Valentina
“Val, your date is here,” my dad hollers from downstairs.
“Just a minute,” I yell back as I quickly check my makeup one more time in the mirror.
I’m nervous and excited all at the same time. It’s going to be my first official dance on Quaid’s arm. We usually either bail on school dances all together or go with a large group of his friends, mostly the guys from the football team and their significant others.
But not tonight.
It feels like a turning point in our relationship somehow. Or maybe we took that step further earlier this week when we made out under the bleachers. My cheeks glow a soft shade of pink just remembering what we did to each other. With my lovesick heart beating madly in my chest, I count from one to ten, just to keep my composure together. Excited to start this night, I walk down the stairs, but am disappointed when Quaid isn’t there to see me walk down them in my dress. Muffled voices carry from the living room, and silently, I make my way there, hiding myself behind the wall. My curiosity is piqued to hear my dad and Quaid talking in hushed voices, since neither one of them are known for their subtle behavior.
“That’s a bold claim for a seventeen-year-old,” my father utters, his tone sounding troubled.
“It’s not bold, Mr. E. I’m just stating the facts. And we’ll both be eighteen when I do it, I just wanted your blessing before I ask Val,” Quaid replies, his voice resolute and firm.
“It seems to me you can still wait a few more months to get it. As you said, you’ll only be popping the question when you both graduate, so a lot can happen from now until then.”
The excited high I was living a few seconds ago just took a nosedive, my chest tightening at the topic of their conversation.
“Be it now or in a few months, nothing will change my mind. I will ask your daughter to marry me.”
I halt my breathing, leaning fully against the wall for strength.
“Have you told Logan about this? Carter?” my father interrogates.
“No.”
“Don’t you think you should?”
There is an awkward silence between them and an edge to my father’s tone.
“They’ll see reason when the time comes,” Quaid responds, his attitude not as sure as it was a minute ago.
“Or maybe you’re the one who needs to see reason, son,” my father adds ominously.
“Are you saying you won’t give me your blessing when the time comes?”
“Do right by my daughter, and you have all the blessings in the world from me. Just tread carefully, Quaid. Where your heart only belongs to her, Val has a much bigger one, capable of loving more than you might be comfortable with. Don’t make her choose if you don’t want to lose your space in it.”
I swallow dryly and step into view at that precise moment, wanting to put an end to their conversation. Whatever Quaid’s response to my father’s counsel, I don’t think my heart could take it. Both men turn their heads towards me, instantly feeling my presence. My father’s eyes shine with unconditional pride and love, while Quaid’s are dimmed with sadness and longing.
“You look beautiful, Valentina,” my father says, walking over to me, kissing my cheek.
“Thanks, Dad.” I then tilt my head over to Quaid, who is trying to pull himself together.
My father clears his throat, waking Quaid from his stupor.
“Val, you look… There are no words,” he praises, walking over to me and placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.
“Thank you.”
“Should we go then?” he asks, placing a steady hand on the hollow of my back.
“Be back by midnight,” Dad says.
“I thought we agreed to come back at one,” I counter, placing my hands on my hips.
“Sorry, no can do, kiddo. I hadn’t seen the dress, Val. Now I’m saying midnight.”
“Funny,” I mumble, to which Quaid chuckles, lifting my spirits that my Quaid is back to his usual cheerful self.
“I’ll have her home safe and sound by midnight, old man. I give you my word.”
“Is that right? So can I also have your word you’ll be a complete gentleman and not molest my daughter in any way?” My dad cocks his eyebrows at us both.
“Dad!!!” I shout, embarrassed, while Quaid goes beet red at my side.
My father however, just laughs at our mortification.
“Come on, Quaid, before my father says something else equally embarrassing.”
“Oh, I can go all night,” my father adds, still giddy. He’s making my date turn all the colors in a crayon box and loving every minute of it. “Like for example, I’m a firm believer that if you’re not old enough to buy beer, then you also have no business buying a condom.”
“Dad!” I chastise, but it’s pretty hard keeping a straight face when my father is laughing himself silly on the inside, while trying to keep a hard expression on the outside.
He’s failing miserably at it.
“I…um…have a good night, Mr. E. I promise I’ll treat Val right,” Quaid stammers, offering a forced formal goodbye.
It’s so weird to hear him talk like that to Dad, since both of them are thick as thieves.
“You better, son. This is Texas after all, so you know my gun collection isn’t just for show.”
“Enough, Dad. You’ve made your point. Let’s go, Quaid, before he gets carried away and shows you his shotgun. Again.”
Quaid’s eyes bug out, and I laugh at his unjustified fear.
My father is a teddy bear of epic proportions and wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone Quaid, who he loves like a son. I’m about to say as much, when Quaid opens the door for me, a limo in my driveway to chauffeur us to the dance stunning me speechless.
“You went all out, huh?” I ask, impressed.
“It’s not going all out if I’m just giving you what you deserve,” he says, his green eyes softening.
“I hope that’s true, kid. Because my baby girl deserves everything her heart desires,” Dad adds behind us, and I feel Quaid’s body stiffen at my side, dampening his mood further.
Tonight was supposed to be a solid beginning for both of us, but somehow, I feel we just took two steps back.
The worst part is I don’t know how to move us forward, or how to ease Quaid’s doubts when I have so many of my own.
Chapter 7
Now
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Valentina
I’ve never been anywhere this beautiful. All of the places we’ve visited so far have been special, awe-inspiring really. But this place. This place makes you want to weep because you’ve gotten the chance to see it. Surely God must be real if a place like this exists in the world.
Or at least I want to believe that. I want to believe that everything around me isn’t just a random thing pieced together from rocks impacting millions of years ago.
I want to believe that so I have hope in the few short weeks ahead of me.
The breeze coming off the ocean brushes across my face, sending tendrils dancing in the wind.
The waiter comes by, filling our glasses with a smile. The meal is served family-style. I’d done careful research on what restaurants to visit, and the reviews haven’t done me wrong. Everything is amazing. I’ve always loved Greek food, but obviously, everything I’d had before this was a pale imitation of what Greek food was supposed to taste like.