Finding My Way Back

Chapter 6: Dinner Plans

Dear Diary

Dinner is a strange ritual.

I wouldn't say I'm nervous about going out with the Davis' tonight. It's the act of the dinner tonight that has me a little on edge.

When Brian called me yesterday and told me he wanted me to come over for dinner, I was happy. I love going to his home because it represents who he is.

Posters of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan hung all around his room. His many trophies scattering the walls of the den they never use. Even down to his apron that says 'if you ball, you cook' hanging next to his mom's for when he wants to try out a new healthy recipe. Every little detail that make up who Brian Davis is.

But it wasn't him who had originally wanted me there tonight. His father, Arthur, told him to invite me. I don't dislike Arthur. I respect him as a man and as Brian's father, but he has always been a little reserved whenever he was around me. The narrowed eyes, the shaking of his head whenever he felt I didn't say something appropriate, I never seemed enough for him.

Hope tonight doesn't make me regret saying yes.

- - - - -

"You look beautiful. I thought your prom wasn't for another few weeks?"

"That's it, I'm changing." I turn to head back upstairs attempting to hold on to what little my dignity has left but am stopped by my mother holding in her laugh. Well, trying to.

"You look fine Jolie. Ignore your sister." I look back over to Chrissy and see her laughing on the floor holding her stomach with both hands. I step over her and head to the kitchen with mom trailing behind me.

"You don't think a dress is a little much for just dinner with my boyfriend's family, mom?" I ask adjusting the top once more. Mom slaps my hands down and adjusts it for me.

"Of course, not sweetheart. You look great. It's a beautiful dress." She wasn't wrong. The black sleeveless chiffon dress that had a gold belt around my waist was simply perfect.

I wasn't a dress up kind of girl, something made obvious by Chrissy's joke, but when Brian called and said we were going out to dinner at Lois Miller's, I knew I needed to up my usual attire. My normal blue jeans and white sweater were going to have to go in the back of the closet tonight.

"Doesn't she looks ravishing?" Mona steps down the last step and claps her hands at me.

I called her as soon as I ended the call with Brian earlier. Immediately, knowing how absolutely dysfunctional I am at things like this, Mona googled the restaurant and found out it was where celebrities dined. Not that there were many in Cheyenne, but we got the occasional country music star. She immediately brought over her collection of expensive dresses that she quote 'doesn't need anymore'.

"Whoa! Where the heck are you going dressed like that?" I roll my eyes at my father and cross my arms. The dress is actually pretty modest. At least the most modest one Mona had. Thank goodness we are about the same size, but she has a larger cup size than I do, so the top is a little large.

"Oh, leave her alone Jim. She looks beautiful. Now, Mona, what shoes do you have for her?" Mom asks still adjusting my dress.

"See there's our problem. My feet are much larger than yours. I thought you might have some random pair of heels you've never opened."

I shake my head at my best friend and head back upstairs to my room. Mona follows me into my closet where I pick out a box I never opened. The girl knows me well.

"Hey, didn't I buy those for you for your sixteenth birthday?"

"Yeah, sorry. You know I don't get dressed up often, so I haven't had time to wear them. Now is as good as time as any I suppose." I open the box and pull out black one-inch heels and thank God my best friend knows I couldn't walk in anything higher.

"Put them on and let me see."

I walk over to the bed, place each heel on my foot then stand.

"Wow, you looks amazing Jolie."

"Well that's because you did my hair and makeup." I laugh.

Mona was always good with cosmetics so when she came over tonight she insisted I curl my hair and put some heavier makeup on than what I normally wear, which is normally close to nothing. Now I have my brown hair flowing down my back in gorgeous curls and what she called a smoky eye.

"I mean it. You look beautiful, but it has nothing to do with the dress or makeup. You're glowing. I've never known you to be so happy and content. There was always a worry about you, but I don't see it anymore. Could be the acceptance letter you received, but I think we both know it to be a certain brown haired, brown eyed, basketball God."

