Elouise
The phoneonly rings once before Maddie picks up my call.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at that barbeque thing right now?” She asks, with eyebrows that I’m sure are raised.
I groan, “We’re about to leave.”
“Okay…” she lets the word hang.
We’ve talked about this stupid Stoleman-Hall family get together about a dozen times since the RV incident last weekend, so it’s fair that she’s wondering what the problem is now.
“I can’t figure out what to wear,” I admit.
Maddie makes a humming sound, “Yeah, I get that. Are you currently dressed?”
“Yes.”
“Give me the rundown.”
Maddie dates even less than I do, but like any woman, she understands the struggle of finding the perfect outfit.
I stare at my reflection in the full-length mirror on the back of my closet door. “I’m wearing that black wrap dress you like, but I feel like it’s too fancy.”
“Oooo yes, keep that on. It makes your tits look great!”
“Maddie! Our parents are going to be there! I’m not going for sexy.”
I can almost hear her rolling her eyes. “Whatever, don’t be a prude.”
I snort, “Pot. Kettle.”
She ignores my dig, “It’s kinda cold so you could wear that light blue jean jacket you have and your yellow flats. Then you’ll look like a perfect Spring Virgin.”
A laugh bursts out of me, shaking loose the feeling of dread that’s been sitting on my shoulders all morning. “Thank you, I needed that.”
“You’re welcome! Now go get in the car with your parents and brother and drive over to your boyfriend’s parent’s house.” She starts laughing so I grumble a goodbye and hang up the phone.
Resigned to my fate, I take Maddie’s advice, finish dressing, and hurry out of the house.
Everyone is already waiting in my brother’s flashy SUV. I tried so hard to get him to stay home for this. He’s been driving back and forth from his place to visit with Mom and Dad, so I thought I could convince him to take a day off. But that didn’t work. And no matter what he says about wanting to see Mr. and Mrs. Stoleman, I know he just wants another chance to grill Beckett.
“You look wonderful,” Mom clasps her hands together as I get into the backseat next to her.
“Thanks, Mom,” I sigh.
Thankfully Dad and James are already in the middle of a conversation, one they continue as we drive over to the Stoleman’s.
It’s not far, as the crow flies, but Darling Lake the town was built along the shoreline of Darling Lake the lake, so there’s no quick routes around the sprawling body of water.
But on the plus side, the sun is shining and it’s a pretty drive.
In any normal situation I wouldn’t be meeting a guy’s family after one date. But this isn’t a normal situation. And if I’m being honest with myself, my feelings towards Beckett aren’t normal either.
I’ll acknowledge that I was mildly obsessed with the boy growing up, and I was shocked by the man when he walked into my campsite a couple weeks ago. But this knotted feeling in my chest isn’t simple infatuation. It’s more than a childhood crush. I know what that feels like. It’s fun and present but hollow. Because I was pining over the idea of him. But this new feeling… it’s so much more consuming than I know what to do with. Because these are real feelings for the real Beckett.
Which is probably why today feels like such a big deal. Like I’m getting a second-chance introduction to his family, where they can see me as something other than James’s little sister.
My mom’s hand lands on my knee, and she gives me a squeeze, but thankfully she doesn’t try to fill my head with platitudes.