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Sara
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I look in the mirror assessing my simple black dress. It’s sleeveless with the collar lying loose around my neck, then gathered slightly to the right with a circular rhinestone pendant. The dress is fitted along my chest, waist and hips with the skirt flaring out slightly at the bottom. I have on black strappy one-inch heels to match with a rhinestone buckle on the side. I hate wearing these shoes, especially this time of year, but my dad would be furious if I showed up in my high black boots.
I put on more make-up than normal with some red lipstick to add color. I have my blonde hair loosely pinned at the back of my head with a few curls hanging down on each side. I added a couple rhinestone bobby pins to match my dress as well, hopefully contributing to the elegance I’m aiming for.
“Wow, you look great!” I jump at the sound of Liz’s voice coming from the doorway. I turn to look at her and she laughs making me raise my eyebrows in question. “You don’t look like you’re very happy about your outfit,” she observes.
I shrug knowing I have a sour look on my face. “I guess it’s just not really what I want to be wearing right now. I’d rather be getting pizza and watching a movie on the couch with you guys and Jason.”
Liz sighs in empathy and gives me a sympathetic smile. I hate those smiles, but coming from Liz, it’s not so bad. “I know you hate going to these things. Are you sure you have to go this time?” she asks innocently.
I nod my head with a grimace. Liz may know I hate going to these things, but she doesn’t know most of my reasons have to do with not wanting to be anywhere near my father or Brad or anything that has to do with them. “It’s just going to be kinda’ weird with both Brad and Jason there,” I tell her giving her a partial truth like I usually do.
“I understand that,” she mumbles, nodding her head in acknowledgement, “but it will be good for Brad to see you have a boyfriend now and it really is over for you guys.” I freeze, blushing at the word boyfriend. “What?” Liz prods, her lips twitching up at the corners of her mouth when she sees the funny look on my face.
“I...I have a boyfriend?” Liz laughs as I stand there in shock, letting reality sink in. I never thought I’d be here with anyone besides Brad. I never thought I’d have a chance at actually being happy. A smile slowly spreads over my face that I feel all the way to my soul, warming me from the inside, out. “I have a very hot boyfriend,” I declare proudly.
Liz laughs even harder, concurring, “Yes, you do.”
“Hey, I heard that,” Blake yells from the other room causing both Liz and I to completely lose our composure. We laugh so hard tears begin forming in the corners of my eyes. “And your hot boyfriend just ordered us some pizza and he’s also getting really cold out here on the couch without you,” Blake adds playfully.
We both eventually catch our breath as our laughter dies down. Liz steps up to me, grinning. “My stomach hurts from laughing,” she grumbles as she releases a slow breath looking content. “Don’t let anyone bother you tonight. Just do what you have to do and have fun with your man.”
I nod in agreement, hoping I can do just that. “You’re right.” I give her a quick hug, grateful for her support. “Now go back to your hot and lonely boyfriend before he really starts complaining,” I order, giggling.
I take one last look at myself in the mirror and grab my black wrap, along with my clutch and long black wool dress coat when I hear the doorbell chime. “I’ll get it,” Liz calls.
“Hi Liz,” I hear Jason’s voice and my heart starts pounding against my ribcage. I step out of my room watching the floor with each step I take when I hear a low whistle.
“Now, you look hot, Sara,” Blake proclaims easing my tension. I relax and look up with a smile. Jason’s glare at Blake is almost comical. Blake chuckles and informs Jason, “Well, my girlfriend just called you hot, so I thought I’d even it out a little bit.” I giggle as Liz’s blush tells Jason it’s the truth.
My eyes turn to Jason and my breath instantly catches in my throat. He’s wearing a black suit with a white button down and a solid dark red tie. His shoulders look huge in his suit. His dark brown hair is perfectly styled and when my eyes finally drift to his face, I see a sparkle in his eyes and the dimple I adore. “You look absolutely stunning, Sara,” he murmurs in admiration and wonder. He steps towards me and bends down to gently place a kiss on my lips.
I feel myself blush at his compliment. “Thank you,” I whisper. “You look pretty incredible yourself,” I add lightly smiling up at him.
“This is for you,” he states. He grins holding up a small bouquet of red and white roses. The surprise on my face must be evident when in the next moment he shrugs and adds, “I figured we’ve never dressed up like this for a date before and I wanted to give you something special.”
I attempt to gulp down my nerves that seem to be going first date crazy tonight and murmur another, “Thank you, Jason.” I reach out and take them, his hand brushing mine sending chills down my spine with the contact. I put the flowers to my nose and inhale deeply. I love the sweet smell, but really it’s my excuse to take a deep calming breath.
I know we’ve been dating for a few weeks now, but tonight feels different. Tonight, I have to bring Jason to meet my nightmares and hope he doesn’t see it all for what it is. I hope he doesn’t see me for what I am. Jason will meet my family and although I’m excited for him to meet Stephen, I’m terrified for him to meet my father. What will my father say? What will he do? What will he think? And how will Jason react to him? Then of course Brad has to be there as well. I think I might dread them meeting even more. I’m nervous wondering how Brad will take Jason’s presence more than the other way around. I just hope after tonight, Jason still wants to stick around.