I giggle at her description of Brian and look down at the black clutch my mom handed me for tonight. She's right. Ever since I got the letter determining my future, I feel much more calm. I thought it was the letter, but I think Mona is right. It's knowing Brian and I are starting the next chapter of our lives together. My dream of coming home to a house we both picked out because it felt right being inside it, to two children waiting on me to feed them because they hate the super healthy food dad makes them. My dream of being my own boss for the very team my husband works for while my retired and happy parents watch the kids when we can't be home. It's all coming true.

"Jolie, your date is here." I smile at Mona who laughs at my dad's shout from downstairs.

I'm glad Mona told me the restaurant I'm going to is pretty darn fancy because if I were to be wearing my jeans and sweater, I would have lost my mind walking next to Brian. He is wearing a black button up dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His tribal tattoos going down his arms that he got as soon as he turned eighteen on full display. His gray dress pants fit him to a tee and his black tie is thick and long. He looks amazing.

"Wow." He gasps once I make it to the last step. "You look incredible." Brian makes his way up to me and I immediately smile and walk into his embrace.

"Thank you. You look good too."

"I want to peel this off of you baby." I blush as he whispers his words to me. Brian is rarely dirty with me but each time he is, I never complain. It's something I never thought I would like but love coming from him.

"Alright, enough coping a feel with my daughter. Let your mother take a few pictures of you two and obsess over them after you leave." Mom smacks dad as everyone in the room laughs.

We take a few pictures, some Brian wanted Mona in, making me grateful for him even more. They were never really close, but Brian never tried to steer me away from her. He knew with some patience and loyalty, she would make her way back to us. Twenty minutes later, we make our way out the door to Brian's car.

"So, what made you father invite me tonight? And why the Lois Miller's restaurant?" I ask after Brian opens my door for me. He closes the door after me, runs over to his side and answers my question while hopping in the car.

"I'm not really sure to be honest with you. Dad just sounded like he had something to say to you and me, and mom thought it would be a good idea to go out to dinner as a family."

"You think something is wrong?" I stare at him but don't see a sign that he is worried. Brian is good at hiding his emotions, but I would like to think that after all this time I can read him well.

"No, but I do think whatever they are going to tell us is going to either irritate me or set me off." I don't respond only because I don't really know what to say. Brian has never gotten angry in front of me, and although it would never change my outlook on him, I don't know if it's something I could handle.

- - - - -

"Jolie, sweetheart you looks beautiful. I love your dress." Sharon says to me when Brian and I walk into the restaurant and take a seat.

I hug her back in return and smile when I speak. I've always liked Sharon and her happy go lucky attitude. She has always asked me how I was doing, or how my family is, always spoke to me like a person and not some teenager dating her son like her husband.

"Thank you, Sharon. You look nice too." She's wearing a burgundy cap sleeve, knee length dress. Her dark blonde hair is straight and wavy at the ends and her makeup is lighter than normal.

"I got to pick out her dress." I turn to see Jonathan, Brian's younger brother, sitting at the table as well. I high five him since he is on the opposite side of me and bask in his youth. Jonathan is a spitting image of his older brother and father. His dark brown hair and brown eyes are exact replicas of Brian. Only difference they have, is Jonathan has fairer skin, whereas Brian is tall, dark, and loads of handsome. I've never met his grandparents but Sharon has told me that Brian gets his looks from his grandfather.

"Where's dad?" Brian asks sitting next to me and draping his arm around the back of my chair.

"He's outside on the phone. Important call." Sharon looks at Jonathan as she explains Arthurs whereabouts. His eyes are glued on the menu, but I focus most of my attention onto her. She looks almost afraid of how her son would react upon hearing that.

"Figures. This dinner was his idea. Why can't he just turn off his phone?"

