Meant To Be.

18.

Chris.

It's been about five days or so since me and Jade made it to North Carolina.

And honestly, this place feels like a second home to me now.

I've been getting in good graces with her parents- more so her mom as she and Jade been showing me around more areas of they city. Which of all it has been a vibe.

As far as her father, he seems like a cool individual. Easy too talk too but I know with his and Jade's history, it'll be long ways from now before they start to bond the daughter-father relationship that's needed.

Chris.

While everyone was eating and catching up amongst themselves, I look up to my left and noticed Deion, Jades father, wave his hand at me to come by.

Standing up from the table, I walk my way over in his direction.

"I wanted to speak with you individually away from Jade and everyone else" Deion says.

I nod respectfully, "Cool, is everything ok?"

"Oh yes yes, nothing out of the ordinary. I mean- you know it's no secret that me and her mother hardly get along and that me and Jade barely co-exist" He explains.

"Yes, I'm aware. But I'm sure the more you two spend time together, the more things will be cop-esthetic" I say.

Deion nods, "I hope so Chris. I really do. I brought you over here to talk because I didn't want you hearing wrong truths from anyone else's mouth. I believe I'm man enough to admit that my past endeavors interfered a lot with me and my daughters time and hell even me and my ex-wife's divorce. But regardless of the past, I'm here to make up that lost time now and I just wanted to say, I'm glad you are the one making my daughter happy" I smile as I continue to listen.

"The happiness goes both ways, I love your daughter with every fiber in my being for real. She's changed me completely and I wouldn't have it no other way" I explain as Deion smiles proudly.

"That's Jade for you. Makes a person change things unexpectedly that they didn't even know needed change" We both then laugh briefly, "For a moment when she told me it was you I almost didn't believe her"

I then scrunched my eyes in confusion, "How come?"

Deion then shrugs his shoulders, "Well, for the simple fact being that you are...you" He explains, pointing out the obvious.

I smiled a little, "Yeah, I could understand that. But for me, I'm not the type that always go for the models, actresses, singers and whatever else. I connect to people to who I'm just attracted too. But if I feel we have an undeniable attachment to each other, regardless of the career status, then I'm all in" I explain as I briefly look over Jade speaking to Deion's wife, Julia. I smile as I take in Jades beauty.

This girl just don't know she's got me wrapped around her finger...man.

"And I like that son, I really do. I'm glad we got to have this talk, y'know get to know each other" Deion smiles while taking a sip of champagne.

"Me too. I haven't always been to keen on pops" I say as he laughs nonchalantly.

"Is that so?" Deion asks.

"When I was younger my father wasn't always the best to be around and was always a pain in my ass. When he and my mom divorced due to some...abuse issues I got the bitter end of the stick. And let's just say I'm never dealing with that nigga- man, ever...at all. And overall, has kind of made me nervous about even meeting my lady's old man" I say, still feeling uneasy even discussing my non-relationship with my father.