It's way past midnight when we stumble back inside the house after our date. I took him to my favorite Italian restaurant in the city, considering he absolutely loves Italian cuisine.

Instead of taking the car, we went the New York way and traveled via the subway. It again reminded me of all the reasons I avoid the subway, but somehow, being with Ethan made that experience a lot more bearable since we talked all the way.

In retrospect, maybe not taking the car wasn't the brightest idea, because I can literally feel the heel of my feet throbbing in pain. After a point on our way back, I took my heels off and walked barefoot, which, again, was not the brightest idea, but still better than inches of heels stabbing my feet.

With my hand engulfed in Ethan's, we walked through the threshold of my house. "I can't believe she actually asked for your number while we were on a date," I say, with laughter bubbling from my throat in disbelief. I try to be quieter, considering everyone else must be sleeping. I don't even know if my parents are in the house or not, since we left before they got back.

Ethan chuckles along with me as he swings our engulfed hands back and forth. "Well, in her defense, she didn't know it was a date."

While we were eating in the very fancy restaurant, which also had a bar, a girl walked up to our table and, to our surprise, asked for Ethan's number. It didn't surprise me she asked for Ethan's number. It surprised me that she asked for it while we were on a date.

"I could've guessed, considering we kissed like a second ago." I say, looking at Ethan from the corner of my eyes. It was obviously a date, considering how intimately we were talking and the kiss was a dead giveaway, to be honest.

Ethan opens his mouth to counter me, but nothing comes out. "You're right."

As we start walking up the stairs to my room, I tug on Ethan's hands and stop him. "I need a glass of water." I mention with pursed lips.

Chuckling at my antics, Ethan places a kiss on our entwined hands. "Why don't you go upstairs and change while I get it for you?"

Smiling gratefully, I lean up to take my pair of heels from his other hand and peck him on the lips, "You're the best boyfriend ever."

"For getting you water?" He chuckles with a raised eyebrow. "You took me on a date, Reed. I think you're the best girlfriend."

"But you got me flowers." I say with a pout.

He grins widely at me before saying, "We'll continue this later."

With a nod, I start walking upstairs but just as I'm about to walk inside the room; I feel the need to have some chocolates.

Mumbling a quiet, "What the fuck?" I turn back and walk downwards towards the kitchen.

Just as I'm about to announce my presence to Ethan in the kitchen, I hear a very distinct voice.

"I hope you had a pleasant night."

Upon hearing my father's voice, I feel my eyebrows scrunch in confusion and my steps automatically halt right beside the kitchen. There's a slight nook right beside the kitchen, which practically makes it impossible for anyone inside the kitchen to see if someone's about to walk in, and obviously, the absence of lights doesn't help.

"Yeah, we had a great night." I hear Ethan respond.

What's dad doing in the kitchen? And why is he talking to Ethan?

I contemplate peeking inside and even interrupting them, but my curiosity gets the best of me. Obviously, dad has something to say to Ethan and I know he wouldn't say it if I were right beside him, no matter if it's good or bad.

"I completely forgot to introduce myself." He says in a voice not too arrogant but neither light. "I'm Philip Reed. Iris's father."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Reed," Ethan says with a strong but casual voice. "I'm Ethan Knight. Iris's boyfriend."

"I've heard about you, Ethan, and please, call me Philip."

Grace can't keep her mouth shut, can she? I mean, I love that woman and everything, but her habit of telling everything to my father is kind of annoying. I rarely mind it much because it saves me from the trouble of telling him stuff myself, reducing our contact to birthdays, and special messages from him that I don't reply to.

I can only imagine the confusion on Ethan's face because as far as he knows, I don't contact either of my parents, so there's a slim chance that I would call them to tell them about my boyfriend.

I hear my father chuckle lightly, probably amused by Ethan's confusion. "I understand your confusion very well. She doesn't like to tell me about things going on in her life but I try my best to keep up with as little information as I can get. Look, Ethan, let me directly come to the point. I don't know if you're aware of my strained relationship with my daughter, but if you are, don't ever for a second think that I'm not with her every step of the way. I maintain my distance from her life because she wants me to."

There's a beat of silence around the house before my father speaks again. "I've made some horrible choices in my life and because of those choices, she keeps me at a distance, rightfully so. I don't want to intrude in her life or question her choices, but even if we're miles apart, I'll not let anybody hurt her."

"She's one of the few things I cherish in my life and if you so much as give her a paper cut, you'll be facing me. No matter what, she's my daughter and you don't mess around with her."

