AllFreeNovel
Share Us
One moment I’m in my kitchen, worry and frustration swirling inside me as I bare my soul to Dean, certain that he won’t want to be with me anymore; the next moment I’m waltzing arm-in-arm with him into a Mexican restaurant, feeling hopeful that this relationship reallywillbe different.
It’s been a week since our first date, but the days seem to have zoomed past me.Dean has driven me to set every day, and we’ve gone on two more dates. We did the traditional movie-and-dinner thing—Dean indulged my craving for a horror movie, which gave me the opportunity to lean against him during the scary parts—and a fun evening at a jazz bar.
As we went on those dates, I was still nervous that he would change his mind about me. I mean, who wants to date someone who thinks they aren’t meant for relationships?
But ever since my little meltdown in my kitchen, every time Dean looks at me, his eyes seem to remind me that he’s not giving up.
“How do I look?” I ask him now, smoothing out the front of my dress. We’re about to have lunch with Dean’s dad and his wife while they’re in town—they’re just passing through—and I really want to make a good impression.
“You look stunning.” Laying a hand on my hip, he pulls me toward him and kisses the tip of my nose. “As always.”
I was surprised when Dean asked me to meet his family; it felt like such a big step to take. And, admittedly, I almost said no. But I decided that it would be good for me to go through with it. I like Dean so much, and I really do want to meet his family. I know I can’t let my fear of the future get in the way.
The restaurant is packed, but we spot them right away. As we approach the table, Dean’s dad stands up, and Dean embraces him in a hug.
“Hey, Dad,” Dean says.
“Good to see you, son,” his dad says, clapping him on the back.
After they pull apart, Dean rests a hand on my lower back and beams at all of us. “Dad, Victoria, this is Zoey.”
“Hi,” I say, smiling warmly at them, my hands quivering ever so slightly.
Once I’ve taken my seat at the table and gotten settled, though, any nervousness that I felt about today fades in a matter of minutes. Dean’s father and his wife, Victoria—a sweet woman who doesn’t look that much older than me—are a dashing couple, and they’re as easy to talk to as Dean is.
Besides, their newborn son, an adorable baby with rosy cheeks and blue eyes, makes it pretty easy for the ice to be broken.
Dean’s father, Ethan, is an older version of him. He’s got some wrinkles here and there, but they make him look refined. His calloused hands are evidence of how hard he works; interestingly, though, his rugged hands are full of gentleness whenever they’re holding his newborn son or reaching out to touch his wife’s hands.
Seeing Ethan and Victoria’s loving relationship, it’s hard not to envision how my future with Dean might look like.
And this time, I can actually imagine it.
“And that’show he broke his ankle.” Leaning back, his hand wrapped around a beer, Ethan gives his son an amused smile. “Swear to God, Dean, I never thought you’d actually jump off of the roof.”
“I was training for my stuntman career,” Dean says with a laugh, clearly enjoying the stories of his childhood that his dad has been sharing. I’ve been enjoying them, too. It’s hard to imagine Dean as something other than his handsome grown-up self, but I’m having a blast picturing him as a kid with scuffed knees and an attitude. “It worked, didn’t it?”
“It sure did,” I say, laying a hand on top of Dean’s. “You’re one of the finest stuntmen I’ve ever worked with.”
“Oneof the finest?” Dean scoffs. “Come on. Tell them the truth, Zoey. I’m the finest stuntman L.A. has ever seen.”
“Hey, don’t get ahead of yourself,” I throw back. I straighten up in my chair. “You have some fierce competition, remember?”
Everyone laughs, including myself.
God, it’s so easy to forget about my past relationships when I’m with Dean.
I’ve been smiling so much during this lunch that my lips seem to have become permanently etched in that position. Even as we say goodbye to his family, the three hours we’ve spent together coming to an end, I can’t stop myself from smiling. Dean’s family has made me feel as if I truly belong.
But more than that, these last few hours have made me realize how much I want to be with Dean in a more meaningful way.
“Feel like coming up?” I say when we get to my place, my insides clenching with nerves. “I know you have a tough scene tomorrow, and that you have to be up early, but…”
“I’d love to come up,” Dean says.
As we walk up the stairs, it feels as if I’m in a dream. Everything around me seems more vivid, and I suddenly feel more alive than I’ve ever felt.
“That was a really nice lunch,” I say as we step into my apartment. “Your dad and Victoria are great. And the baby…don’t even get me started. What an adorable little guy.”