"Brian, please. Tonight, let's just try and get along." Sharon's eyes look pleading and I take my cue to place my hand onto Brian's lap. I can feel some of his tension melting.

Arthur make his appearance a few moments later. We had already ordered waters for around the table and when he sits he apologizes for he wait.

"So how are things going with your family Jolie?" Arthur asks after the waiter comes and takes our order.

"Oh, uh, everyone is good. Working hard as usual." I don't know why the man makes me feel so uncomfortable. He's asking me basic questions, same ones Sharon asked me while we waited for him to finish his phone call, yet with Arthur, it always feels different.

"Your father is a truck driver, right?" I nod my head. I can feel Brian tense up, so I lay my hand down on his lap once more.

"Dad, you know that. Jo and I have been together for over a year now. You know what both her parents do for a living."

"Making conversation Brian. Relax." Arthur turns his attention back over to me and continues to ask me questions. "So, your mother's business is doing well then?"

I nod my head once more, this time seeing Sharon tense up a bit as well. Am I missing something?

"I only ask because I found out about the good news of your acceptance letter." Before I can respond, the waiter comes and drops off everyone's salads. I stare down into mine, wondering where Brian's father is headed with this conversation. He's always made small talk with me, asking me how my family is doing, how school is going and such. But this is the first time he is speaking to me in detail, and it seems like it has a motive.

"This salad looks gross." Jonathan says breaking the ice across the table. We all chuckle and laugh as he groans when Sharon tells him to eat it anyways.

"So, back to you Jolie." I stop eating and stare back up at Mr. Davis. "Are you going to be applying for financial aid, or perhaps taking out a loan? Brian has told me what you want to do with your life and I know it will cost a pretty penny."

"Dad."

"Just a conversation Brian."

"One you already know the answers to. Your baiting her for something but she's not one of your goddamn clients." I lay my hand down on Brian's shoulder this time, trying to contain his anger but I feel his tension even more now.

"Alright, let's all calm down. Arthur, Brian is right. Jolie is his girlfriend and you need to show some respect. If there is something you want to ask her, than be upfront and do it." Sharon stares down her husband and I look between the two of them.

"Fine. Let's try this a different way. How are you paying for schooling Jolie? Because if you think Brian is going to be your ticket to pay for everything your mistaken."

"Dad!"

"No Brian. I am your father and I'm looking out for you. I won't let you pull this family down again over some girl." A gasp leaves my mouth and this time Sharon is the one to raise her voice.

"That's enough Arthur." I look over to Brian, hoping he will have the same confused face as I do, but instead am met with a face of reluctance. He doesn't want me to know something.

"Mr. Davis, my grandparents left me and my sister money for college. It's in a trust that I, nor anyone else, can access. Once I select the school I go to, the school will have access to my bank information to grab the necessary funds. I was given a scholarship because of my grades and I will use the money I didn't need, for medical school. I know you all have money, but it was never my intention of taking it. Brian and I are together because we care for each other, and we happen to want to go to the same school. I'm sorry if I've given you any reason behind that." I look over to Brian with tears in my eyes. I just want to go home now.

"Happy?" Brian asks his father who genuinely looks ashamed. He stands, offers me his hand and together we walk out. I hear his mother call out our names, but I don't turn, neither does Brian. He simply leads me to his car, opens my door, gets in the driver's side, and drives off.

"I'm sorry Jo. I had no idea he was going to act like a total douche bag tonight." Brian's eyes are narrowed as he make his way through the streets. It's a busy night and a few cars blare their horns at Brian's swerving in and out of traffic.

"Brian, please, it's alright. Your father was just looking out for you. Thank you for taking me home, but I would like to make it there in one piece."

Brian looks over at me with shock, then to the dashboard. He must have realized his speeding because the car slows down considerably.

"Sorry babe." I smile at him, wait for his to mirror mine and once it does, link hands with him and let the stress and worry of the night melt away. Nothing can shake our relationship, not even a secret he has about his past.