Page 60 of Beauty Of Her

“We’re at table seven,” said Brett, weaving us through countless other couples dressed to the nines.

“Lucky number seven,” I snorted, downing the champagne in one hefty gulp. I placed the empty glass onto an abandoned tray before we took our seats at our empty table. Like a true gentleman, Brett pulled my chair out first, and I sat like a good girl. He promptly joined me and draped his arm behind my chair.

“So, what do you think?” Brett asked, popping his eyebrows.

“So far, so good?” I shrugged. “Who am I meeting tonight?” I leaned toward Brett’s ear, shouting over the ample chatter in the room.

“My parents and Bridgette are coming tonight.” He placed a warm hand on my chilly thigh, squeezing it, making me press my legs together. “This is really an amazing dress.” Brett’s eyes drank in my appearance as heat flooded my cheeks.

I smiled coyly at Brett. "Thank you," I replied, my voice barely audible above the lively buzz of the room. "I wanted to make a good impression."

Brett's hand lingered on my skin, his touch comforting and arousing. The conflicting emotions within me intensified as he closed the space between us. "You always make a good impression." His warm breath tickled my ear.

As I glanced around the room, my heart raced with anxiety. Meeting Brett's parents was an important step in our relationship, but our differences threatened to make me crumble. Would they judge me for being a single mother? Would they question our compatibility?

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when Brett's mother, Natalie, approached our table. Her presence was imposing, perfectly coiffed fake blonde hair shining under the dim lights. She wore a tailored light green dress, exuding elegance and grace. Next to her was Brett's father, a distinguished man with lines etched deeply into his face, revealing a lifetime of experience.

Natalie's gaze flickered between Brett and me, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Brett, honey," she said in a tone of curiosity and skepticism. "Introduce us officially to your... companion."

Brett rolled his eyes and tossed his unused napkin onto the table, scooting back with a screech. “Very funny. You know who Julia is from the market.”

My stomach lurched because this was the last fucking funny thing. This was going to be awful. Where was the bar, and where was Bridgette? My eyes frantically scanned the room until I found her at the long, sleek bar, chatting up a handsome, bored-looking man with a buzz cut in a fitted navy suit. Before I knew what had happened, Brett’s hand snaked under my arm, pulling me from my chair and twisting me to face his parents.

“This is Julia, my girlfriend.” Brett presented me like an A5 Tomahawk steak.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you both.” I threw off a weak smile and offered my hand to Brett’s mother first, but when she looked at my gesture like the plague was dripping from my fingers, I shifted my attention to his father. Luckily, he was much nicer, and his large, warm hand engulfed mine.

“It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Glen.” Light flooded his kind, dark eyes that focused solely on my face.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Glen," I replied, relieved by his warm reception. As I shook his hand, I couldn't help but notice the strong resemblance between Brett and his father. They shared the same piercing hazel eyes and confident smile that drew me to Brett.

Natalie, on the other hand, continued to glare at me. Her disapproval was palpable, making me feel even more self-conscious. The skepticism radiating off her ran thick and intensified my anxiety about how she perceived me.

Before I could gather my thoughts, Bridgette swooped in like a breath of fresh air, her infectious laughter glowing throughout the room. She greeted Brett's parents with a warm hug and an air kiss on each cheek.

"Aunt Natalie, Uncle Glen, it's been too long!" Bridgette exclaimed, her vibrant energy filling the space between us. "And Julia, you look absolutely stunning tonight!" Her eyes beamed, and I knew Bridgette and I would always be friends.

“Oh, you know each other?” Natalie motioned between me and Bridgette. “It seems like Brett has introduced you to everyone except us.”

“Well, you have met her before, Mom,” said Brett, clapping his hands against his powerful thighs.

“I don’t count watching you flirt with a customer as a form of a proper introduction,” Natalie snapped.

And that was when I really started to dislike this woman and decided I’d never frequent Stelvio’s again. I caught Brett squeezing his temples and Glen wincing. Bridgette stood there glaring at her aunt, while Natalie didn’t care about anyone’s reaction.

Natalie pivoted from our small circle, locked eyes with a colleague from across the room, raised her hand to flag them down, and plastered a fake smile, waltzing away from us.

“I promise you’ll end up liking her,” said Glen, staring at his wife’s back across the room while she laughed. “Brett is her baby.” His large hand smacked Brett’s shoulder, knocking him forward.

Everyone offered a nervous grin except for me because I didn’t find any of this funny. I was at the point in my life where I didn’t want to deal with impressing someone or attempting to live up to unattainable standards. I already had a full life and experienced disappointments beyond what I was prepared for. However, another thought hit me as I gazed at Brett and saw him watching me, hoping I’d stick around for the rest of the evening despite his mother’s cold shoulder. He was worth it, but that didn’t mean I had to stay tied to this circle right now.

“Julia, want to come grab a drink at the bar?” Bridgette asked, already looping her arm through mine. “We’ll be right back, boys,” she called over her shoulder.

I nodded eagerly and allowed Bridgette to lead me through the maze of tables toward the bar. The clamor of voices and clinking glasses grew louder as we made our way through the crowd, and I found solace in the anonymity of the bustling room.

As Bridgette ordered our drinks, I leaned against the sleek bar, taking a moment to collect my thoughts. Natalie's disapproval lingered in my mind, but Brett's warm gaze gave me hope. He had already proven to be understanding and supportive. I was determined not to let his mother's judgment cloud what we had.

Bridgette handed me a glass filled with a sparkling pink cocktail and raised her own in a toast. "To new adventures," she said with a mischievous grin.

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