My rambling only caused the smirk on Joey’s face to grow, and I could tell she wasn’t buying a word I was saying. “Well, good for you guys. I could never go back to just being friends.”
“It was a long time ago. I mean, college was ten years ago. A lot changes in that time. Everything changes.”
I knew that was a lie before it even left my lips. So much was the same. Kacey still knew when I was flustered. She still had the ability to figure out exactly what I needed when I needed it. Like at this moment, when her hand slipped into mine underneath the table and she gave it the lightest squeeze. She didn’t acknowledge the gesture, but also didn’t let go, simply letting our hands dangle between us while we continued as if nothing was happening.
My attention suddenly snapped to the other end of the table when I heard Bo’s boisterous voice shouting as he held my sister’s phone up to his ear. “What’s up, Mama A? I hear you’re just around the corner. Get over here. I miss you.”
Kacey removed her eyes from me to look at Bo. “What’s going on over there?”
“I’m not sure. I think he’s talking to my mom. I’m going to go see what’s up.” I reluctantly removed my hand from hers, missing her touch as soon as it was gone. When I got down to Bo’s end of the table, I put my hand on his shoulder to get his attention. “Was that my mom?”
“It sure was,” he said cheerfully. “Your parents are on their way over here right now. They were at Bellman dropping off a check to the alumni association. They were already in the car when they called, so they should be here any minute.”
Like clockwork, the doorbell rang at that very moment. I quickly made my way back to Kacey, since I figured she would want a warning, albeit a small one. “So, it turns out, my parents...”
“Mama and Papa A! So good to see you.” Bo’s shouting as he greeted my parents interrupted my warning.
Kacey’s body stiffened as she turned her attention toward the door. I tried to reach for her hand, but she quickly pulled it away as if she suddenly didn’t want anyone to see. I grabbed her chin and forced her to look at me. “Hey, it’s okay. There’s nothing to be nervous about.”
She nodded her head, but I could tell she didn’t believe me. “I have to run to the bathroom. Sorry. I just…” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I need to calm myself down before I talk to them.”
This time when I reached for her hand, she let me take it. “Take your time and just think about the first time you ever met them. You were so nervous that day, and it went great. They loved you then and they’ll love you now. I promise.”
I watched as Kacey walked away, her body language exuding much less confidence than usual, and my mind went back to the last time I had seen her this nervous.
“Would you stop pacing?” I put my hands on Kacey’s shoulders to try to halt her movements.
“I just don’t know if I can do this. I don’t have a ton of experience with parents and this is so important. So, so important.” Kacey pushed past me and continued to pace.
It was so crazy, and kind of adorable, to see her this worked up. Kacey was my cool, calm, and collected girlfriend. She talked me off the ledge every time I stressed about school or life. She also had a constant unintentional swagger in her step. Well, she normally did. Right now her body was so stiff, she almost looked robotic.
“As cute as this whole thing is, I really need you to sit down and talk about this with me.” I sat down on my bed, then patted the empty spot next to me. When Kacey finally sat, I took her hand in mine and brought it up to my mouth to kiss her knuckles. “Do you want me to call my parents and tell them we can’t make it to dinner?”
Instead of looking at me, Kacey stared at a spot on the ground. She shook her head so subtly that I almost didn’t notice it. “No. That would look really bad. We have to go. We’ve been dating for months now. Your parents have been consistently inviting us over for dinner since we started this semester. That was two months ago.”
“The only reason they keep asking is because they know how much you mean to me and they’re trying to be supportive.”
“I just really want them to like me.”
I put my arm around Kacey’s shoulder and pulled her tightly against me. “They’re going to love you. Do you know how I know that?”
“How?”
“Because I love you, and I’m not sure how anyone in this world could meet you and not adore you.”
This brought the slightest glimpse of a smile to Kacey’s face. “I love you too, Kari. That’s why I want this to be perfect. Are you sure my outfit is okay?”
I used her question as an excuse to check her out from head to toe. She was wearing tan corduroy pants and a long sleeve red and blue button up. Her blue shoes even matched the blue in her top. “Honestly, you look sexy as hell. Also, very presentable for meeting parents. It’s impressive that you can pull off both of those at once.”
“And you’re sure your mom will like those flowers, and it’s okay that I didn’t get anything for your dad? I read you’re supposed to give the father alcohol and I obviously can’t do that.”
I rested my head against hers. “You’re overthinking this, babe. You didn’t even have to get my mom flowers, but they’re absolutely perfect.”
“I got the peach roses because they represent gratitude, and I’m thankful for your parents having me over. I’m also thankful that they had you because you’re the best thing to ever happen to me.”
A smile bloomed on my face as her words gave me the butterflies I’d become very accustomed to since meeting Kacey. “There’s my smooth-talking girlfriend.” I put my hand on her thigh and slowly moved it higher. “I know one way I could calm you down.”
Kacey breathed in sharply, but stopped my hand before it could get any higher. “We can’t. They’ll know.”
“Oh, come on. It’s not like I’d let you go there with sex hair and your shirt buttoned up wrong.”
Kacey’s eyes were wide. “It won’t matter. They’re parents. They’ll still know somehow.”
“Well, I guess we’ll just have to save this for later.” This time, she didn’t stop me when I pushed her back onto the bed and kissed her slowly while grinding my hips into her. When I pulled back, Kacey looked much more relaxed. “Feeling a little better?”
“I’m feeling something,” Kacey said with a laugh.
I hopped off the bed and reached my hand toward her. “Perfect. Let’s go.”
Twenty-five minutes later, we pulled up to my parents’ house, and Kacey’s nerves were back. I watched as she ran her hands over her pants, while reciting something under her breath. I got out of the car, then went around to her side to open the door for her.