A Girl Like You // D. Swing [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 9

"This is a big step, though. I'm proud of you, though. Out here being a man and shit." I laughed and took a glance at my watch, noticing it was going on 1:00. "Alright, I gotta head on out. I got some shit to take care of." I stood up and shook his hand once more.

"You finna ask her now?" I shook my head. "Nah, I'll see y'all later though." I exited their garage and made my way to my car and got inside, getting comfortable before resting my hands on the steering wheel and sighing heavily.

I went ahead and started the car before backing out of the Hailey's driveway and going to the Hayes' residence.

When I arrived, I parked and turned the ignition off before sitting back in my seat.

Journey had gone out with Denise, so I decided that this would be the perfect time speak to Maurice one-on-one about my decision to marry his daughter.

I'm not gonna lie, my heart was in my ass. I was nervous as hell but this talk would have to happen sooner or later and sooner would be a better choice. I sighed heavily and took my keys out of the ignition before taking my seatbelt off and exiting the car.

I slowly approached the front door and knocked three times, stepping back a bit waiting for Maurice to open the door.

For the most part, Maurice was a pretty cool dude but this was a serious topic of discussion and she was his baby girl so I didn't know how he would react to this.

I heard the door unlock and unlatch and soon enough the door swung open, revealing Maurice. "Oh, Wassup Don? JJ went out with Denise, she'll be back a little later though."

"I know. I actually came to speak to you." He raises his eyebrows and mumbles an 'Oh'. "Come in." He steps aside and I stepped in, removing my shoes like the good future son-in-law I am.

"Come on in here. I'm in here baking some cookies for your crybaby ass girlfriend." He leads me to the kitchen and I chuckled, sitting at the barstool.

Maurice was such a softie when it came her, it made no sense. I mean, I was too, but she had him wrapped around her finger. She got anything she wanted from that man.

"Typical Journey." He chuckled and nodded in agreement, rolling the cookie dough in a ball before placing it on the cookie sheet.

"So, what'd you wanna talk about?" He asks, glancing at me then adverting his focus back to the cookies. I sighed heavily, "I-I uh, wanna p-propose to Journey." I finally managed to spit out.

He glanced at me with his eyebrow raised. "You wanna marry my daughter?" I nodded my head while staring him square in the eye to ensure that I was serious.

"Does she know?" I shook my head and took the velvet box out of my pocket and opening it so he could see the ring.

He remained silent as he stared back and forth between me and the ring. My palms were starting to sweat and I could hear my heart beating in my ears.

He released a chuckle before he decided to speak, "You over there nervous as hell." Both of us laugh and I shook my head. "Hell yeah, I'm nervous."

"I remember having that exact feeling when I told Quinita's pops the same thing. The only difference between me and him is, I'm not gonna be a mean ass bastard and tell you not to do it because  you know what that leads to?"

"Huh?"

"Y'all going behind my back and getting eloped like me and Quinita did." He chuckled and I gave him a smile.

"The same qualities me and Quinita had when we first fell in love is what I see in you and my daughter. The same gleam that was in Quinita's eye whenever she saw me is the same way her eyes gleam when she sees you. You're special to her Donald and I know she's special to you as well," He says.

"But, is this something you're absolutely positive you wanna do? I'm not tryna downplay your feelings or intentions, but if I can prevent two broken hearts, then I will. Especially my baby's."

"I totally respect it, Maurice, but I'm 110% sure your daughter is who I want to spend the rest of my life with. Your daughter is special in so many ways, I don't even think she realizes it. I'm young but I know what I want and it's her. It's always been her." He smiled.

"Well, like I said, I support it but, marriage is not an easy thing. It's beautiful because it's the union of two people who are in love and they want to cherish what they have for a lifetime but not it's not an easy task. Because now, those decisions you make aren't just for you, it's for both of you, you know? Being selfish isn't an option when you're married, especially when you're in love." He says and I just sat there intently listening to his words.

"I'm only telling you this because I'm speaking from experience and giving you advice that I wish I would've listened to. Quin and I had a beautiful marriage but our own interpersonal struggles is what ruined it. Instead of working them out together and helping each other, we did it our own ways, not realizing at the time how toxic it was."

"It's not gonna be perfect, but if it's not worth working for, it's not even worth having."

He says and I nodded my head, rubbing my chin while I soaked up his words. "When are you gonna pop the question to her?" He asks.

"I'm not even sure, to be real with you. I say and he nods. "My advice would be to do it when the time is right. Wait until its just the two of you." He says and I nodded my head in agreement.

"Just don't wait until it's too late."
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Decided to give y'all a little filler chapter to prepare you all for the edge snatching events that have yet to take place :)