"A bit before your time, though?" He questions.
I smile, "Nonsense, Dolly is timeless. My grandmother used to play Dolly cassette tapes while she cleaned the house. So her favorites became mine."
Shaun looks at me curiously, like he's trying to figure me out. "Okay, well, I know what kind of music you like. What kind do you hate?"
I say the first thing that comes to mind. Ashton's face is directly in the forefront. "Ashton Slade."
He booms with laughter, raising his beer bottle, "Touche."
April and Karly round the corner with trays of food, setting them down.
"Karly, this one's a keeper. He's funny." Shaun says.
She turns a little red, "Relax, Daddy. We're just friends."
Talk about twisting the knife. I set my beer down on the coffee table, noisier than necessary, and loudly clear my throat.
"Friends?" Shaun snorts.
"Yeah, guess we are?" My gaze narrows in her direction.
She begins to backtrack, stuttering a bit, "I just mean we're um… we're new. Daddy, please stop."
"Karly, why are you so jumpy? You are acting so flustered." April sighs.
"Im fine, mom. Can we just not start with the whole 'grill the boyfriend' thing?"
I can tell something is wrong, so I stand, "Could you excuse us for a second?"
They both share a glance, and her father gives a knowing nod. I pull Karly behind me by the hand into the other room.
"What is wrong with you? You're acting a little crazy."
She leans back against the kitchen counter, "So now I'm crazy?"
"No," I whisper, taking her hand, "No. I just mean, why are you so worried?"
"I don't know. I don't bring guys around them. Well, I haven't since Ashton. I'm afraid they're going to say something you don't want to hear."
"Jolene," I whisper, "I'm well aware of your dating history. I don't care what they say. It doesn't change how I feel. Not even if you slept with Barney and kissed your NSYNC posters."
She looks at the ground as if she's trying to come up with something to say, but instead, she pulls me in for a hug. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, just let me get to know your parents. Let me get to know them because they are part of you." I tap her heart, "I want to be in here with them."
She tilts her eyes up at me, and I stare back down at her. "And we," I stress, "Are more than friends."
She acts like she's going to kiss me, lingering a mere centimeter from my lips, and smiles, "I was more of a Backstreet Boys kind of gal."
Shaun starts hollering in the other room, signaling a touchdown.
"Well, now you're an Eric Blackwood gal."
I kiss her lips gently and lead her back to the living area. After our talk, things start to fall into place. She starts to get more comfortable with the fact that I'm here, and I get more comfortable thinking about my life with her. The dream was so close within my reach, yet still so far away. Because no matter how much I wanted it, there was still someone standing in our way. A roadblock who still has a diamond ring, and a little girl that still has a piece of my heart.
CHAPTER 13
KARLY