Dad looked like he wasn’t ready to concede, but Mom gave him no choice, grabbing his hand and dragging him to the kitchen.
“Oh Lord,” I muttered, dropping my face into my hands. “I’m so sorry.” I peeked at Bentley through my fingers.
“It’s fine,” he said, rubbing my back. “Your dad is just being a parent. He wants to know that his daughter isn’t dating some deadbeat.”
I lifted my head. “That is not my father.”
“What?”
“I mean, my dad never would have grilled someone like that. It’s like one of those aliens from that movie you and Chad made me watch has taken over his body.”
“Well, we’ll know if he clutches his stomach during dessert. I’ll save you if something tries to claw its way out.”
“You joke, but the way he acted, I wouldn’t be surprised. My dad is normally Mr. Laid-Back.” Mom and Dad returned to the living room carrying dessert plates and three different pies Dad had baked earlier in the week.
Bentley patted my knee before accepting the plate Mom handed him. Dad handed one to me without looking in my direction, which made my glare pretty ineffective. I never thought I would have said this, but thankfully, Mom steered the conversation during dessert, asking Bentley about his classes and where he was from. Eventually, Bentley satisfied my dad by mentioning his job as an EMT. Dad and Mom both looked surprised. Dad’s demeanor changed for whatever reason after that. He seemed genuinely curious about Bentley’s work. I hadn’t mentioned anything about his job when I first told my parents about him. I had myself convinced it wasn’t important, but deep down it was because I didn’t know how to tell them Bentley had been there the night of the accident. I wasn’t sure if that would be a big deal.
Since it was something that was sure to come up eventually, I told them the whole story. Actually, it was the first time I had really opened up to them about the accident. Mom’s eyes filled with tears, which happened anytime the accident was brought up. Dad’s jaw clenched several times as I told them how Bentley had basically seen me through that dark night. I knew I was probably sharing a little too much with them, overwhelming them with the details I’d kept buried all this time. Over the past year and a half, my answers about the accident had been short and concise. Tanya, of course, knew all the sordid details, but since she was my therapist, it was easier to share those feelings with her. She was an unbiased ear.
Surprisingly, I didn’t cry as I dumped everything on my shell-shocked parents. Even Bentley was hearing things beyond what he knew from the accident. Tanya would have been proud. Maybe I was getting stronger. A bigger part of me knew it was because of the man sitting next to me.
I felt guilt ramming out the words. I had most likely spoiled the holiday by letting my diarrhea of the mouth take over, but once I started, it was like a flood gate had opened and I couldn’t stop. Mom got up when I was done talking to give me a tight hug. Her eyes and nose were red from crying, but she managed to give me a watery smile. She gathered our plates and took them to the kitchen, declining my offer of help. Dad reassured me with a smile of his own, telling me she would be okay in a few minutes.
Dad returned to the person I’d always known him to be, engaging Bentley in sports talk while I took emotional stock of how I felt. I’d pretty much laid my guts out, but I honestly never felt lighter. Bentley was the one I really felt bad for. A simple invitation to dessert to meet the parents had been turned into my version of a Dr. Phil special. If hearing anything I had said bothered him, he hadn’t given any indication.
After a few minutes, Mom joined us, looking much better. The conversation after that took on a much lighter tone as Dad tried out new jokes on us. Bentley not only laughed, but shared a few funny stories about his childhood. As the evening wore on, I could tell Mom and Dad approved wholeheartedly of Bentley. I shouldn’t have been surprised. He was easy to like.
“Thank you for tolerating all that,” I told him as I walked him to the door later that evening.
“All what?” he asked, placing his hands on my hips.
“Dessert in the nut house.”
“Please. That was nothing. Wait till I take you to meet my family, then we’ll see who’s nuts. As for the accident stuff, I’m happy you let me listen in. Even seeing it firsthand, there was no way to know how you felt going through that. It killed me to hear it, but it reminded me how strong you are.”
I blushed slightly. “I’m not nearly as strong as you think.”
“Whatever, you’re stronger than Mighty Mouse.”
I shrugged. I think he was putting me on a pedestal I didn’t deserve. So, I’d made it through the accident. That was luck. Besides, I wasn’t the only one, and I’d definitely taken the long way to accepting it.
“What time should I pick you up tomorrow?” he asked, pulling me closer.
“What are we doing?”
“I was thinking we could go see a movie with my family if that’s okay? It’s a tradition for all of us on Black Friday. While everybody else is trying to kill each other over TVs, we go see a movie.”
“You want me to go to the movies with your family?” I squeaked out.
“Yes.” His lips dropped softly to mine. It took a little persistence to get me to open my mouth. His kisses had a way of muddling my brain and I was beginning to suspect he knew that. After a moment, I found the willpower to maneuver my hands between us, so I could push him back slightly.
“I’m not sure I’m ready to meet your parents.”
“I met yours,” he returned, tilting up my chin so he could claim my lips.
I allowed the kiss for a moment before pulling back. “True, but you?
?re normal.”