I try my best to keep a leash on the smile threatening to escape as the memories of my last conversation with dad flashes through my mind. When he came home and found me sobbing in Grace's arms after I broke up with Chase for what he did, it infuriated him. He was hell-bent on going to his house and knocking some sense into him. That's when I last talked to him, to stop him from going over and doing anything. That was years ago.

Ethan's voice brings me out of my thoughts. "Sir, I respect you and whatever relationship you have with Iris. That's not my place to speak, but I can assure you, I really, really... like your daughter and I don't plan on hurting her, ever. She's too valuable to me."

"I hope you make all the right choices, Ethan."

If there weren't already tears in my eyes, there are now. I can't believe this is actually happening, but as much joy as this conversation brings me, I can't help but fall back into the question that's always swimming in the back of my head.

Have I been too hard on my dad?

Throughout the years, he's been there for me even after I pushed him away. He's always been there on my birthdays and important events, in any form I allow him to be. Whether it's calling Grace and instructing her around the kitchen on my birthday to make me one of his dishes that I love, be it arranging everything for me in LA as soon as I decided to go to Willow Creek or texting me and sending me my favorite flowers on every occasion that I might need him there for. He might not have been there physically, but he's always been there.

The same can't be said for my mother, though. After everything happened, she not only cut contact with my father but also with me. I could probably count the number of times she had called me on both my hands. Forget birthdays, she has only called when it's about something she wants from me or to remind me of the huge mistake I made while dumping Chase.

I'm pulled back from the constant swirling thoughts in my head when I hear footsteps approaching the kitchen door. Moving as quietly as possible, I duck inside the nook, not wanting my father to see me eavesdropping.

I catch his silhouette walking out, causing me to release the breath I didn't even I was holding. When I hear the sound of water falling into a glass, I decide to end the charade and step into the kitchen.

I find Ethan with his back facing toward me, pouring a glass of water. The lack of heels or any sort of footwear helped me to keep quiet. Deciding to announce my presence and not startle him, I clear my throat, causing him to turn and look at me with surprise lacing his features.

"So, you met my dad?" I say quietly to break the silence in the room.

"You were here the whole time?" He asked me, curious but not accusing.

Not knowing how to say it, I simply nod.

Ethan already knows about the tight spot that I'm in with my dad. So, I'm sure he can guess the thoughts running through my head after hearing dad talk about me in such a way to him. Instead of asking me anything or forcing me to talk, he places the glass of water on the counter and nods for me to come closer.

As soon as I'm within arm's distance, he pulls me towards him and the familiar scent of his cologne instantly calms me down, making me sigh in relief.

He picks me up and places me on the counter so that we're leveled. I tuck my head in the crook of his neck as he wraps me up in his arms and pulls me closer to himself.

The lack of words is actually comforting to me. I don't feel the pressure of having to talk it through right now, but there's a sense of calm washing over me, knowing he's here with me.

"Everything's gonna be fine." He affirms in the quietest voice before placing a light kiss on my head.

In his embrace, I believe him, everything is going to be fine. Even if I'm at a place I don't want to be at, at least I have Ethan.

⤎❁⤏

The next morning, I can't help but dread going for breakfast. I'm sincerely hoping that mom and dad have already left for their work, but knowing my luck, that's probably not the case.

As I'm drying my face in front of the sink, I feel arms wrap around my waist and soft lips press a light kiss on my neck. "Good morning, gorgeous," Ethan says, in the hottest voice I've ever heard.

I didn't really understand the whole thing behind morning voice but trust me, now I do.

I can't help the smile from blossoming on my lips as I feel him peck my skin once again. Keeping the towel on the counter, I look up in the mirror to find him already looking at me with a wide grin.

"Good morning, Knight." I say, but when his grin doesn't disappear, I chuckle, raising my eyebrows, "What are you grinning at?"

I feel him shrug his shoulders, "I still can't believe you're all mine."

I washed my face with cold water not even a minute ago, but I can already feel the heat creeping up my cheeks, looking at the stupid adoring look on Ethan's face.

"You look adorable when you blush." He says, and that doesn't help my red face at all.

"Okay, not you gotta stop," I say, laughing, and push him back slightly with my shoulder to move away and get my skin care products.

"What?" He chuckles, shrugging before grabbing his toothbrush. "It's the truth."

Before I can reply to him, there's a knock on my door. I walk out of the bathroom and open the door to find Grace on the other side, who came up to tell us that breakfast is ready and we should come down quickly.

