Page 10 of Uniquely in Love

“Everything’s great.” I nodded. “Can we sit?”

“Sure.” Daniel gestured to the couch, running his hands through his now-salt-and-pepper hair.

We sat down, and I took a deep breath. “I wanted to get your permission to date your daughter.”

“Ellie?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Yes.” They had to know how much time we spent together. How we’d sit out on the back porch for hours late into the night, looking up at the stars. How every time she came into the rink and I spotted her on the bench, waiting for her skating practice, my heart leapt into my throat. “I care about her. I really like her.”

That was an understatement.

“What happens when you go off to college?” As if I needed the reminder that I’d be leaving. It was why I wanted to take advantage of every moment we had now. He crossed his arms over his chest. “She’s a freshman.”

“I know.” Daniel said that like I wasn’t hyper aware of the age difference between us. How the two and a half years felt so big now. But my mom was five years younger than my dad, and when we were older, it wouldn’t even matter. “That would be up to her, sir. We can always do long distance. It’s not like I won’t come home all the time.” And when she started college, then things would change. We hadn’t really talked abut the future yet. Because I wanted to do this right. “I was going to ask her to be my date to prom.”

He rubbed his fingers over his jaw, like he was contemplating what I was saying. “I don’t want to see any funny business, Owen. Don’t forget I know where you live. You both have bright futures, and I don’t want to see you ruining that.”

My cheeks went pink at the insinuation. “No, sir. I’ll bring her home straight after the dance.”

He nodded. “Okay. I can’t see any reason to object to that. But it’s Ellie’s decision, of course.”

“What is?” Charlotte, Ellie’s mom, asked, entering the room and draping her arms around Daniel from the back of the couch.

“Owen’s going to ask Ellie to prom.” He said to his wife, eyes beaming as he looked up at her. It was clear, even now, just how much he loved her. The two of them had been best friends since college. Maybe that would be El and me someday.If she said yes,I reminded myself. If she liked me the way I liked her.

“Oh!” Her face lit up with delight. “I’ll have to make her a dress, and?—”

“Assuming she says yes,” I cleared my throat. Even though I doubted she’d say no. We were friends, and though I hadn’t taken her out on an official date yet, I planned to remedy that soon.

Her mom giggled. “Oh, she’ll say yes. She issmittenwith you.”

It was my turn to run my hands through my hair. Somehow, everything felt so much more real now.

“Mom, Dad, I’m home!” Ellie’s voice carried through the house as she opened the front door. Her skating bag was over her shoulder, and her skates in her hands. She did a double take, seeing me sitting on the couch. “Owen?”

“Hi.” I stood up, going to stand by her side. “Can we talk?”

She nodded, her eyes wide. “Okay. Upstairs, or…”

“Treehouse,” I offered. Up there, we’d have some privacy. Though I didn’t expect Charlotte and Daniel to eavesdrop, the thought of someone listening in was a lot.

Ellie’s expression morphed into a warm smile. “Yeah. Treehouse sounds good.” She set her stuff at the base of the stairs before turning to me. “Let’s go?”

Our parents had built it when we were all much smaller,and it had been our preferred hangout spot. Sometimes when we were young, the guys and I had all taken sleeping bags up there and slept outside. All of those were amazing memories, but somehow I suspected this would be even better.

We headed outside, Ellie climbing up the ladder before I followed behind her.

“Smaller than I remember it,” I murmured as I stood up in the space, ducking so my head didn’t hit the ceiling. Sitting on the ground, I had my backpack with me, and I set it to my side, fidgeting with the strap.

Ellie sat across from me, draping her legs all ladylike and putting her hands in her lap. “What did you want to talk about?” She had that sparkly lip-gloss on again, and I wondered what it tasted like. Knowing her, it would be birthday cake flavored, but I tried not to pay too much attention when she swiped it on her lips.

Focusing on her lips was not a good idea.

“So, prom is coming up,” I started.

“Right.” She laughed awkwardly, then made a face. “Well… I don’t get to go, since I’m a freshman.”

“Unless…” I reached in my backpack, pulling out the flowers I’d hoped would be safe in there. A small bouquet of daisies. “If you wanted to go with me?” I swallowed, hoping she couldn’t tell how nervous I was.

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