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She groans. “That guy I went on a date with? We went out again. He seems nice, but something seems off, too. I can’t put my finger on it. Won’t you go on a double with me soon? See if you can help me figure it out.”
“If Brent is up for it, sure. When the schedule comes out Friday, I can let you know my next days off. Has he been good to you so far?”
“Yeah, but I’m telling you something about him doesn’t seem right. I just want to see if I’m being crazy or if you see it too. You know I don’t always pick great guys.”
“Worse comes to worst, you can tell him you want him to meet your best friend and I’ll come along as a third wheel,” I reassure her. I’m honestly not sure if this is something Brent would be up to do. Would he want to hang out with a bunch of early twenty-year-olds doing goodness knows what? He’s okay with dating me, but that doesn’t mean he wants to hang out with my friends. I think I might be okay with that, too.
Erin tells me more about the guy she’s dating while I change into nicer clothes for my date with Brent. I’m feeling in an especially good mood, so I decide to wear a dress. After I’ve packed my bag, I drive over to Brent’s, unfortunately with my laptop and books in my bag as well. I smile when I see him standing on the front porch, looking nicely dressed as well. I may have sent him a picture of what I was wearing and gave him a heads-up that I was coming.
He meets me at my car and takes my bag from me. “Bad news, hon.”
“What is it?”
He sighs. “Apparently, Glenn, the man my ex-wife is marrying, wants everyone to get together for a family dinner. Including me and I’m making you go with me.”
I reach out to grab my bag, but Brent holds it away from me. “It’s bad enough you’re making me go to that wedding. I am not going to a dinner, Brent!”
“Oh, come on, Jamie. Please?”
“Why didn’t you tell them you already had plans tonight? With me?” Anger swells up because he didn’t warn me, our date night is ruined, and Brent didn’t do anything to prevent that from happening. “You could’ve told me before I got all dressed up and came over here!”
He places the strap of my bag on his shoulder and then cups my face. “I waited to tell you because I figured I’d have a better chance of convincing you to go if we were face-to-face. You should be pissed and you probably shouldn’t want to go. Hell, I don’t want to go, but I have both my kids begging me to go, my ex-wife asking nicely, and they swear this is the only night they can do it. I’m the only one who had other plans.” He rests his forehead against mine and my anger stupidly melts away the longer he looks at me. “I’ll make it up to you. Please go with me.”
Ugh. How does a woman resist a man when he’s being so sincere and obviously feels bad about what’s happened?
“Am I dressed okay?” I ask softly.
Brent smiles. “Perfectly. Thank you.” He kisses my cheek. “Let me put your bag inside and then we’ll go.”
A few minutes later, we’re on our way to a restaurant. My stomach is in knots. I not only have to face Kayla, but I also get to meet Brent’s ex-wife.
“Do they know I’m coming?”
“Yes, I said I was bringing a date.” He reaches over and takes my hand in his. “Don’t be nervous. No one will say anything out of the way to you.”
“What about dirty looks?”
Brent chuckles. “I’ll give them dirty looks right back.” He lifts my hand and kisses my knuckles. “I’ve got your back, hon. Wouldn’t ask you to come if I didn’t plan on protecting you and standing up for you, if needed.”
“I know. I don’t want you to have to do that with your family, though.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
I don’t and I try not to worry about myself, too. The nerves creep back in when we arrive at the nice restaurant. Brent snakes an arm around my waist, leading me inside where a waitress takes us to the table. Conversation halts and everyone looks at us.
“Hey, y’all. This is my girlfriend, Jamie.” He introduces me to his ex-wife, who looks stunned to see me, and her fiancé, Glenn. Everyone does say hello, though. Brent pulls my chair out for me and then sits down next to me. Maybe it’s just me, but the air seems stifled. The dinner might be the longest one of my life.
“I wanted everyone to get together since we’re all about to be one big family,” Glenn says after we’ve placed our orders. I glance at Jamie and roll my eyes, causing her to smile. “I thought this would be a good first step to us getting to know one another a little better.” He talks in a monotone voice that makes me want to nod off.
“Yes, let’s get to know one another. Jamie, how old are you?” Shannon asks her.
“We aren’t here to interrogate my girlfriend,” I answer. “And last I checked, I never asked Glenn his age.”
“Glenn’s obviously not fresh out of high school,” Shannon snaps back. Fresh out of high school? That’s ridiculous.
“Mom,” Gregory chides, sounding a little disappointed in her.
“If you want us to stay, leave her out of it.”
