"I will rest in the living room with the better TV."
She glares at me before she sighs.
"Fine. Your dad is spending the day down at the barn. I guess one of the cows is giving birth. Your mom went into Jasper to get some stuff for the house. Though, I wouldn't be surprised, if she redecorates it. She’s been inspired by what Jordyn is doing. I have to run into work to check on things, and I have a meeting with my boss. Then, I’m grabbing some of my stuff too, so my dad is coming to sit with you," she says.
"I don't need a babysitter," I groan.
"You kind of do. You still need help getting to the bathroom, and you can't stand long enough to cook yet. But I know, if you get bored, you will get up and try to find something to do. So, Dad will come and make sure you aren't bored, feed you lunch, and basically make sure you follow doctor’s orders until I get back."
"You are just as bad as my mom when I broke my leg in middle school."
"I can be worse if you don't do as you’re told."
"Okay, okay." I raise my hands in surrender.
"I will sit and talk to your dad and watch TV until you get back. I promise."
"If you want to talk ranch stuff, your dad and Geo can come up to the house, but you are not to go to the barn today."
"I promise." I try to hide the smile on my face because I love her taking care of me.
Just as I finish my breakfast and make it to the couch, her dad shows up. She gives him the rundown of what I can and can't do, and then gives me a kiss and is out the door.
"So, are you going crazy not being able to do anything yet?" Her dad asks as he joins me in the living room.
"It was nice to be in my own bed, but yeah, it feels weird to be sitting around, when I know how much work there is to be done."
"If I know my daughter, she has it all under control," he chuckles.
"Speaking of your daughter." I decide to bite the bullet, instead of sitting on this all day and possibly missing my chance.
Mr. Mitchell has to know what's coming because he goes serious and sits up straight.
"I love her. I always have, even if I didn't want to admit it to myself. She's my best friend and the better half of me. We had an argument, before the accident, that I'm sure she's told you all about. But it made me realize what she means o me. I'd like your permission to ask her to marry me."
He stares at me, giving nothing away, before he speaks.
"I'm not sure. You do have a playboy reputation around town, you know. That's not quite the type of guy I pictured for my daughter."
My heart sinks. Geo told me many times that was going to come and bite me in the ass, and now he's right.
"I'm not sure how the reputation started. Maybe, I got it after I had gone out with three different girls in a month. I was too picky. It seemed I was looking for someone better than Kaylee. I was comparing them all to her, and when they didn't hold up, I dumped them. Though I didn't sleep around, I just dated a lot. I was an idiot, because there’s no one better than Kaylee.
"No, there isn't," her dad agrees.
"She had big dreams to go off to school, and I didn't want to be the one to stop her, so I kept her in the friend zone. She did the same for me. But I won't lie, I did everything I could to make sure she didn't get serious with anyone."
"Oh, I know, and she was pretty pissed at you for it."
"I don't regret it, and I'd do it all over again if it meant I'd end up with her."
He doesn't say anything but looks me over like he's trying to get me to crack under pressure, but I'm not backing down. Not when it comes to this.
"I know about the pact you two made. She got drunk one night and was mad at you and let it slip. I always knew even before then that you two would end up together. When I saw the way you looked at one another, and how close you were, it was obvious. You'd have been blind not to see it. Garrett, I'd be honored to call you family, even though you already are."
Relief floods me, and a smile takes over. I have his blessing, and I know that will be important to her.
Her dad goes on, "I have her mother’s ring set. It was her favorite, so I saved it for her. You stop by the house and have dinner with me one night, and I’ll give it to you. Now, put on that new spy movie. I’ve been waiting to see it."