Her mother’s response was not anything she’d been expecting. “Are you in love, Savannah?”
Feeling her face flush and slightly scandalized, Vannah walked into her bedroom. “Mom, I told you, it’s only been a week.”
Her mom chuckled. “Doesn’t make a difference. I didn’t even witness the outburst up close, but I saw and heard enough. With some guys it could be nothing more than them being territorial. But that boy and yes, I said boy, twenty-five is still pretty wet behind the ears, has got it bad, honey. I see your dad and the boys headed out now,” she added quickly. “We’ll talk privately about this another time. Only piece of advice I’ll give you now because clearly this was a misunderstanding of epic proportions and that only ever happens when there’s failure to communicate. Don’t do what your dad and I did for years, babe. You have something to say or that you want to know, you ask him straight out and encourage him to do the same. Trust me, you’ll save yourself a ton of heartache, not to mention eruptions like todays.”
“Okay I will,” Vannah said smiling weakly despite the flutter her mother’s words had given her heart. She thought about how she hadn’t dared question Byron’s text before today. Instead, chose to dissect it to death with Xochitl before crying about it. “And mom?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“Love you too, baby. See you in a few.”
Sixteen
Daddy Dearest
Byron
What the fuck did it even matter? Byron thought as he flung the third shirt he’d tried on, onto the bed. He’d never obsessed about what he’d wear for any occasion. Her family had already seen him and at his worst anyway. What difference would his appearance make now? Talk about nightmare first impressions. Byron had never even contemplated meeting a girl’s daddy much less having dinner with her entire family just a week after their first kiss. Especially not after that clusterfuck incident at the gym. This was insane. Only good thing about this was this had to mean something, right? Had he nailed it when he’d begun to think Savannah might be too young to know you had no control over matters of the heart? If she was truly still serious about not doing the boyfriend thing with one guy—not several fucking friends—she would’ve balked at her dad inviting Byron to dinner with them, right? She wouldn’t have all but dropped off the face of the earth the moment he’d mentioned his overnight date this weekend. And it certainly wouldn’t have been the first thing she questioned today when she got the chance.
Halfway through rummaging through his closet for the perfect shirt that said casual yet respectfully dressed for a family dinner, he got the text from Irma and thankfully so. Byron had been so anxious about this damn dinner; he’d forgotten all about her. She said she was going to have to take a raincheck on tonight. A friend had gotten stuck with an extra ticket to the ballgame that evening, and she was going to take it. Being that normally she liked calling him and dragging out the conversation, Byron got the distinct feeling her friend was a dude and that’s why she went the text route. In case Byron might pose the question. But this was exactly what he meant about the things he felt for Savannah being so different from any other girl he’d hung with. Only reason Byron had even given a second thought to the fact that she might’ve cancelled with him for another dude, was to compare it to how different he’d be feeling if it’d been Savannah. Had it been Savannah, he would’ve called her back immediately and asked what friend. Even as short time as he’d known her, given his reaction at the gym he knew now it would’ve been more of a demand than a question. But he had to get his ass in check. After today and after they got a chance to talk later when he’d be sure to get things straight, his reactions would only get more severe.
In contrast his only response to Irma was a genuinely indifferent two-word text, no worries, then got right back to fretting about dinner. Finally, satisfied with his outfit and his hair, he was out the door. He’d told Savannah he’d be picking her up. No way was he arriving alone to face her family. After texting her to let her know he was on his way, he jumped in his car and inhaled deep, exhaling sharply.
“What the hell am I doing?” he whispered as he started out the parking lot of the shop.
Just last week he’d convinced himself he’d take the clothes she’d washed for him, thank her, and be done with it. Then just one kiss changed everything. Now here he was on his way to have dinner with her entire family.
The whole way to Savannah’s dorm he tapped away at the steering wheel reminding himself, just like when he was sitting at the dentist readying himself to get his teeth drilled that it’d all soon be a memory. Though now he wasn’t sure if he wouldn’t opt for a root canal instead of having to face her dad again. Was saving face really worth it? The memory of holding her today after the hell he’d been through since sincerely believing that was her yesterday, and knowing he’d be spending time with her again finally, made the answer to that easy.
Absolutely.
Whatever grilling her dad might put him through tonight, and all the inevitable anxiety he’d be feeling until this dinner was over with, was totally worth the payoff.
When he arrived at Savannah’s dorm, she and her sister were already walking out to meet him. He tried not to look as uncomfortable as he felt seeing her walk out with her twin. She hadn’t mentioned he’d be picking them both up. But she had texted him earlier to ask him to please steer clear of bringing up why she hadn’t told him about having a twin in front of Nena. She said she’d explain that later.
Savannah appeared as nervous as he felt while her sister smirked smugly at the sight of him. The resemblance was uncanny. They even walked just as effortlessly in the dangerously high wedges they both wore. No wonder he’d thought them the same person. Though just like the times he’d picked up on the difference in the sweet laughter, there was a difference in their demeanor as well. So far it was the only thing that gave him hope he’d ever be able to tell them apart.
They reached his car and got in, Savannah in the front and her sister in the back. Byron turned to her sister. “Nena, right?”
He knew at least that much. Savannah had mentioned her sister enough times this past week, including how close they were. She’d just left out the most crucial piece of information.
“Well,” Nena smiled broadly. “We’ve always been Vannah and Nena to each other because we couldn’t say our names correctly when we were toddlers and then it just stuck. But it’s actually Sienna. I go by either, though.”
“Fair enough,” Already he’d decided Savannah was much prettier sounding than Vannah and he’d be using that instead from here on. Now that he knew this was their thing, he’d keep it that way. “Sorry about the way we met, Sienna. Any chance I can get a do over?”
She laughed reaching her hand out. “Sure thing. I’m Sienna Moreno, Vannah’s sister. And you are?”
Taking her hand, he shook it with a relieved smile. “Nice to meet you, Sienna. I’m Byron Ledesma, Savannah’s friend.”
He cleared his throat as he and Savannah’s eyes met but she glanced away quick enough. When he’d decided they were getting things straight tonight, he’d meant he’d ask point blank if there were any other friends, she made out with. If there was, he was out. Obviously, he wouldn’t be able to deal with that. But he wouldn’t push for more—yet. It was too soon, and he’d respect her wishes for now about the no boyfriend rule. If he could at least get a promise of exclusivity he could live with whatever she chose to call their relation to one another.