“Here, I’ll put those in some water for you,” Liz offers as she steps up grabbing the flowers from me. “They’re really beautiful.”
I release my breath and turn towards Liz, mumbling, “Thank you.”
“Don’t worry about it. You two have fun,” she insists, giving me a pointed look. “Go!” she urges nearly shoving us towards the door.
“Are you sure you aren’t just trying to get rid of us?” I tease while Jason helps me slip on my coat. His fingers trail along my arms as he pulls it up, again sending chills throughout my body. I shake away my shudder when I hear his quiet groan.
“I am,” Blake calls over the back of the couch causing Jason and I to laugh. Liz glares over her shoulder at him, while she fills up a large glass with water and sets the new flowers next to my wildflowers from Valentine’s Day. “Well, you’re making me look bad,” he teases gesturing to my bouquets.
We all laugh. “I’m not going to apologize for that,” Jason prods.
“Now you sound like your brother, Christian,” Blake grumbles, the corners of his lips twitching up in amusement. Jason shrugs his shoulders in response, smirking.
I button the top two buttons on my coat before turning to grab my wrap and clutch from the table. “Bye guys, be good,” I tease as we walk out the door.
Just before the door slams, I hear both Liz and Blake reply, yelling, “Bye!”
Jason’s hand settles on the small of my back, guiding me towards his truck. He opens the passenger door and before I can move his hands settle on my waist. He steps into me and looks down at me, tilting my head up towards his with his fingertips on my chin. He looks into my eyes a faint smile on his face. “You really do look absolutely stunning tonight,” he informs me his eyes drifting all over my face. His words along with the look he gives me, sends chills throughout my body again. He lightly brushes his lips against mine and rubs my arms up and down before placing his hands on my hips and easily lifting me into his truck. “It’s freezing. Let’s get you warmed up.” He slams my door shut and quickly jogs around to the other side. I’m not about to tell him he’s the reason I’m shivering.
After he climbs in and begins to back out, he asks, “So, is there anything I need to know about tonight?”
I heave a sigh and lean back into the seat. “I don’t think so, not really. My dad will have certain people I have to say hi to and some others he may want to introduce me to, but he’ll be mostly concerned with Stephen and Brad,” I admit with a grimace.
I turn towards Jason and notice a slight tick in his jaw before it quickly disappears. “So that just means I’ll be able to keep you mostly to myself?” he prompts, hopeful.
“I hope so. I’ve never been to one of these business things with anyone except my brother or Brad,” I confess stupidly and his jaw instantly begins twitching again. “I’m sorry. I’ve known him my whole life,” I inform him, attempting to explain why he’s the only one I’ve ever attended these parties with. “You have to believe me when I tell you that it has been over with Brad and me for more than a couple years. I just never had anyone I wanted to bring with me and since my dad doesn’t want me to ever come alone, I always came with Brad even though we aren’t together anymore,” I ramble on trying to explain myself, but even I know the only thing I’m doing is making it worse.
Jason’s body looks suddenly filled with tension when he questions, “What were you going to do if I had to work tonight Sara?”
I shake my head, already frustrated and not wanting to respond. “I...I hadn’t thought about it. I wanted you to come with me,” I stammer.
His eyes narrow at the road and his breathing becomes heavier. “Would you have gone with him?” he asks in an eerily quiet voice.
“No!” I retort instantly even though I don’t know if it’s really the truth. “I would have gone with my brother or something.” My response relieves a little bit of the obvious tension in his body and I watch as he slowly exhales.
He reaches over towards me searching for my hand. He entwines our fingers together and gives my hand a light squeeze. When he speaks, I finally release the breath I didn’t know I was holding. “No more going with Brad to any of these things. Ever,” he emphasizes. “If I can’t go with you and you have to attend, go alone. If you can’t do that, go with your brother and if he can’t go or has his own date, you can go with one of my brothers,” he states leaving no room for argument. “My girlfriend does not go anywhere with her ex,” he adds, his jaw tight.
I hold in my gasp at his words, loving every single one. I’m overwhelmed with how he’s fighting for me. He glances over to me and his eyebrows draw together before he looks back out at the road. “You okay with that?” he prods wanting clarification.
I try to swallow down the emotions taking over my whole body before I speak. “Very okay with that,” I’m finally able to whisper as I nod vehemently. I quickly dab the tears away, hoping they don’t ruin my make-up.
Jason smiles, appearing relieved. Then, he squeezes my hand, mumbling, “Good.” He pauses as he pulls into the parking lot and parks his truck. Glancing over at me again, he requests, “So tonight, with you looking like that, I need you to stay close to me.” I grin in response. Taking a deep breath, he adds with a shake of his head, “Please.”
I giggle in response. I tilt my head up and kiss him, but he pulls immediately away and buries his face in my neck with a groan, giving me a different kind of chill. I take a deep breath and exhale slowly to calm myself down. He finally pulls away and prods, “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
