She was over this conversation, rolling her eyes and looking towards the kitchen to check on Neal. When her eyes found him, she didn't smile, instead assessing him. I fought the smirk from my face as I knew my words had reached her, seeing her pensive face as she more than likely thought about whether Neal was worthy of her time.
“I love you, Izzy. Always have, always will, but I won’t give up Lisa, because it makes you uncomfortable. I also won’t force you to think of her as a step-mom or force any sort of bond between the two of you. Will you allow me this happiness?” I asked her.
For some reason, I really felt I needed her approval. She sighed, picking at her nails and playing with the spinning ring on her finger. Her black nail polish was chipped, as she liked to pick at it when she was stressed or worried. I’d seen her pick at it when she came to visit me at the hospital. I hated that I scared her so much.
She flew out of there the moment she knew I was okay. She hated hospitals since she had to see me lay on a hospital bed for a week when her mother died. I was surprised and extremely touched that she had shown up for me at all. It had to take a lot out of her for her to come.
“Yeah, okay. It’s weird as hell, but if she really makes you that happy, then fine, I’ll deal with it.” She finally looked back up at me. Those green eyes stared at me softly for once, like the ten-year-old girl she once was.
“Thank you, Izzy.”
She slid off the arm of the couch and made her way towards me. She curled up into a ball, nuzzled into my side. I wrapped my arm around her and held her for a long while, surprised she was allowing me to do so. I felt whole again with my daughter in my arms. It had been a while since she had let me hold her.
“I was terrified I was going to lose you,” she admitted, breaking my heart for causing her any pain.
“I’m sorry, Iz, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“I know. Just be more careful, okay?”
“I promise, I will be.”
“Is she really okay with us?” Lisa asked, surprised when I told her Izzy had approved, at least mostly.
“I mean, she thinks it’s weird, but she’s okay.”
Izzy had left after we spoke for a moment, Neal followed closely behind with his head down. He was like a scared dog as he left my house with his tail tucked between his legs. The boy had no backbone, and I seriously hoped that Izzy would break up with him soon.
“She’s not wrong. We have a pretty big age gap.” Lisa stopped tracing random patterns on my chest to look up at me. Her beautiful blue eyes peered at me through those long dark lashes.
“That doesn’t matter to me. I love you, Lisa.”
“I love you, too.”
She got quiet again, and I worried that she was thinking more about our age difference. I knew it was different and people would talk, but I hoped it wouldn’t bother her. I forgot that she was still in her twenties, and as such, worried about these things more than I did. Hopefully, she won’t worry about it so much that she would leave me because of it. I don’t think I could survive losing Lisa.
“I want to talk to you about something.”
“What is it?” she asked, sitting up to better look at me.
“I am going to visit your dad and talk with him.”
“You’re what?!”
“Lisa, I need to talk to him. He needs to know that I am serious, and that you won’t be seeing Chris ever again. Not him, not Daniel, not any of them. There won’t be a contract marriage. He can come for me if he likes.”
“Davis, that’s not a good idea.”
Lisa was scared at the mention of her father. I could see it in the way she sank into herself. Her father caused such a fear in her. She had turned him into this untouchable monster in her head, one that haunts every waking moment of her life. What she didn’t seem to realize was that he was just like any other man, just has more money than most.
“I can handle it, Lisa. Trust me.”
I cupped her face, making her lift her head. She never needed to look down. She was strong and powerful. She just didn't know it yet. I would show her. I would keep training her alongside Carter, and she would grow to be a great fighter. She just needed to believe in herself more. She would get there.
“I trust you, Davis. I am just scared of what he could do.” Her shoulder sank as she let out a heavy breath. “Just be careful, okay?”
“I will be. You’re worth anything he throws my way.”
“Thank you, Davis.”
