My Only Exception (gxg)

Part 18

"I'll support whatever you do. I know either way, she hates me," Poppy said, "For good reason."

"Maybe she'll wind up coming around," I sighed, "We'll see."

Poppy nodded, and she said, "I actually had a question for you."

"What's up, Poptart?"

Poppy rolled her eyes but smiled, "You don't have to say yes to it, but would you want to go with me to the hospital when I see my dad in a few days? I'd love for him to meet you. He asked me if I have 'someone special' in my life, and I might've told him yes."

"Poppy, of course I will," I said to her, "Thank you for asking me to go with you."

"I'm planning on going Wednesday after work. I know you don't work that day, but I can pick you up at your house if that works."

"That works well. I look forward to meeting him."

When Wednesday rolled around, Poppy, who worked a morning shift, picked me up at 3 PM.

"Sydney is annoying the fuck out of me," Poppy said in the car as she drove to the hospital, "She's still giving me the cold shoulder. It's been months, she needs to get over it."

"What can I say, Poppy? You have an effect on us women," I joked, "But in all seriousness, you are right. She does need to get over it."

"Thank you!" Poppy exclaimed, "I'm glad you agree with me."

When Poppy and I got to the hospital, she said, "Just a warning, my dad might be a bit out of it. He's on a lot of medication right now. But I'm hoping he's not."

"It's okay if he is," I reassured Poppy, "I understand."

Poppy's dad, however, was not out of it. He smiled brightly when Poppy and I walked into the room. He was quite frail, and didn't have much hair, but his smile was brighter than the sun.

"Hi, dad," Poppy walked over to him. He was sitting up in his bed, and Poppy gave him a gentle hug.

I noticed immediately that Poppy had the same color eyes as him.

So that's where she gets those pretty eyes from.

"Hey kiddo," he said, "So good to see you, thanks for visiting."

He then smiled at me as I walked over, and Poppy introduced me.

"Dad, this is Delilah."

"Ah, your girlfriend!" Poppy's dad said, and he shook my hand, "Great to meet you, Delilah."

Girlfriend?

I mean...I don't hate the sound of that. At all.

"Great to meet you as well, Mr. Meyers," I said to him.

"Please, call me Dan," he said, "Pull up a chair, you two. Tell me about your work. I love hearing stories about the crazy customers you unfortunately have to deal with."

Poppy's dad was extremely charismatic. I could See where Poppy got her humor and quick wit from. I learned that before Poppy's dad got sick, he was a lawyer, and a very successful one at that.

Dan was a joy to talk to. Usually around new people I shy away from speaking, but he made me feel comfortable.

"Guess what," Poppy said to her dad, "Delilah got us tickets to see The Weeknd in concert."

Dan's eyes lit up, "No way, that's awesome! When is the concert?"

"It's in May. I'll be sure to tell you about it."

There was a certain sadness in Dan's eyes as he said, "I look forward to hearing all about it, kiddo."

Dan then looked at me, "Poppy has been listening to The Weeknd since high school. I actually like his music a lot, he's really talented. Did you get the tickets without her knowing?"

I nodded, "I did. I figured it would be a nice birthday present."

"You knocked it out of the park," Dan said, "Poppy has been asking me for tickets to see him for the longest time."

Poppy glanced at me and smiled, and I smiled back at her.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," Poppy said, "I can't wait."

Dan asked me some questions about myself, and he was extra amused about the fact that my mom was Poppy's dermatologist.

"Poppy, you owe quite a bit of your confidence to her!" Dan said, "I remember how insecure you were about your skin. It was never that bad, but I understood why you wanted to go on Accutane."

Eventually, a couple of nurses came into Dan's room, and we knew that it was time to head out.

"Bye dad," Poppy hugged her dad, "I love you."

"I love you too, kid. Delilah, so nice to meet you."

"So nice to meet you as well, Dan," I said.

Poppy was pretty quiet as we walked out to her car, and when we got in it she looked at me, "I never told my dad you're my girlfriend. He just kind of...assumed."

I looked back at Poppy, "Did he assume correctly?"

A smile toyed on Poppy's lips, "You tell me, Delilah. Did he?"

My heart thumped as I said to Poppy, "Yeah. I think he did."

"So you're my girlfriend?"

I nodded, "And you're mine."

Poppy gave me a smile that made my heart skip a beat, and she said, "I won't lie, you've been my girlfriend in my mind for quite some time now, Delilah."

"And it didn't make you nervous?"

"Of course it did a bit. I don't really do relationships. I know you don't either. But this feels...right."

I smiled back at Poppy and took her hand in mine, "It really does. I never thought I would be saying this, but I am so happy you're my girlfriend."

Poppy leaned in and kissed me, and I gladly reciprocated, gently cupping her jaw in my hand.

When we pulled away I said to Poppy, "Your dad is really great."

Poppy nodded, "I'm so glad our relationship improved. I had some resentment toward him growing up because he was always working. Now I realize he was just trying to provide for my siblings and I. As I got older, we didn't get along as much because I really don't like my stepmom, Lori."

"You've never really told me why you don't like her."

"It just seems like she never really wanted anything to do with my siblings and I, yet she wanted my dad to be like a dad to her two kids. When my dad got diagnosed with cancer, I decided I was really going to try and separate him from her, which helped."

"That's really unfair of her."

"It is," Poppy nodded, "I can't stand her. Oh well, at least I have my mom. And my stepdad, Desmond. I get along with him well. He doesn't have any biological kids, and really enjoys having step children."

"Your mom seems really great," I said to Poppy, "I look forward to meeting her."

"You'll have to meet her soon," Poppy said to me, "I think she'll really like you."

"I hope so. I'll try and impress her."

Poppy chuckled, "I've only introduced her to one girlfriend, who I dated for a year when I was 18. That was a mess of a relationship. My mom couldn't stand her."

"My mom wasn't a fan of my ex-girlfriend that I dated all throughout high school on and off. I already know she likes you much better."

"How could she not?"

"There's that ego," I laughed.

Poppy laughed as well, and I couldn't help but smile.

That's my girlfriend.

Poppy is my girlfriend.