Page 51 of Laugh

Beau

“Will you invite her over for dinner tomorrow night?” Mom asks me from where she’s sitting on the floor next to me. Although, I’m not sitting like her. I’m currently lying on my back with my head under her bathroom sink trying to tighten one of the connections to stop a leak.

My father tried, but with his back bothering him, he wasn’t able to get a good angle without wrenching his muscles further.

I consider mom’s request to bring Haddie home this soon into dating. It’s been over a week since the run in with my dad at the field and I’m not sure that he won’t continue to be an ass if I invite her here. An idea pops into my head that I think would make her feel more comfortable, though.

Shoving my body out of the cupboard, I sit up and peek at my mom. “Would you be okay if I invited Jensen and his girlfriend to dinner as well? It’s been a while since he’s been over and the woman he’s dating is actually one of Haddie’s best friends.”

Her lip quirks up because she knows exactly why I’m asking. “Are you trying to get her some extra protection against your dad’s misguided attitude toward her?”

“Hell yes I am. You’ll understand as you get to know her. When she’s nervous, she tends to ramble, and a lot of times, the things she says could be considered inappropriate. Dad isn’t going to love that, and I think she’s already scared of him.”

I’m still pissed at him for his snide remark as he left, and we got into it when I showed up today. He thinks it was ridiculous for me to drag ‘some woman’ to work; that it was disgustingly unprofessional. When he said she seemed ‘awfully flighty for a librarian’, I had to walk out of the room before I lost it.

I’ll never share his hurtful words with Haddie because I truly believe it would crush her. I suspect making a good impression on my parents is going to be incredibly important to her.

“If you think having Jensen and his girlfriend here would help her feel more comfortable meeting us, then by all means, please invite them.”

Getting up to pick up my rag and dad’s toolbox, she stands with me and takes the tools from my hand.

“Thanks for coming over to fix that for us, honey. Let me know once you speak with Haddie and Jensen, so I know how many to people to plan for.”

Leaning down, I kiss her cheek, then give her a smile. Mom really is a sweet woman. “Will do. Love you. I’ll be in touch.”

I stick my head into the living room to say goodbye to my father on my way to the front door and he grunts out something inaudible, throwing his hand up in a wave. I love the guy; I just wish he weren’t so judgmental and difficult to please. As I make my way back to my place, I give Jensen a call first. Haddie and I had already planned to see each other tomorrow, so I’m fairly certain that she’ll be okay with doing dinner at my parents’ house. Obviously, I’ll make sure before I make mom any promises, but I think she’ll be agreeable.

“Hey man, what’s up?” Jensen yells into the phone, and I quickly lower the volume on the speaker in my car.

“Good God, why are you screaming?” I ask him. It sounds like he’s in the middle of a crowded concert or something.

He huffs out a groan in annoyance. “Addie wanted to swing by the mall and this place is a damn madhouse. I’m waiting outside a store for her and there’s music blaring and people all around me. Seriously, we’ve been here an hour already, and I want to stab my eardrums.”

“Sounds like a fucking nightmare. Listen, what are you and Addie doing tomorrow night?” I ask him, already anxious to get off the phone. The background noise is giving me a headache.

“Umm, not sure. Why?”

“Mom wants me to bring Haddie over for dinner to do the whole meet the parents thing. Unfortunately, she’s already met dad, and it didn’t go that great. I was thinking if you came and brought Addie, she might feel more comfortable with people she knows in case dad acts like an ass.”

Barking out a laugh, Jensen tells me to hold on a second, then muffles the phone. He has me wait for a few minutes while, I assume, he runs into the store to find Addie and deliver my invitation. When the music gets significantly louder again, I know that he’s got an answer for me.

“So, Addie said she’s in, but she wanted me to warn you that if your dad’s a dick to, and I quote, ‘my bestest friend in the entire fucking world’, she’s going to light him on fire.” I laugh when it’s obvious Jensen is finding Addie’s threats adorable.

He can’t see me nodding my head, but I say, “Tell her she has both mine and my mom’s permission. I want to say I don’t expect him to be an ass, but he’s been extra pissy lately.”

“Yeah…” he trails off because he knows how my dad can be. If George Hudson doesn’t approve of your life choices, he’ll fucking let you know you’re screwing up in his eyes. Jensen clears his throat and lightens his tone. “We’ll be there. Just text me what time and if Momma Hudson wants us to bring anything for her.”

Thanking him, I hang up and make my way to Haddie’s apartment for a surprise visit. I haven’t showed up unannounced yet, and my excitement grows with every mile I cover with the drive there.

I swing through downtown and run into a flower shop just before they close to buy some flowers for her. The damn woman needs a vase in her cabinet because I have every intention of keeping it filled for her. I find a bouquet that has a rainbow colored vase included with it.

The older woman behind the counter gives me a wink and pats my shoulder once she hands me my receipt. “Beautiful choice for whom I assume is a beautiful girl.”

Flashing a grin at her, I confess, “She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Thank you for these.”

Ten minutes later, I’m standing outside Haddie’s door knocking, energized to see her. My blood is thumping through my chest when I hear the lock disengage. Then catch my first glimpse of gorgeous green eyes and a freckled nose hidden under her glasses.

She’s confused for only a second before her entire face lights up with a radiant smile, and she throws her door open all the way. “Captain!What are you doing here? Oh shit,” she cries, then runs over to her phone. “Wait, it’s not Thursday. Did we have plans tonight? Because if we did, I’m grossly underdressed and haven’t even washed my hair!”

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