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Savanna finally makes her way inside with a frown and she glances at Bethany from the doorway. “Wow, thanks for the help.”
Bethany giggles and rushes over to her aunt, grabbing a few of the bags hanging from her hands. “Sorry, Aunt Savvy.”
“A little help here?” I ask, my gaze moving toward the crutches that are still sitting away from me. If I wasn’t so angry with Easton rushing away from me like he did, my crutches would be next to the couch, but I just had to go and throw them across the floor like a child.
Bethany rushes over to them and holds one out, then hands me the other before going back into the kitchen where Savanna is waiting for us. I’m watching them with a smile as Bethany gushes over everything Savanna bought for the occasion, then I clear my throat. Might as well rip the band-aid off now before the night really starts.
“Bethany, I have something I want to talk to you about.”
Savanna glares at me, but keeps her lips clamped shut. Bethany looks at me and smiles. “What’s up?”
“How would you feel about me and your dad being together?”
She scoffs. “Didn’t we have this conversation before? That would be awesome!”
“Really?” I thought for sure after the stunt I pulled that she wouldn’t want me anywhere near her dad. Sure she’s here right now for a girls’ night, but that doesn’t mean she wants me in her home, or trusts me enough to be there.
Bethany frowns. “Is there a reason it wouldn’t be?”
I shake my head. “Uh, I guess not. I thought you’d be more upset with me than you are, though.”
She shrugs. “I was for a minute, but I can understand why you did it in the first place. It was your way of protecting yourself. Kind of like how my dad doesn’t open his heart to anyone to protect himself.”
It amazes me how much this girl actually pays attention to things around her. I give her a smile, then take a deep breath. “I’m glad to hear that because I’ve got a mission for you if you’re interested.”
She nods quickly, light shining in her eyes, and leans over the counter so I can tell her more about my plan.
I’m a nervous wreck.
My hair is coming down in ringlets, tickingly at the skin over my collarbone, and I brush it back behind my ear. The dress I’m wearing is one that I bought for just this occasion and Bethany helped me pick it out.
It’s made of beautiful dark green silk that falls to the ground, creating a pool at my feet, and I wonder briefly if maybe I’m overdressed for this. The fabric is cinched at my waist and my breasts are showcased by the low cut neckline.
A knock on my bedroom door makes me jump and I smile as Savanna pushes it open before stepping inside. “You ready?” She says as she looks me up and down. “The crutches make quite the fashion statement,” she smirks.
“I know, right? I’ll make it work, I’ve got quite good at getting around on them,” I say with a grin, then glance at myself in the mirror one final time.
This is supposed to impress him, but what if it does the opposite? I’d hate to struggle on crutches to make him a lovely dinner, only for him to kick me out. How embarrassing would that be?
“Stop thinking so much,” Savanna says while making her way over to me and examining my makeup. “You look beautiful, as always.”
“Do you think this will work?” Bethany has already made sure her dad will be home tonight, claiming that she wants to spend the evening with him watching movies and pigging out on pizza. “It has to, right?”
If he won’t accept me after this, I’m not sure what else I can do.
“If he doesn’t, I’ll leave Dawson to be with you myself.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me which sends us into a fit of laughter that has me wiping tears from my eyes. Her hand comes down on my shoulder and she gives it a reassuring squeeze. “Everything will be fine, just speak from your heart.”
Speak from my heart, right.
“Well,” I say as I pick up my purse and swing the strap over my shoulder. “Wish me luck.”
Sweat is pooling at my back and is making the dress itchy against my skin, forcing me to adjust myself to the feel of it and my armpits are killing me from using the crutches for so long. My words from earlier about being good at getting around on them are coming back to bite me on the ass. It didn’t surprise me when Easton walked through the front door and frowned at the sight of me, but he didn’t complain as he took an empty seat at the table.
Bethany spent the entire dinner gushing about how hard I’d worked on the food, only to be met with silence from Easton.
Now that our plates are in the sink and silence has ensued, I have no clue what I should do. Bethany has been silently urging me to tell him what I planned to, except the disappointment in his gaze every time he looked at me is keeping me from opening my mouth.
Easton clears his throat and lifts from the chair, eyeing me along the way before flashing a small smile at Bethany. “Well, this was lovely. Should I walk you out, Autumn? Are you okay getting home?”
