"I missed Calculus and Biology for this?" I asked pointing to the store I was about to enter.

My dad rolled his eyes at me. "Even I wasn't so much of a nerd."

I gasped and stormed into the ring store. I really didn't miss classes that much, it was more like I missed school. It was the final term of high school and I had relaxed over spring break at the water park with my peeps. Knowing that school actually had an ending date I started to appreciate the little things I had overlooked before.

"Welcome to Couples Heaven. How can I help you?" A woman asked.

My dad smiled. "Can I have a look at some engagement rings?"

I monitored my heart rate. One. Two. Three. I didn't feel any increase or fluctuations in my heartbeat. A good sign I guessed. My dad had invited me the day before to skip school and look at some rings for Lucy.

It was an underhanded tactic to tell me he wanted to marry her. And after my silence, he apologized and told me his wish directly. I didn't really have a say though and my heart didn't freeze over like before. He was genuinely happy and I was happy to see that.

She pointed towards a display and led us to it.

She looked towards my dad. "Congratulations. I wish you many years of happiness." She then turned to me. "You must be very happy for your brother."

Excuse me?!

After that, she smiled and left us to choose. I examined my features desperately in a mirror that stood by the side.

"I don't look that old." I muttered.

My dad picked out a ring and held it up to the light. "She probably means I look young."

I scanned him from top to bottom. His chestnut hair was the only physical attribute I had gotten. His blue eyes, sharp jaw, and toned face got thrown in the dustbin when the genes were being shared.

"You should dress more your age." I commented.

He looked down at his casual attire. "You should exercise more so you look as good as me when you grow up."

Dad: 2, Astro: 1

I looked away from my reflection and down at the rings glistening and shining from their diamond bling. They all had different place cards saying different things and yet I couldn't see the difference.

I reached out and picked a slender one that had a sapphire as its main attraction. "Don't you have friends for this kind of stuff?"

He collected it from me and placed it by the side of 'maybe'. "Emma's in London for vacation, Jacob has a pregnant wife, Robert is in the jungle for God knows how long." He looked at me. "Don't worry you're just here to tell me what not to pick."

I pouted and grumbled before stopping at another section. "I pick out pretty good rings."

He scoffed and bought out an emerald one. "I was even the one that helped you pick out your couple ring."

I just grumbled and rubbed the ring unconsciously, tracing the infinity symbol and then to the half-heart that sat on top of it. "What of this?" He said.

I walked over and looked towards the ring which he used a magnifying glass to check. The brilliant purple color entranced me. "Amethyst" I muttered.

"And she's born in February, so it'd have a nice story behind it." He said.

I nodded. It really was a beautiful ring. I grabbed the place card and flipped to the back to check the price. I gasped and clutched my chest when I saw the number of zeros in that figure. My dad collected it from me and looked at the figure before heading over to the receptionist with a calm face. I stood frozen in place until they had finished the transaction and my Dad literally had to drag me out.

"Why are rings so freaking expensive?" I silently screeched as I walked down the escalators.

He shrugged and moved down. "And you just wear you and Mom's rings on your neck like their cheap." I muttered.

"Well I have the money don't I." He said laughing.

I rolled my eyes and looked towards a furry store. "Dad am going over there."

He looked confused but I had already dashed down the store. It was a store selling stuffed animals and I immediately grabbed the cute little otter I saw on the display shelf. I hurriedly paid and met my dad in the car.

"Didn't take you for a stuffed animal kind of boy." He mocked looking at the little otter.

I pouted and looked away. "Karla mentioned that she likes otters."

My dad grinned evilly. "So, when am I going to meet Karla?"

"Why do you have to meet her?" I asked suspiciously.

He just laughed. "To know her of course and to embarrass you as well."

I took a deep breath, finally deciding to say what I had been holding in. "I'd like to talk to you and Lucy."

He blinked at me pulling out of the driveway sloppily, obviously nervous. "I thought you two were doing okay."

I clutched my seat belt until he calmed down. "We have."

I had been spending more and more time with Lucy. Helping her clean, playing board games, and generally just getting closer in the hopes that I could tell her I didn't absolutely hate her. But now that my dad planned to propose it seemed even more important that I told Lucy those things.

My dad still squeezed his face. "Has she been unkind? Done anything wrong?"

I groaned. "No, she's the best actually."

He still looked unconvinced and his grip on the steering wheel made that even more obvious. "I crash weddings not engagements so you can calm down."

My dad laughed and his driving became less deranged. I looked towards the otter and smiled.

*************
"I don't hate you." I said looking down.

I bit my lips wondering how to phrase this next sentence. We were at the dinner table with Lily sleeping soundly on my dad's lap and Lucy sitting beside him. I faced them as I lined my thoughts.

"You're a great person and I know my dad loves you." I pause wondering how stupid I must sound. "I just wanted to say that it'll take me time to adjust and I might be cold and unfeeling sometimes but I don't hate you or resent you."

She smiled and brought her hand to hold mine. "Thank you for telling me that."

My dad smiled happily at Lucy and I quickly excused myself. Talking with adults had sapped most of my energy, experiencing PDA would definitely ruin me.

"I don't need siblings." I shouted going upstairs.

I heard Lucy laugh. "Too bad." My dad said.

Information I didn't need to know

***********

AN
Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed it.

If you did, please don't forget to vote, comment and share.

Thanks