Stuck On You

Chapter 25: Nonconventional Father

Back at the apartment, we ate and watched a movie. Hayden was quiet for the most part. He had his

arms around me loosely. “Do you think your dad will like me?” he said out of nowhere. I only shrugged.

“He already does,” I answered. “He did a background check on you before he would let me live with

you. He’s known about you even before I did,” I explained. Hayden looked at me curiously. I only

shrugged.

“A background check?” he asked for clarification. It was my turn to turn to him. I sat up and looked at

him.

“Do you think we would’ve still fallen for each other if we didn’t live together?” I asked. He shook his

head.

“Definitely not; if we didn’t live together, I wouldn’t have been able to get to know you as well as I have,

and I would’ve just ended up hurting you instead. You would’ve hated me and I still would’ve been a

rock,” he explained. He smiled lightly. “So it’s a good think we live together,” he added. I smiled lightly

as well before I kissed him. He pulled on my waist and I hissed in a breath. He pulled away.

“I’m sorry, Jo,” he apologized. I kissed him deeply. I didn’t care. I laid on top of him as his hands

traveled down my sides.

“Just… go easy this time… for real,” I chuckled. “Oomph!” I let out as we fell off of the couch and on to

the floor. He chuckled and pulled up. He picked me up and took me to his room. He pressed my back

up against the wall next to the door and kissed my neck. I dung my nails into his shoulders. He groaned

and nipped at my neck gently. He turned and practically threw me on to his bed. I giggled as he

crawled over me and started kissing me again. God, I loved this boy.

The next morning, I wasn’t as bruised as I had been. Hayden had listened to me and didn’t grip or

squeeze me as hard as he did the first few times. We lounged in bed again, like we normally did, until it

was time to get ready for practice.

Practice went better. The lifts and grabs didn’t hurt as much. I just sucked it up and did it. I wore my

bruises proudly this time. Practice wasn’t long this time so we headed home. I walked in and froze. My

dad was there, sitting on the sofa that Hayden and I played on just last night.

“Dad?” I said curiously, letting go of Hayden’s hand. I subconsciously covered my stomach with my

arms.”I’m going to go change really quickly,” I mumbled before I rushed to my room. I didn’t mean to

leave Hayden alone with my father, but I didn’t want him to see my bruises. I put on some yoga pants

and a long t-shirt. I walked back out to find Hayden cooking as he talked to my dad. They seemed to be

getting along well.

“Hey, sweetheart,” my dad smiled at me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. He smiled lovingly.

“I’m surprising you with a visit. I had some time and I figured, why not?” he explained. I hugged him

tightly as I buried my head into his chest.

“Thank you,” I whispered. Him being here, it made me want to cry. I pulled away and smiled at him.

“Dinner will be ready in a few,” Hayden said. I smiled back at him before I looked between the two of

them. I was so happy to have both of them here. After dinner was ready, we ate it in the dining room

together. Hayden and my dad talked the entire time; I just sat there listening to them.

“I assume that you’ve already… slept with my daughter then,” my dad said calmly. I almost choked on

my food. Hayden coughed and looked at my father.

“I’m sorry, what?” Hayden spit out. My dad laughed and shrugged.

“She’s a big girl now, I knew it would happen eventually,” he chuckled. “With her mother, I’m surprised

she didn’t act out earlier,” he added.

“Dad!” I said. He looked at me and shrugged.

“Just… don’t hurt her, and we’ll be fine,” my dad said to Hayden.

“I’m sitting right here,” I said. Hayden laughed and kissed my hand. I smiled lightly.

“Oh, Jobear, how’s UCLA going so far?” my dad asked. I shrugged and looked at the table.

“Honestly, I don’t want to be there. I’d rather just dance… maybe get a job. It’s boring there,” I

answered honestly. My father only shrugged.

“Whatever you want, princess,” he agreed. Hayden looked at my slightly stunned before he looked

back to his food.

“Just like that,” I heard Hayden mutter under his breath. I suppressed a giggle and set my fork down.

