Page 145 of Reconciling With the Rival

Her dad smiles at me, shaking my hand before her sister holds hers out to me too.

“I’m Lizzie, but you can call me Elizabeth.” Her stern expression makes my mouth turn up.

“Nice to meet you, Elizabeth.”

“Lizzie, don’t.”

Her eyes narrow at me. “I’m just making sure he knows his place.”

Yup, they’re definitely sisters. “Believe me, Ella reminds me every single day.”

Ella rolls her eyes as she takes in the kitchen. “What can I help with?”

“Take over for me if you can.” Her father looks toward me before he speaks again. “Can we have a talk away from the girls?”

“Dad…” Ella warns.

“It’s fine, darling,” I tell her. “I’ll follow you, sir.”

“Good man,” he says as he walks past me into the living room. He sits on the couch, and I sit across from him in a chair.

Neither of us speaks for a few minutes, and I shift in my seat, uncomfortable because I don’t know what he wants to chat about and nervous for what he’s going to say.

Ella told me a lot about her childhood; we laid everything out on the table one night when we stayed up chatting. She told me all about what happened at Thanksgiving and why she came to my flat.

I know all she has had her entire life is her father and her sister, and I’m really scared he won’t like me. Mostly everyone does when they meet me, but Ella’s father? I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't like me.

“Do you realize how big of a night this is?” he asks me, his voice serious and tense.

“Yes, sir, I do.”

“No, I don’t think you do, son, so I’m going to tell you.” He leans forward as he speaks. “My daughter can be stubborn, and I guess she gets that from me. She doesn't let people in very often, but when she does, it’s special. Do you realize how special it is that you’re here right now? That she let you in enough to bring you here?”

“I know how special your daughter is, sir. She might be a tough nut to crack, but I do know how huge this is. I’ve known her for a long time.”

He only nods at me.

“You’ve raised a wonderful daughter, sir.”

“That’s nice of you to say.” He pauses to put his arm on my shoulder. “Ella has one of the biggest hearts I know, and she’s kept it to herself for most of her life, always worrying about everyone else. All she’s done is look out for her sister and me, especially when her mom left.”

“All I want to do is take care of her—if she lets me.” Which she has over the past week. She’s slowly becoming more dependent on me; I never want her to lose her independence, because it makes her who she is, but I want her to know I’ll always be here for her.

“Good, because if you fuck this special thing up, I might have to hurt you.”

I smile to myself. “I’m sure her sister will also be first in line, sir.”

He can only laugh. “Good man. You’re learning already.”

“Dad?” I hear Ella yell from the kitchen. “Tell me Leo’s still alive out there, please.”

The two of us laugh as we rejoin them in the kitchen, and Ella sighs with relief.Did she really think he would send me running?

“Now, how can I help?” I ask as I roll my sleeves up. Ella smiles at me before putting me to work.

I can’t wait for more nights like this with her by my side.

I never thought the two of us would end up here, but I wouldn't change anything about our story. We’ve seen the messiest parts of one another, yet we still found each other amidst it all.

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