The Next Chapter (NEW VERSION)

Chapter 36

—Emily's POV—

"You didn't let me finish!"

"No! Zach's son?! Why?! Out of all men out there you chose the son of an idiot."

"Dad! Wh- Mom, some help here would be nice."

"I'm sorry honey but I have my doubts too. I remember how he treated you towards the end of your relationship, you were a wreck."

"I was a teenager! I'm a grown woman now, I know better than to go back to that phase of my life. He's not like he was, believe me, he's not."

"But what happened? Don't you love Michael anymore?" I can't tell them what happened. If I say that he cheated on me they'll be furious, dad will most likely kill him. And why don't they treat me like I'm a grown-up? I get that I'll always be their daughter and so on, but it's my life. I think I know best when it comes to my life.

"Look, Michael and I were good together, I know that. But we fell out of love, do you want me to be with someone I don't love? Haven't you ever fallen out of love before?"

They look at each other, then mom looks back at me. "I... I know what it feels like to think you love someone, to think you're going to spend your entire life with them. I do, I had that someone too."

"And what happened?" I ask.

"Your father happened." She smiles.

"And was grandma happy about that?"

"God no! She told me that I had no future with a man like your father, that- Oh... She acted like we're doing now." She said to dad.

"Thea, it's Zach's son."

"Henry, come on... Look at her, she's happy."

I am, I really am. I look at dad. "Look, I'm not asking you to be best friends but if you could just get along? Dad, please. I love him."

"You love him? Really love him?"

"I really love him."

He sighs and leans back, closing his eyes. "I don't like the boy. But... He makes my daughter happy, that's the important thing."

My heart's beating so fast. "So you accept him?"

"Would I rather you date literally anybody else? Yes. But I suppose I could get to know him."

"Could get to know him? You have to, he'll probably be around often." Mom laughs. Shit. Forgot the part where I move out.

Laughing awkwardly and taking a deep breath, I clear my throat. "Yes... About that. Ehm... He won't actually be over so often, so you don't have to see him all the time." I see the confused look on both their faces. "He asked me to move in with him."

Silence.

Awkwardness.

Staring faces that won't blink.

"Move in together? Like living together?" Mom asks.

"Sharing a bed?" Dad chimes in.

"Yepp. That ehm... We'll be doing that, yes."

"I-"

"Henry, honey-" Mom cuts him off. "Why don't you go to the store and get some things for dinner?"

"Wh- Now?! I'm not done here-"

"Yes, now! Go, I left the car keys on the kitchen table. Drive safely."

He leans closer to her. "Thea. I'd really like to stay-"

"Grocery store. Now."

He looks away and gets up. "Fine."