 Fifteen minutes later, both of us step down the stairs and walk toward the dining room. I'm bursting with anxiety and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Last night after everything happened, Ethan and I retired to bed without really talking about anything. He didn't want to pressurize me and my thoughts weren't straight enough for me to ramble.

Before I can come up with any excuses to skip breakfast, we're already rounding the hallway and stepping inside the dining room, where my father already sits at the head of the table. Thankfully, my mom is nowhere to be found and while I'm glad that it's one less parent to deal with, I can't help but wonder if she actually wants to see me at all.

Our footsteps announce our arrival and my father's eyes soon fixate on me before quickly glancing at Ethan.

"Good morning, Iris." He greets me, and it almost feels foreign considering it's been the longest time since we've actually spoken face to face. In fact, it's been months since I actually saw him. Last night, I couldn't really look at him because of the darkness, but right now, I can actually see that he has aged in these few months. I can see the stress lines on his face and it makes me wonder if he's doing well.

I consider ignoring him like I always do or simply nodding, but then his words from last night flash through my mind, making me pause for a second too long.

A 'good morning' never really hurt anyone, did it?

"Good morning, dad." I greet back, quietly, and while I ignore looking at him directly as I go to sit down in the chair, I see him trying to hide his grin behind the newspaper he's reading from my periphery.

My dad and Ethan exchange 'good mornings' and introduce themselves to each other, like it's the first time they're meeting, making me roll my eyes. He's really hell-bent on me not finding out about last night.

Grace brings out our breakfast plates and I mumble a quick thank you before I start eating in perfect silence. While the silence is comforting to me, I can understand why dad cleared his throat to break the silence and instead, have a conversation.

"So, Grace told me you guys went on a date last night. How was it?"

I, again, consider not answering, but something in me stops me, and instead, I reply with an "It was really nice."

Ethan looks at me with a raised eyebrow and when he realizes I will not elaborate, he does it himself. "Yeah, we had a great time. The food in the restaurant was some of the best Italian I've ever had."

Knowing that he actually liked the restaurant makes me smile in relief.

"Oh yeah? Where did you go?"

Ethan looks at me as both of them wait for me to reply. I know he remembers the name of the restaurant, but it's just his ploy to get me to talk to my dad and maybe figure things out along the way.

Begrudgingly, I reply, "Zafferano."

Soon, the attention of the conversation is off of me and he spends the rest of the breakfast talking to Ethan about the subject he's majoring in, and obviously, the topic steered towards basketball.

"So, do you plan on playing pro?" Dad asks, out of genuine curiosity.

"That's always been the plan." Ethan tells him, nodding.

"What if that doesn't work out?" He asks him with a raised eyebrow and I stop breathing for a second.

I don't even think before saying with wide eyes, "Dad!"

"What?" He shrugs. If he's surprised by me actually addressing him on my own, he hides it pretty well. "I'm just asking him if he has a backup."

Ethan looks at me in assurance and nods, before turning to my dad. "I do, actually. As I told you, I'm majoring in business, so if this doesn't work out, then I'll probably help my brother out in his business until I come up with something of my own."

My dad looks impressed with Ethan's planning and that he's not completely dependent on his 'Plan A'. He looks over at me with an almost proud smile on his face, "He's not too bad."

I don't need my parents' approval over who I'm dating, but his words cause a sense of warmth to spread over my chest. I smile a little before taking a sip of my coffee.

"So, you're moving away to some other city either way?" he asks Ethan, almost absentmindedly, as he eats, but his words make both Ethan and I pause in our motions.

Both of us knew that he'd have to move away after the draft while I'll be there in LA, but suddenly, I'm reminded that even if he doesn't get drafted, which is very unlikely, he'll still move back to North Carolina because that's where Liam's business is based.

We knew this would happen eventually, but we never talked about it. We're still very much in our 'honeymoon' period, as they say, and it seems reality is catching up faster than we imagined.

⤎❁⤏

Hey guys! How are all of you doing? 

So, we finally meet the infamous/famous (you decide) Papa Reed. What are your thoughts on him? Is he the villain? Is he the drama?

Too many interesting appearances are waiting for you in the next chapters and I'm so excited for y'all.

Don't forget to vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter. Also, follow me on Wattpad and Instagram (spiicychoco) for more.

QOTD: If you could use one of the following apps for the rest of your life, which one would it be? Instagram, Tiktok, or Pinterest?

Stay safe, Stay grateful!