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"Tonight should be fun." Drew smiled at his daughter as they were eating dinner.

The man has done a great job stepping up as a dad. He's been working from home more lately. He claimed that when everyone had to do remote work, he couldn't go back in office for 5 days straight.

The girl couldn't blame her dad. It looked like a lot of work to wake up early to fight traffic to sit in his office for 8 hours only to fight the same traffic going home. No wonder why he stayed later.

But that didn't mean it felt weird. Like one time, the girl came home from practice to see her dad cooking... he never cooks.

It was a weird change, but she appreciated her dad. They even agreed to come visit her mom once a month. They would usually go get her favorite flowers, food, and have a panic with her, talking about random things. Even if her mom wasn't with her physically, she was still with her spiritually. And that was something she learned over the years. Her therapist, Doctor Ryan was a huge help too. If only she can do that with Susannah. 

The girl nodded. "Yeah. Steven's been raving about it since forever."

"The boy's excited to go to Princeton."

"Yeah he's bragging about it every second."

The man chuckled. "What about you bean? Thought about what school you want to commit to? I know it's still early."

Briella shrugged. "You know how I only wanted Nebraska since forever."

"That I do."

"And mom coached there so it'll make me feel like she's still there with me."

"Brie... mom would be happy wherever you are. It's your choice."

"I know. Stanford offered me early admissions."

"Like Gabriella?"

The girl chokes on her food. Her dad did not just say that. "Dad!"

"What? You love that movie, it made me watch it so many times. How can I not forget her leaving Tory early? Like she missed her prom."

Briella rolled her eyes. "Dad, not that same thing."

Drew shrugged. "Yeah you're right."

"Stanford said with the season I had, all the records I crushed, my talents would be wasted to play another year in high school."

"I figured. If the USA Volleyball community wants you in the Olympics, that's serious."

"Yeah but I don't know. I can't leave my friends, my team. They don't even know Stanford offered me early admissions."

"You don't have to decide right away. Stanford doesn't need an answer till the end of the month. You still have time."

"Yeah."

"And honestly, if you do decide to go to Stanford, I might reside in Santa Barbara temporarily." Drew confessed.

"What?"

"You know how Califia Farms' headquarters are in Santa Barbara?" The girl nodded as her dad continued. "Well, it's been hard to travel back and forth from there and here. So if, and this is only if you're going to Stanford, I'll consider it. I know Stanford's like a 5 hour drive, so better than a 5 hour flight."

The girl nodded. "Thanks dad."

The man was confused. "You're welcome?"

"For everything. I know we got off on a rocky start when mom passed away, but it's really nice to have you here."

"Always pumpkin."

✄-----------------------------

soorrry if the beginning has been slow but don't worry husbands will be coming soon!!