I swallow hard, fighting off the emotion that is bubbling up. This man who just weeks ago told me I wasn’t good enough for his daughter, is now commending me for the choices that landed me in prison. My head is spinning with this turn of events.
“Thank you. I appreciate that. I care about your daughter more than I ever thought possible, George. She and I didn’t start off on the best of terms, but after having her in my self-defense class, I could tell that her headstrong personality was enough to reel me in. I’ve regretted pushing her away these past two weeks and I realized I can’t live without her. She’s it for me. I want a future with her because my life these past two weeks without her in it has been meaningless.”
He clears his throat once more and then readjusts himself on the couch. “That’s actually part of the reason why I’m here.” He pauses and then says five words that make my brain synapsis pop. “Sydney was attacked Thursday night.”
I pop up from my seat, chest heaving for oxygen.
“By Jesus Gonzalez.”
“Motherfucker!” Dragging my hands through my hair, I pull at the strands as I start to pace the room.
George rises so now we’re both standing, resting a hand on my shoulder, bringing me to a stop. “Javier, calm down. She’s fine. A little shaken up, but physically okay.”
“He touched her?” I swear to God, I’m going to kill him.
“Yes. But she fought him off. She defended herself, Javier. She used what you taught her and saved herself.” And those words about make me keel over.
She fought him off? She listened, she remembered everything I taught her, and she protected herself?
“She did?”
He nods. “Yes. And it was in that moment that I realized she may not be here right now if it weren’t for you. You saved my daughter from a world of pain, or worse, young man. And that right there tells me that you are the man she needs.”
I can feel the moisture building in my eyes, but I’ll be damned if I shed a tear in front of him. “I need to see her.”
He smiles knowingly and then fishes his keys out of his pocket. “I was hoping you’d say that. I came here to take you to her, Javier. She loves you and has been a shell of herself these past few weeks. I can’t bear to see her like this anymore. You two deserve to be happy. And I’m done standing in the way.”
As we drive to Sydney’s condo, my knee bounces in my seat with this turn of events. I question George about everything that happened that night and he tells me that Jesus was arrested. Thank God. He brags about how badly his nose was broken from the kick Sydney delivered to his face, making us both laugh. By the end of the twenty minute drive, I actually feel relaxed around the man I was convinced hated me and would never let me be with his daughter.
When we arrive at Sydney’s condo, George walks up to the door with me. He explained that he feared Sydney would push me away if I showed up alone. He wants her to know that he supports the two of us, and I expressed my gratitude. There are definitely hurdles still to jump, but having his blessing is a huge step in the right direction.
A few minutes after George knocks on the door, Sydney opens it up wide and her eyes follow suit when she sees the two of us together.
“Dad? Javi?”
My God, she looks beautiful, even though I can tell she’s been crying. She has no makeup on, her hair is a mess, but she’s an angel in my eyes. How I ever thought I could live without this woman is beyond me.
“Sydney … Javier and I just had a long talk, sweetie. I want you to know that I apologized to him for how I treated him at dinner and commended him for the honorable man he is. You have my blessing, sweetheart, even though I know you don’t need it. I love you and want you to be happy. I hope you’ll hear him out.” He steps to the side and pushes me forward a bit before blowing her a kiss and walking away.
I stand there as her eyes shift back to me and I anxiously await a reaction from her.
“Princess …”
“Javi …”
I stand there, waiting for more words, but then I reach for her out of instinct, slamming her into my chest and squeezing her in my arms
“I’m so glad you’re fucking okay,” I grate through tears I’m fighting off. The intensity running through me as I hold her in my arms again, knowing she’s alright after what happened is causing me to break. My body trembles as I encase her in my grip.
“I am. I’m alright,” she mumbles against my chest while returning the powerful hold on me.
We stand there for God knows how long before I finally release her on a shaky breath and I notice her wiping tears from her eyes.
“Can I come in so we can talk?”
She simply nods and then steps aside so I can cross the threshold. I follow her into the living room as she turns the volume of the television down and then curls up into the corner of her couch. I take a seat next to her, but not too close, trying to feel her out in case the display of desperation outside is short lived.
“How have you been?” she asks finally through a sniffle, breaking the silence.
I lock eyes with her, desperately wanting to pull her into me again and inhale her entirely. “Horrible.”
“Huh.” She sits back slightly and then wraps her arms around her knees as she brings them to her chest.
“Huh?”
“Well, if you’ve
