Page 13 of Just Once

“I’m in love with you, too, baby. So much.”

“I wish I could be with you right now.”

“Me too,” I say. “But we’ll have other nights together. So many other nights.” I pause. “Actually…what would you say if I moved down to be closer to you? After all, I have a feeling that I’m going to need a new job…”

Angel sniffles. “I would love that. But let’s talk about it more later.”

“Deal,” I say.

* * *

The following morning,when I walk into Ron’s office, I fully expect to walk out of there without a job. But to my surprise, Ron is much, much calmer than he was the night before.

“Take a seat,” he tells me. “And close the door.”

I do both. After I sit down, I look him straight in the eye and wait to hear what he has to say.

“I’m not happy that you’re dating my daughter,” Ron says. “If it was up to me, you wouldn’t even look at her. But Angel and I had a long talk last night, and she managed to convince me that it’s the real deal between you two.”

“It is, Ron. I assure you.”

He gives me a reluctant nod. “Well, I feel a little bit more comfortable knowing that. Look. We’re all adults. And I know I can’t force you two apart. I can’t see myself ever being happy about this situation, but I’ll learn to live with it. I only ask that you keep my feelings and Angel’s mother’s feelings in mind.”

“I can do that,” I say. “Thank you for being so understanding, Ron.”

Ron sighs. “Okay. Let’s get back to work.”

I nod in agreement.

* * *

I’ma little bit disappointed that my plan to move closer to Angel doesn’t work out after all. But I know it’s better that I stay here and work on smoothing things out with her dad. After all, if this relationship goes the way I hope it will, Ron is going to end up being more than just a business partner to me. He’ll end up being family.

Thankfully, as the days and weeks go on, Ron’s coolness starts to wear off. Things more or less go back to normal between us. Meanwhile, my relationship with Angel continues to progress. I fall more in love with her every time I see her—as well as every time I make love to her.

It’s a slightly drizzly Tuesday morning when I walk into Ron’s office and ask him if I can talk to him about something important.

“Is it about the new client?” he asks, not looking up from his computer.

“It’s about Angel,” I say, closing the door.

Ron pulls his eyes away from his computer screen, then motions for me to take a seat.

“What about her?” he asks, his face turning serious.

I carefully take a seat.

“I want to ask for your blessing, Ron,” I say. “I want to propose to Angel.”

He doesn’t say anything for several seconds. Then he swallows and nods. “I know I didn’t take the news very well when you two first told me that you were seeing each other. And I held onto those bitter feelings for a while. But…well, what the hell. Dante, you’ve proven to me how much you care about her. And getting to work with you has shown me your character, too. If you really love her, and she really loves you…well, of course you two should be together. You have my blessing.”

I stand up and walk around his desk. He looks up at me in surprise, but I do it anyway—I give the guy a hug.

“Thanks, Ron,” I say. “It means the world to me. And I know it will mean the world to her.”

“Good luck, son,” he says, and gives my shoulder a squeeze.

Chapter Seven