"Maybe he has a girlfriend and doesn't want you to know."

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