The Space Between Us(24)

Eventually, long after the sun had set, we reluctantly parted, forced from our gazebo by the chill of the summer night. We walked home and Asher kept his arm around my shoulders, which I appreciated because I hadn’t thought to bring a sweater.

“So, when we get back to your house I’m going to talk to your dad.” Asher sounded determined but also a little scared.

“Tonight?”

“Yeah. I don’t want him to think we’re sneaking around behind his back. I want to be up front and honest with him. Is that ok with you? Do you mind if I talk to him tonight?”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t mind. I’m just not sure how all of this is going to go over with him. You know how he can be, especially when it comes to me.”

“It’ll be ok.”

And it was. That night we went into my house and after Asher asked to speak to my father alone I retreated to my room. I sat there for forty-five minutes in nervous agony. Finally, my bedroom door opened and I saw my father’s face as he poked his head around the door.

“Can I come in?”

“Yeah.” I sat down on my bed and left enough room for him on the corner.

“So, you and Asher, huh?” He sighed heavily, almost like he had been waiting to exhale for years.

“I guess that’s up to you, Daddy.”

“So here’s the deal, and this deal only pertains to Asher. If you guys decide to break up, you still aren’t allowed to date anyone else until you’re sixteen, understood?”

“You’re going to let me date?” I exclaimed, a little confused but more excited than anything.

“Yes, but there are stipulations.” I rolled my eyes at him. Of course there were. “First, you will not be going out alone on dates. If you want to go out with a group of friends, that’s fine. But no solo dates. Second, he is no longer allowed in your room, under any circumstance, whatsoever. When he is here, the two of you are in the living room or the kitchen. Third, if you miss curfew even once then you will not be allowed to see him until I say so. I’m serious about this Charlie. There will be no warnings or second chances. Miss curfew once and it might all be over. Lastly, if your grades begin to drop or your attitude changes, I will end it and push dating out even farther than sixteen. Do you understand all of this Charlie?”

“You’re going to let me date?” I asked with an excited smile. He groaned and rubbed his hands over his face.

“You’re a good kid, Charlie. And I trust you. I trust you to be the daughter that your mother and I raised. I trust you to make good decisions and to come to me if you have any problems or questions.” I nodded enthusiastically, knowing that realistically the chances of going to my father about dating problems were slim, but I knew what he meant. I knew I could be with Asher and stay true to who I was. “I also trust Asher. He’s proven to me that he understands how important you are to me, and I know he will treat you with the respect that you deserve.” I flung myself into his arms and wrapped mine around his neck.

“Thank you, Papa Bear,” I whispered in his ear. He groaned again.

“You don’t get to call me Papa Bear when I’ve just agreed to let you have your first boyfriend.” I pulled away from him.

“You’ll always be my Papa Bear,” I said with a scowl. “What did he say to you anyway?”

“That’s between him and me. All you need to know is that he came to me in a very grown up and mature way and stated his case. I couldn’t argue with him, and he withstood my questioning. I was satisfied with his answers and we came to an agreement.” I frowned at him.

“That doesn’t sound very romantic. It sounds more like a business arrangement.”

“Well, hopefully he’s saving all his romance for you,” he said while playfully batting his eyelashes at me. I laughed and blushed at the same time. After such a serious conversation it was good to see my dad making jokes. My dad kissed my forehead. “Goodnight, Charlie Bear.” He left the room and I sat on my bed trying to wrap my mind around what had just happened.

Asher had done it. He’d convinced my father to let me date. To be his girlfriend. What in the world had Asher said to him? I would have to get him to tell me the next day. I walked over to my vanity and grabbed a hair tie, pulling my long hair back into a pony tail. Once it was secured back, I took a moment to look myself over. I had my first real kiss that evening and also made out with Asher for the first time, and yet I couldn’t really see a difference. I guess that was good. No one else would be able to tell that I felt so tremendously changed.

I shrugged my shoulders, switched off the lights, and climbed into bed. My mind was racing and I knew I wasn’t going to fall asleep any time soon, but I was content to lay in my bed and let my mind wander over what it meant to be with Asher.

We started our sophomore year as boyfriend and girlfriend, holding hands as we walked down the hallway. And although I felt like everything had changed, apparently no one else in the school felt the same way. I kept waiting for people to mention our new status, or notice us holding hands, but people treated us the same way they always had. At lunch the first day, I asked Reeve about it.

“Don’t you think it’s weird that no one has noticed that Asher and I are holding hands?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, no one seems to notice or care that we’re together.”