“I need you more.” My pout had no power which made me pout for real. “Okay, I’ll call you later.” I fell back on the bed when she left, hoping to catch another hour of sleep, but my dad had other ideas. He knocked but walked in before I had a chance to say anything. “Dad.” I scowled and pulled up the covers.

“I made pancakes. Come on downstairs. We need to talk.” He sounded sad.

“Okay. I’ll be down in a minute.” I threw on sweats and a sweatshirt and met him at the kitchen.

He placed a plate of peanut butter pancakes and bacon in front of me. “Did you sleep well?”

Barely, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. “Yes. It’s nice to have one day where I can sleep in.”

He poured us orange juice and sat at the table. “Sweetheart, I know you need your privacy and your freedom, but given your relationship with Parker, she can’t stay the night anymore unless her parents sign off on it.” He held up his hands. “I’m not comfortable with her parents not knowing.” He knew her parents were religious and were vocally against homosexuality. While he knew I was responsible and respectful, I could tell he was worried about how they would take the news.

“They just think we’re friends, Dad. It’s not a big deal.”

“If it’s not a big deal, where do they think she was last night?”

I blew out a deep breath. “Missy’s.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just not okay with you lying. Even by omission. I don’t want them to ruin your chances at getting a scholarship and I definitely don’t want to lose my job if they start talking. People are looking at you closely because of who you are. You need to be careful, kiddo.”

“Okay, no more overnights.” My heart dropped to my stomach at the news, but I didn’t want anything to happen to him. Parker’s parents were the kind who would cause trouble and the last thing he needed was the community getting up in arms about him promoting gayness or whatever.

“You can have sleepovers. As long as her parents sign off on it.”

“That’s not going to happen. I don’t think her parents like anything about me.”

He gave me a sad smile. “I’m sorry they don’t try to get to know you. You’re a wonderful person and you have so much to offer the world. It’s their loss.”

I smiled because he genuinely believed it. He was proud of me. “Thanks, Dad. Why are people like that?”

He shook his head. “I don’t understand it either. Some people’s belief system is so rooted into religion that they can’t believe anything else. If they are challenged, they fight even if they hurt the people they love.”