As the saying goes, not all things go as planned.

I planned to marry Rizzy in a small chapel, give her the honor of being a bride with all the fineries—white lace, flowers and cake. I hoped to be able to formally ask her hand in marriage from her father. Jerry deserves that. I owe him that.

But her father arrives unannounced one weekend while I’m in the middle of giving her an orgasm.

We try to look normal as we receive him but one look at us and Jerry instantly knows I’ve taken her virginity.

We are not good actors, Rizzy and I.

I’ve imagined this scenario a thousand times, rehearsing what I’d tell my best friend when he learns the truth, but nothing could really prepare anyone for such things. I just have to wing it and hope that we’ll survive this test with our friendship still intact.

“You…!” Jerry utters, his eyes going ten shades of betrayed.

“Jerry…” I start.

Words fail me.

He punches me in the face.

I stagger back.

“Dad, no!” Rizzy screams.

With a mad cry, Jerry slams his body at me like a linebacker.

We crash hard on the floor.

He goes at me. I let him. His fists are cruel, his words deadly, but amid all that I feel his anguish, his grief all over again. I feel it in every blow he inflicts in me. He’s not only doing it for himself but for his dead wife. My best friends in the world. And I betrayed them. I truly did.

“I trusted you! How could you do this? I trusted you! God damn you, Ryland!”

Rizzy hugs her father from behind, sobbing. “Dad, please! Don’t hurt him! Dad!”

Jerry stops, breathing hard.

He stands and staggers back, staring at me, his eyes wet.

I almost can’t bear to look at him. To see the hurt in his eyes. But I must. My future with Rizzy is on the line. I need her father’s forgiveness. “Jerry…I’m so sorry.”

He turns to his daughter. “Pack your things. I’m taking you back to Phoenix.”

“Dad…”

“Pack your things, dammit! Now!”

Rizzy looks at me. My baby girl is torn between me and her father. I nod at her. “It’s alright. I’ll follow you.”

“You are not setting foot in my property! If you dare, I’ll shoot you, Ry, I swear.”

“I love her, Jerry.”

“She’s my daughter! We practically raised her together! What kind of sick are you, Ry?! Did you rape her?! So help me, God—”

“No!” Rizzy interrupts. “No, Dad, he didn’t. I love him.”

Jerry shakes his head. “You know nothing! Go pack your things!”

Rizzy looks at me again. “Go with your father. I promise, I’ll follow you.”

Jerry makes a furious growl. “Ten minutes, Larizza!”

Rizzy runs up the stairs.

I raise myself on my elbows.

Jerry pins me with a murderous look. “Don’t move or I’ll kill you.”

I have no doubt he would carry it out if I push him to his limit. I would do the same if Rizzy were my daughter. Hell, I wanted to kill myself after I’d touched her the first time. But I chose to live and love her. I chose to forgive myself for this love, so I could love Rizzy back.

I remain lying on the floor while the minutes pass. Jerry stands near the door, waiting for his daughter.

“I love her, man,” I tell Jerry again, hoping I’d melt his anger.

“Shut up.”

“I’m going to marry her.”

“Over my dead body.”

“Or mine. That’s the only way you can stop me, Jerry.”

“Try me then.”

Rizzy comes down the stairs with a small carryall in hand.

She looks at me, her face drenched in tears.

“Let’s go, Larizza,” her father commands.

Rizzy steps toward me but Jerry grabs her hand and drags her out the door.

I stand up and go after them. I stop at the door.

Jerry slams the door of his SUV shut. Rizzy is looking at me through the windshield. She raises her hand.

I raise mine. “I’ll come for you, baby. I promise.” She can’t hear me but I know she knows we belong together no matter what.

I let Jerry take his daughter from me for now because I intend to keep them both in my life.

Jerry needs time to cool down and see reason.

I hope it doesn’t take too long because the thought of not seeing Rizzy for days is already killing me.

I sit on the chair wiping the sweat off my face with a little towel. I’ve been busy all day.

The house is spotless clean, the laundry all done, and food is steaming in the stove for Dad when he arrives from whatever it is he’s been so busy about the past days.

The house is so quiet. It’s during these times that my melancholy attacks me. I miss my mother so much. I miss my dad, too. And I miss Ry so bad I’m dying inside everyday.

My father hasn’t spoken a decent word to me since we arrived in Phoenix.

I tried talking to him but he froze me with a look and told me succinctly to forget Ry and get on with my life. As if I could do that at a snap of a finger. He told me to prepare my papers for college.

“You owe me and you mother this, especially your mother. She worked her ass off selling fucking insurance to secure a college fund for you. Don’t be a disappointment to yourself, Larizza.”

That got me. For the first time, I feel guilty for being selfish of my own happiness that I forgot my parents’ sacrifices for me. Yes, especially my mom. My sweet, loving mother. I miss her so much. I miss her more now that I know how it is to love a man. I now understand what my dad is going through, his anguish from losing his soulmate.

I’ll try to understand my father, give him time to think things over even if I’m suffering from not seeing Ry. I want my dad to accept my relationship with Ry with all his heart. I can’t lose either of them.

Thank God my father didn’t take away my cellphone or my laptop. He still allows me this privilege even though he’s the one paying for it.

At least, I’m able to communicate with Ry over the phone.

It’s been almost two weeks since I last saw Ry and I miss him so much I almost couldn’t bear it any longer.

“How is he?” he asks me today.

“He’s been out most days. I think he’s been meeting with potential business partners for his trucking business. I heard him talking over the phone the other day.”

“Good. At least he’s not moping around the house depressed anymore.”

“That’s the good part for which I’m thankful. I probably wouldn’t handle it if he came home still depressed.”

“Did you try to talk to him about us again?”

“He’s still not talking to me about us.”

“He’s not taking any of my calls either, baby.”

I sigh. “What are we gonna do, Ry?”

I hear him sigh, too. “I miss you so bad, Kitkat.”

“Me too.”

“I think of you every day, every minute.”

“Me too.”

“I miss kissing you, feeling your skin on mine.”

“Me too.”

“I miss being inside you. I’m so hard right now, baby.”

My pussy clenches. I miss him inside me too. I lie in bed at night thinking of his cock inside me. “Ry…”

“Baby, I’m going crazy. I need to see your father again.”

“But what if he shoots you?”

“So be it.”

“Ry!”

“He won’t shoot me, Kitkat. Your father loves me.”

“But I saw his Glock! He was polishing it!”

“He was probably just cleaning it. He’s been gone for months. He’s a gun enthusiast. He loves his guns.”

“Well, I don’t want him using it on you!”

“Do you trust me, baby?”

“I’m scared, Ry.”

“I can’t bear not seeing you anymore. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I can’t fucking work. My life’s a fucking mess without you. I’m coming for you, Kitkat.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow.”