After the Fact (Bookworms and Booya #2)

  ~*~*~

  I yawned and stretched, but when I opened my eyes I got the shock of my life. “Dad!”

  I tried to sit up, but Zell--sitting to my right--moved with his normal quickness and kept me down.

  “Whoa there, girl. Chill. No sudden movements. Remember what doc said?”

  So I just smiled at two of the most important men in my life, one on my left and one on my right. “Dad, I’m so glad to see you.”

  Dad smiled back at me as he reached out to take my hand. “I’m glad to see you too, hon, though I wish you didn’t have the knot on your head.”

  My eyes twinkled. “Where’s mom?”

  “She’s in Balamb with Zell’s mother.”

  “She’s not stressing is she, Dad?” I asked, and I could feel my face tighten with worry.

  “No. I told her you’d be fine. So did Zell.”

  Zell. I looked over at him, and my smile returned. “You haven’t been here the entire time I’ve been sleeping have you?”

  “Nah. Been talking to your pop. Gave him a tour of the place. Talked to Squall, too.”

  I blinked, eyes wide. “Wow.” I looked over at Dad. He didn’t look as if he was going to blow an artery. I smiled. “So, what did you think?”

  My dad smirked. “Of your boyfriend? Or of Garden?”

  I flushed molten and cleared my throat as I lowered my gaze. “Oh. Um, I guess he told you then.”

  “I asked and he answered, yes.”

  I sent Zell a sidelong glance. He smirked at me, too, slightly shaking his head. “I was going to tell you,” I told my dad softly. “Eventually.”

  “You just wanted to make sure it would last longer than one day?”

  I reluctantly smiled as I nodded. “Yeah. I guess so.”

  Dad reached out and carefully tousled my hair. “You’re a nut, Sally, but I love you anyway. And Zell is welcome any time. You’re a very nice young man. A trifle unorthodox, but so was I at your age.”

  I smiled wider and tightened my hold on Zell’s hand. He squeezed back. “So, what are you going to do now, Dad?”

  “I’m going to go back to Balamb this evening, take your mother out to dinner, and then we will both come over tomorrow to see if you’re feeling up to watching Zell and I play ball on the beach while you talk and giggle with your mother.”

  I giggled and sent Zell a glance. He grinned.

  Dad stood and placed a kiss on my forehead. “I had better go. I need to check in with the shop and make sure there aren’t any emergencies. You rest, hon.” He reached out a hand to Zell, who eagerly clasped it with a just as eager smile. “It was nice meeting you, and we’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Likewise. Take it easy.”

  Dad gave me another smile and then turned and left the room. I looked over at Zell. “So? How did it go?”

  Zell sat back in the chair, his grin returning. “He gave me the third degree. It was kinda cool.”

  I blinked. “Dad gave you the third degree? He’s usually so laid back. Now if my brother were here, I can see him giving you the third degree.”

  “Really?” Zell leaned back and crossed his arms as he watched me.

  “Uh-huh. He works at the T.V. station in Timber as the general manager. Got the job after the whole thing with Seifer. Well, basically.”

  “Wow. Cool.”

  I nodded and adjusted my blankets. “Yeah. He offers to let me come and watch the live shows. Only, I haven’t had time.”

  “Now that you’ve got your diploma, you can go.”

  I raised my eyes to meet his gaze. “I don’t know. I’ll have to ask Seifer what my schedule’s going to be like. Won’t it be a bit brutal?”

  Zell scoffed. “Nah. I’m sure you’ll have time to go. And if you don’t?” Zell gestured to himself. “Just talk to me. I’ll have words and take steps to see you get time off.”

  I smiled. “Thanks, sweetie.”

  “Sure thing.” Zell stood as he gave my hand several squeezes. “You hungry?”

  I slightly nodded.

  “OK. I’ll go grab some dinner. Be back in a sec.”

  I nodded again and watched him leave the room with a slowly growing smile as my eyes crinkled at the corners. I hugged the blankets to my chest and released a sigh. If I died that night, my life would have been totally and completely worth living.