Aaron tenses up, as though even an offhanded mention of me being with another man makes him want to roar.
Dad groans and looks at my mom. “Did you know about this?”
“No,” Mom says, glancing at me. “But I think Billie can make her own decisions. She knows what she wants, and Aaron does too. Just because it’s rare, just because it hardly ever happens, it doesn’t mean it never happens. Just think of how we met, Andy.”
Dad smiles, a broad and full smile that reminds me of all the joy he’s brought to our family over the years before all this business with Aaron started.
He’s always been a loving and caring man, and, as his smile gets wider, I dare to let myself believe this might all work out.
“Why did I know that was going to get thrown in my face, huh?”
He says it in a teasing tone, still grinning.
“I thought you two met at the fair,” I say, remembering the story.
“We did,” Dad says. “But that’s not what your mother’s talking about. I think we’ve told you this before.”
“When she was young.” Mom nods. “She might’ve forgotten.”
“The years go by too fast,” Dad murmurs.
“Is anybody going to tell me what you’re talking about?” I ask a little frustrated now.
“You’re right, Billie. Your father and I met at the fair. But it’s not as simple as that. After we spent some time on the rides together, after we bonded a little, your father, he…”
Mom trails off with a giggle. Dad laughs, shaking his head.
“What did you do?” I ask, smiling along with them, swept up in the moment.
I glance at Aaron and see that he’s got a slight smirk on his lips, too, as his eyes flit between my mom and dad. He looks at me and I know what he’s thinking. He’s admiring their connection, their love, and thinking about how he and I share the same bond.
“I proposed to her after knowing her for two hours,” Dad says.
I gasp. “What?”
“Yep.” Dad nods, chuckling. “I don’t know what came over me. No, actually, that’s a lie. I know exactly what came over me. It was you, Janet. It was the bond we formed.”
“What did you say?” I ask mom.
She laughs. “I said no. I thought he was crazy. He gave me this big romantic speech, telling me he loved me the second he saw me… but I had to be honest with him, and tell him I didn’t feel the same.”
“That didn’t scare me away though,” Dad says, chuckling. “I called you up the next day, remember? We went on a date that evening.”
Mom leans over and places her hand on dad's. “Just because I thought you were crazy, it didn’t mean I wasn’t interested. But don’t you see? Imagine if I’d felt exactly the same as you when you proposed. Imagine if we’d shared that instant connection. You can’t tell me Billie is too young. She’s around the same age we were when we met.”
Dad frowns. He glances at Aaron, a spark in his eyes, then looks at me.
“Tell me this isn’t going to blow up in your face,” he says. “Tell me you know this is going to go the distance. Tell me you’re not going to come to me in a few months, devastated, because it all fell apart.”
“Never,” Aaron growls. “We’re going to be together forever.”
“Forever,” I repeat. “Dad, I promise, this isn’t going to end in tears. Or, if it is, they’ll be tears of happiness. We want to be together more than you can understand… no, that’s not right. Because you do understand, don’t you? You know how badly we want this. It’s the same way you wanted Mom.”
“Only you both feel that way,” Dad says quietly.
I nod, and then – even if I know I could be making a mistake – I reach over for Aaron. He meets me halfway, our fingers touching, sparks flaring between us. I know that feeling is never going to leave us, no matter how long we’re together.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I really am sorry for upsetting you. But I can’t let him go.”
Dad sighs. “Maybe I should be the one apologizing. All this time, I’ve only ever been thinking about myself. Even when I quit the band, I refused to listen to what you said, Aaron, you, and the fellas. Growing up dirt-poor you couldn’t pass on the chance. And all I cared about was my damn ego.”
“I don’t care about that,” Aaron says. “It’s all in the past. All I care about now is the future.” He gives my hand a squeeze, smirking at me. “Our future.”
“Me too,” I whisper.
“Are you really going to stand in the way of this?” Mom says. “Look at them. You can see how strongly they feel for each other. You must be able to see that.”