The next day I sat on the side of Emmett's bed and touched his head. He opened his eyes and looked at me.
"Hey." I said softly, handing his some water and a pain pill for his hangover.
"Thanks." He took it. "I'm sorry." He said.
"Emmett, who gives you the drugs?" I asked.
"Brandon. I know I promised you I'd stop, but he stopped by…" he looked ashamed.
"It's okay…. I stopped by my house on the way home." I crawled into bed next to him and he pulled my close.
"Why?" he asked concerned.
"I had to pay the bills and I cooked my dad dinner." I said pulling the covers tightly around us.
"Did he hurt you?" he asked.
I shook my head. "No. He promised me that he'd stop drinking."
"Believe me, don't believe that." He sighed.
"Emmy!" a woman's voice called from downstairs.
"Who is that?" I asked.
"My mom. Just pretend like you're asleep." He said quietly.
I did and his bedroom door creaked opened.
"He brought a girl home." The woman said.
"There's nothing wrong with that. You know Emmett is a good boy." A man's voice said quietly. "She probably kept him in line while we were gone."
"Wait, isn't that that nice little girl who works as a technician in the hospital?" she asked.
"Looks like it." The man said and I felt Emmett smile al little into my hair.
"She's a good girl. I heard she gives her whole paycheck, every month, to help take care of her father who's a drunk…"
I felt tears burn my eyes and Emmett pulled me closer.
"She's a very good girl." The man said. "Remember when I had that surgery? She took care of me the whole time I was there."
"Well, Emmett has a decent girl."
They walked out and I looked at Emmett.
"I told you they would approve." He smiled.
I sighed in relief and he kissed me gently.
At least…. At least one family approves of me, the downside? It took sixteen years for my family to approve of me.