After everything was cleaned up, we moved our little party to the living room. We talked more about the

details of the performance and agreed that my dad could watch our practice. My dad took us out for a

day of shopping before we went to practice. We rolled up in his Benz and left the bags in the car. We

strolled inside and everyone was already stretching. I looked to Sophia and gave her a sarcastic smile.

“Sorry, Sophia, you can’t stay for this one,” I said. She looked at me bewildered before she rolled her

eyes and crossed her arms. My dad walked in and her eyes widened before she left. I turned back to

the others. “Everyone, this is my dad, Dr. McCormick. Dad, this is the other half of 3X3,” I introduced.

“Daddy!” Quinn exclaimed before she ran up and hugged him. He chuckled and hugged her back.

Quinn was like a second daughter to him. He loved her, too.

“Hi Quinny,” he smiled. The others walked up and introduced themselves properly. I took the time to

stretch and get warmed up.

“Alright, let’s run it from the beginning,” Luca said. We faced my dad, who was sitting on the couch. We

went full out with the routine and stood up once we’d finished. My dad was smiling and clapping.

“That’s going to be fantastic placed right in the middle of the dance floor. Oh! Maybe it could start

spontaneously. Just start playing the song and people will clear out as you guys start to dance. It’ll be

like a flash mob! Oh, this is going to fantastic!” he raved. I laughed and Hayden kissed the side of my

head lightly. My dad stood and walked to over to Luca and shook his hand.

“Thank you sir,” Luca said. My dad smiled.

“Call me Peter,” he said. My dad turned to me and kissed my head gently. “I’ve got to go back to the

office, sweetie, but I’ll drop the bags off at the apartment first. I’ll see you… all of you in a few weeks.”

And with that he was gone again. I sighed and watched the door close behind him. It was nice while it

lasted. On the phone, I was always fighting with him, but when we were actually together, we got along

great. He was my dad after all. A huge grin spread across Luca’s face.

“We are so in,” Luca smiled. I smiled and shook my head. Hayden brought his lips close to my ear.

“We should go put up the bags from today. Then I have a surprise for you,” he said softly. I looked up to

him to see him smiling lightly. We said goodbye before we left. It was starting to get dark anyway. By

the time we got back to the apartment and put everything away, I was exhausted. I plopped down on

the couch next to Hayden and smiled sleepily.

“Today was a good day,” I sighed. Hayden’s arm went around me as he kissed my head.

“It was, but it’s not over yet,” he agreed lightly. He smiled at me. “Now got dress is something

comfortable, and bring a sweater, it’ll be cool,” he instructed. I looked at him curiously.

“Hayden, I’m tired,” I argued. He stood and pulled on my arms. I resisted.

“Jo, trust me. It’ll be worth it,” he begged. I groaned before I let him stand me up. He pushed me into

my room and pulled my shirt off. I raised my arms and allowed it. I plopped down on my bed and

Hayden went to my drawers and grabbed a black pair of my PINK sweatpants. He slipped them up my

legs up to my butt before he pulled the matching zip-up sweater out of my closet. He threw me a V-

neck before he pulled me back off of my bed.

“Hayden, do we have to go?” I asked in a last attempt. He chuckled.

“We could’ve been gone already if you weren’t making this ten times harder,” he said. I groaned before

I pulled my sweats up the rest of the way and pulled on my shirt. I grabbed my sweater and headed for

the door. He laughed and followed me. He walked ahead of me and pulled on my hand. I thought we

were going to his truck, but we passed it and walked to where the trees started.

“Where are we going?” I asked him. He just smiled and pulled me along. We walked until we reached a

park. It was only illuminated by a few street lamps. I smiled lightly as Hayden pulled me to the swing

set. He sat in one and I sat in the other. He held my hand in the space between us and let the swing

glide back and forth gently.

“Late night surprise date,” he shrugged. I smiled lightly and leaned my head against the chain of the NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

swing.

“You’re a hopeless romantic,” I noted. He only shrugged.

“You’re the only one who seems to think so,” he said challengingly. I only laughed. We sat there

swinging gently and talking for a while before we headed back up to the apartment.