The two step into an empty room across the hallway to talk. Evan shuts the door with a dull thud, and Eric feels a lump form in his throat. If he wasn’t nervous before, he certainly was now.
“So…” Evan starts, circling Eric the same way he would if Eric was prey.
Unsure what to say, Eric just stands there, back straight and stiff, waiting for Evan to speak.
“My daughter’s informed me that she’d like to start seeing you.” Evan said.
“Yes sir.” Eric said, a bead of sweat rolling down his neck.
“You can relax Eric. I don’t have any problems with you dating my daughter.” Evan said, trying to reassure the poor kid. Even when he wasn’t trying, he just had a way to appearing threatening.
“Oh, thank you sir.” Eric said, breathing a sigh of relief. He could almost feel every muscle in his body loosening at Evan Lawson’s words.
“As long as you treat her right. I don’t want her go through what she went through with Jeremy again.” Evan almost growled.
“Sir, if you don’t mind my asking, what exactly did happen between her and Jeremy? It seems a lot more serious than what Spencer told me.” Eric asked, recalling that day. All he could really remember, aside from Spencer saying that Jeremy was a total jerk, was that the two had their first kiss.
“What did she tell you?”
“Just that she and Jeremy dated for a few months. And eventually things started to go south, and he started treating her poorly.” Eric said, growing angry himself remembering the way Spencer started to cry when she recounted past events. The look on her face alone was reason enough for him to want this Jeremy Bower to rot in hell.
“That’s a nice way of putting it,” Evan actually growled this time. He didn’t want to to tell Eric the entire story, though if things between him and Spencer got really serious he’d find out sooner or later. So rather than tell him, Evan merely told Eric to wait a second while he went to get something.
Eric stood alone in the room for no more than ten minutes before Evan returned with a folder in hand.
“Don’t tell Spencer I gave this to you. But I can see how much you care about her. I don’t recommend showing it around, keep it to yourself.” Evan said. Eric nodded, and tucked the folder under his arm to examine later.
“I also wanted to discuss was your being normal.” Evan said.
Eric nods, not sure what to expect from Evan. That little “bump in the road” was starting to seem bigger and bigger.
“I gather you’re not sure what you want to do, in terms of making the change or not?” Evan asked.
“It’s more that I don’t know what kind of were I want to spend the rest of my life with. I’d like to pick something compatible with Spencer, though the options are limited.” Eric said.
“Don’t limit yourself just because of what Spencer is. You choose based on what you want. But I won’t press the matter. That’s for you alone to decide. I’ve already spoken to Spencer about this. She knows I’d prefer if you two kept things family friendly for the time being.” Evan said.
During their brief conversation, the two pretty much had another version of “the talk”. But this time it was about Spencer forcing Eric into something he didn’t want, rather than the other way around (a guy forcing Spencer to do something she wasn’t ready to). And another part of the conversation was Evan listening to Spencer asking her father not to maim Eric.
“Not a problem sir.”
“Good to hear. Then I just have to ask you one more thing.” Evan says slowly, his eyes carefully watching Eric.
“Do you plan on breaking my daughter’s heart by running back to that mermaid?”
“No. And if I do, feel free to tear me limb from limb.” Eric said, knowing the last thing he’d want to do is hurt Spencer the same way Julie hurt him. Evan actually smiled at that remark.
“I’ll hold you to that, but thank you for the peace of mind. You seem like a good kid Eric, don’t do anything to make me regret trusting you.” Evan said, offering his hand. Eric shook it, feeling more confident than ever.
“I won’t sir, I won’t.” Eric said. He and Evan exit the room, and find everyone still waiting in the hallway. Evan continues back into Spencer’s room, where he only sticks his head in to say one thing.
“Don’t let this one go Spencer. So few ever pass the inspection.” Evan said. He doesn’t give his daughter a chance to say anything else. He leaves, heading for Jeremy Bower’s room with Samantha Twist to have a much less pleasant conversation.
“Eric what’s that?” Martha asked seeing the folder in Eric’s hands.
“Huh, nothing. Something Spencer’s dad wanted me to look at later. Can you hold onto it for a second? Don’t peek.” Eric asked. Martha nods, taking the folder from her son, and then watches as he slips back into Spencer’s room.
“He certainly is taken with her.” she thinks.
Eric sits at the edge of the bed, and takes her hand, paw, in his.
“That went well, right?” Spencer asked nervously.
“Couldn’t have been better.” Eric said, leaning over to kiss Spencer’s cheek. His own brushes against some of her whiskers, and tickles him. When Eric pulls back, he finds a few loose hairs from Spencer’s fur in his mouth. She laughs as he spits them out. And then rubs her cheek against Eric, subtly marking him.
They both wish the moment could last the night, but Maggie sticks her head in and tells Spencer she should get some sleep. Eric reluctantly leaves, kissing Spencer’s cheek once more before going. She licks his, and the act sends shivers down Eric’s spine.
“See you tomorrow?” Eric asked hopeful.
“One way or another.” Spencer said, a mischievous grin on her face. Eric smiled back, wanting nothing more than for tomorrow afternoon to be here already. The day had felt like it stretched on and one. Now, it felt like everything was moving at lightning speeds.