Page 46 of British Daddy to Go

Sean

I’ve been perfectly celibate since I met Maggie, with the exception of our intense make-out sessions and those two times we hooked up in the dressing room. The point is, I’ve only been with Maggie for two weeks.

Now she tells me that she’s gone on a date with some other guy?

A guy that her parents approve of, too. Why is she bothering with me if she’s got the perfect guy on speed dial?

“Please say something,” she says meekly.

“I’m not sure what to say,” I admit. “Stefan will take you home.”

Her face can’t hide her surprise. What did she expect the outcome would be? I can’t be with someone who is seeing someone else.

“Sean, let’s talk about this,” Maggie begs. “You know how my parents are.”

The stories she has shared about her parents have been extreme. I must admit, it’s no surprise that they’ve attempted to hook her up with some guy from their church. What bothers me is that she actually went.

“You went out with another guy, Maggie. There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Technically, I didn’tgoanywhere, Sean. Please, let me explain.”

Her eyes fill with tears. I have to look away, or I’ll scoop her up in my arms and never let her go. “Fine,” I say after a long silence. “Explain.”

She sighs heavily and wipes at her face. “My parents set the whole thing up, you have to believe me on that. I don’t want to see anyone but you.”

I do believe her, but that doesn’t make it okay.

“They invited Randall over for dinner. I had this whole plan to go out with him and tell my parents about how terrible it was so they’d finally back off!”

“You knew about this date long enough to come up with a plan, yet you never thought to tell me about it?”

Maggie bites her beautiful lip. I should be the one biting that lip! Oh, dear, did this Randall characterkissher?

I could kill him.

“That was my first mistake. I’ll admit to that, but please just listen to what I have to say.”

“Fine.”

I cross my arms over my chest so that she knows I’ll listen but I won’t be happy about it. Maggie may be naïve, but she can’t be so naïve that she would think dating multiple people is okay. Unless, of course, she thinks our relationship is open. We haven’t had a conversation about exclusivity. I assumed we were seeing each other and no one else, but maybe that wasmymistake.

“So, my parents ruined that plan by inviting Randall for dinner and planning our date to be in front of them. They kept telling Randall what to say to me and giving him questions to ask. It was awful, but my parents thought it was fantastic. I’m sure they’re planning the wedding already.”

Maggie takes a second to breathe. I don’t think that was a great place to stop, since the only wedding Maggie should be thinking about is with me. I don’t even hate myself for the thought. It’s only been two weeks, but I can already see a forever for Maggie and me.

At least, I could before I found out she was seeing someone else.

“Randall wanted to see me again, but I shrugged it off. I haven’t spoken to him since then. It was barely a date, Sean, I swear. My parents were there!”

I sigh. “You know, that could be construed as a serious relationship. He has met your parents, and they genuinely like him. Isn’t that important to you?”

“Of course it is, but it’s not everything. I’ve spent my entire life doing what my parents wanted, what they expected. I’m done living to please them.”

“So, what? I’m your experiment? Your rebellious phase?” I yell. Maggie was right. This was not a conversation to have in public.

Maggie cries a bit harder. “That’s not what this is, Sean. You mean everything to me.”

“If that was true, you wouldn’t have had dinner with Randall!”