An hour later, just as I’m finishing getting dressed, the doorbell rings and I hear it open. Fuck. I wanted to be down there.

My hair is still in a wet bun from my shower and I curse myself for washing it because now I still have another twenty minutes before I’m ready. My phone beeps with a text message and I see it’s a group thread with Chloe and Mason.

Chloe: Our parents came together. Hurry up.

Mason: Why did you think this was a good idea?

One from Jacob shows up while I’m in the process of responding.

Jacob: Your parents are here. Take your time though. It’s going to be fine, angel. I love you.

Me: I love you more. Be down in a second.

I opt to let my hair air dry, knowing that nothing matters at this moment but being with Jacob. When I make my way downstairs, it feels like the temperature has gone down several degrees. My parents and Chloe’s parents are in the living room and the sounds of JP and his brother and his mother are coming from the kitchen.

“Hi, honey,” my mom says as she comes toward me and wraps her arms around me before pressing a kiss to my forehead. I hold on to her for an extra second, missing the warm feeling of her arms around me. She gives me a small smile and then a wink and I’m choosing to believe that means everything is going to be alright.

“Hi Dad,” I whisper and he looks at me for a second before I see the moment of defeat in his brown eyes. The last time I saw them they were cold and full of anger but now I see a small glimpse of my dad.

“Come here,” he says as he holds his arms out for me and I practically run into them.

“Dad,” I whisper just as I press my nose into his chest letting the nostalgia take over after not seeing him in over a month. The tears are falling down my face rapidly and when I sniffle and stifle a sob, he pulls my face away.

“Hey, none of that.”

“You hate me.”

“No. Never.” He shakes his head and I don’t miss the tears in his eyes either. “You understand me? Never that.”

My heart squeezes in my chest thinking about my next words. “You hate him.”

“Never that either.”

My lips tremble as more tears trickle down my face hearing those three words fall from his lips.