“Fine, Dad. Cut me off. I don’t need your money,” I say, my tone calm.
“Poppy, if you don’t listen to me right now?—”
“I’m done listening to you. I’m done with you. Goodbye.”
I hang up and toss my phone aside. I sit down on my bed and pull my knees to my chest, hugging my arms around my legs, feeling numb and sad at how my relationship with my dad is over.
Never in a million years did I think I’d lose him like this.
But as awful as this feels, I know I did the right thing. I stood up for myself. I stood up for what I wanted—what’s important to me.
And I know, without a doubt, I’ll never, ever regret that.
Chapter 48
Poppy
Nick gives my hand a gentle squeeze as we walk up the driveway to his parents’ house.
“You doing okay?” he asks, his voice soft.
“Yeah.”
His gaze is watchful as he scans my face. “You sure?”
I stop walking and turn so I’m facing him. I smile up at him, heartened at how concerned he is about me.
I give him a soft kiss. “I’m sure,” I say against his mouth.
He grabs my waist, pulling me closer to him.
It’s been a month since I fell out with my dad, and Nick has been my rock ever since. When I told him about our argument that night, he held me in his arms as I cried. He told me that I was doing the right thing by advocating for myself and supported me one hundred percent.
And when I told him about my YouTube channel endorsements and the huge boost I was getting, he took me out for ice cream at Sweet Cheeks to celebrate. He told his teammates and friends about it, too. They’ve all been texting me to say congratulations.
He spends every weekend at my apartment, cuddling me in bed and cooking breakfast for me. On the days when we can’tsee each other because I’m busy with classes, tutoring, and my YouTube channel, and he’s busy training or gone for an away game, he texts me cute messages throughout the day.
And now I’m spending Christmas with him and his family because he refuses to let me be alone on the holidays now that I’m on the outs with my parents.
He kisses the corner of my mouth, then my cheek, then my forehead. I swoon. I love it when he does that.
I stare up at his handsome face. A light snow falls around us, and I smile as snowflakes land in his thick, chocolate-brown hair.
“Let’s go inside,” he says, taking my hand in his and leading me up the porch steps.
When we walk in, I’m hit with the smell of cinnamon and sugar. We kick off our shoes, and Nick takes the bag of gifts I was carrying out of my hand.
“I can hold it,” I say. “You’re already carrying your own bag of gifts.”
He shakes his head. “Carrying your bags is a non-negotiable now that I’m your boyfriend.”
I grin wide and follow him into the main part of the house, which is a combined living room, dining room, and kitchen. I forgot how cozy his parents’ house is during the holidays. There’s a brick fireplace on the far end and a massive cozy sectional. To the side is a Christmas tree covered in ornaments and a bunch of gifts under the tree. Stockings hang over the fireplace, and there’s a cute toy Christmas village set up on the mantel. It’s set up exactly how I remember when I would come over to hang out with Anna in high school.
“Oh, yay! You’re here!”
I turn around when I hear his mom’s cheery voice. She hugs Nick, then pulls me into a hug.
“I’m so happy you’re celebrating with us,” she beams.
