Page 6 (1/2)

It looked like it was going to rain as I walked to Central Park, but I didn’t care Rain or shine, it was still rass in the Conservatory Gardens and I satmy knees to chest Tears started to fall, as did the rain from the sky I looked up and let the raindrops hit my face while I pondered about how much my life sucked The rain was cool as it hit my skin and I sobbed with ht that I’d be here, doing this with hter," I heard a voice say from behind

I lifted my head and looked behindan u else you can say that will hurt "

He walked over toon the wet grass "I knew I’d find you here"

I looked at him as he handed me a small towel "How did you knohere I was?"

"This is the one place your uone" He s?" I asked

"No, baby, it’s not Yourwoman and you should be very proud to be like her"

I smiled softly at him as he took a hold of my hand "Julia, I’m sorry for earlier and the way I yelled at you I’ve done sos in s that I regret, and I don’t ever want you to have any regrets in life You’reto protect you and rets"

"You can’t always do that, Daddy You’re going to have to let me make mistakes because it’s the only way I’ll learn, and yesterday was a mistake," I said as I looked down

He took in a sharp breath and put his arirl, we all make mistakes, but you’re only sixteen years old What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking about how much I wanted to be loved by someone the way you love Mom All of my friends’ parents are divorced or can’t stand each other But you and Mo I’ve ever seen It’s real and it’s natural, and sos I’ve seen in this world That’s the kind of love I want"

"Baby, you’re only sixteen You’re trying to groay too fast You’ll find someone ill love you like your mom and I love each other someday, when you’re older I never knehat love was until I was thirty years old, and it was the first time that I saw your mom"

I lifted my head up and looked at hiht at the club?"

He raised his eyebrow atabout a list of rules you had and how you thought she broke one of the that you ever need to know about The only thing you need to know is that rets," he said as he kissed the top of ht person is when he looks at htened "She’s right You’ll know it in an instant Now, do you think we can go so, and I’hed as I pulled away froo home, Dad"

He took my hand and alked out of the park "I’m really sorry, Dad I never meant to hurt you, and if I could take back the events of yesterday, I would"

"I know you’re sorry, Julia," he said

We cliet into soo out to lunch and stop by the store to get a new phone, since you broke yours"

"I’ll pay for it I’m sorry; it was all my fault"

"It’s okay, Princess Do you have any idea how hed at hie As soon as I changed into some dry clothes, I knocked on his door, and he told me to come in "Are you ready, Dad?"

He sat down at the end of the bed and patted for me to come sit next to him "I have one question, Julia, and please don’t be embarrassed by it I need to know that Brody used a condom"

Oh God, I wanted to die when I heard those words co he had to ask that "Yes, Dad, we used a condoood experience at all, and I consider it one of rets"

I saw his eyes fill with tears He put his arm around me, and I put my head on his shoulder "Oh, sweetheart, it’ll be one of the best experiences of your life when you’re one hundred percent ready I proet soo?"

"The Shake Shack" I sers in the world!"

My dad looked at ht, if you insist on a lunch full of grease You certainly are your , Dad I kno o to that restaurant where we get those really good salads"

"Now, you’re talking" He s we did was stop at the store to get ht my broken one with him so they could try to transfer all of ot my new phone, alked arm and arm down the streets of New York to the restaurant When we arrived, ere promptly seated, and I couldn’t help but notice the table of wo across from our table They watched as my father strutted across the restaurant and sat down in the booth Their staring continued throughout our lunch I told ht back I watched as their eyes diverted to me when I walked by as they looked me up and down After I used the bathroom, I walked over, sat down across from my dad, and looked at the women at the table across from us

"Hi, do I know you?" I asked with a wide sot up and walked over to the table, still asking the women if I knew them "Are you sure we haven’t met before? What about hi me an evil look

"No, I don’t believe we’ve met," one of the women spoke up

"Really," I said as I put htat me and my father since the moment we entered the restaurant So, since we don’t know each other, then I’ our way anymore Am I correct?"