Page 59 of Right Place, Right Time (Second Chances)
Chapter Thirty
Jay
“Are you almost ready?”
I turn from the mirror, my hands still messing with the knot around my neck, and look at Kate as she steps into the room. She looks beautiful…different, but beautiful. She’s wearing a pastel blue skirt and a white, short sleeve sweater. She’s dressing up for this lunch with her parents, as am I.
She quirks her brow, eyeing the mess around my neck. “Need some help, handsome?”
I release a frustrated sigh. “Yes,” I tell her, dropping my hands to my sides. Her parents aren’t going to like me one way or the other, so I’m not sure what difference it makes that I’m wearing a tie—a suit—but she asked, and I’d do anything for her.
“Thank you for doing this,” she says quietly as she adjusts the noose around my neck.
“I’d do anything for you,” I say, echoing my thoughts.
She smiles. “Hopefully, it will be quick and painless. Lots of passive aggressiveness, I’m sure, but they care far too much about appearances to act out in public. The restaurant we’re meeting them at is well attended by their friends.” She does a final tweak and taps the finished knot. “All set.”
I give her a tight smile and pick up the matching suit jacket. Kate had insisted on purchasing the entire get up, saying “You never knew when you might need a suit.” I hate that she’d spent the money, but it’s difficult to argue with her, especially when she’s on her knees and has a very important part of my anatomy between her lips.
“You look so hot,” she says, roaming her eyes from the toes of my brand new Italian leather shoes, over the Armani suit, and landing on my face.
“Miss Dumont, if you keep looking at me like you want to eat me, we won’t be leaving this apartment,” I tell her, closing the distance between us.
“Hmm…don’t tempt me. That’s a far better offer than seeing my folks.” She smooths my lapels and leans in to give me a quick kiss. The three inch heels she’s wearing brings her closer to my height and that’s about the only part of her stuffy outfit that I love.
Not that she doesn’t look gorgeous—she would make a paper bag look good—but this whole wardrobe situation reminds me just how worlds apart we really are. She’s Armani and I’m…store brand jeans.
“Come on,” she says, tugging on my hand. “I want to get there early to avoid any extra attitude.” I groan, but dutifully follow my girl out of her bedroom and down the hall to the living room, where a shrill whistle greets us.
“Lookin’ sharp,” Casey calls from her place on the couch. She was released from the hospital a few days ago, so Kate and I have been spending more time over here than at my place so Kate can help out. Decker’s pretty much got everything covered, but I think Kate just misses her friend.
Kate smiles and tosses Casey her phone. “Take our picture.” She scoots up against my side and places her hand on my chest. I put my arm around her waist and tug her closer. I feel like I can never get her close enough. She looks up at me with love in her eyes as I look down at her, my eyes undoubtedly reflecting the same. The click of the phone’s camera breaks our stare and we smile at Casey for a few shots.
“You guys are so cute together,” Casey coos with…tears in her eyes? What the hell?
“Your new heart has turned you into mush,” Kate teases.
“Baby, she’s being mean to me,” Casey whines to Decker, who is at the other end of the couch rubbing her feet.
Decker rolls his eyes when Casey isn’t looking. “It’s okay, babe. She doesn’t mean it. You have the sweetest heart.” Casey smiles at him and sticks her tongue out at Kate.
Kate laughs and takes my hand again. “Okay, we have to go. Wish us luck.”
“Good luck!” Casey and Decker both call just before the door shuts behind us.
I tense as they say it, knowing that we’ll need all the luck we can get.
***
We arrive at the restaurant twenty minutes early and the maître d’ tells us her parents have already been seated. Kate squeezes my hand a little tighter; her nerves almost as bad as mine. We follow the man through the main dining room to a smaller, more private room in the back. There are a few tables here, and only one is occupied.
By her parents.
They don’t stand to greet their daughter—who they haven’t seen in months—Kate simply rounds the table, kissing them both on the cheek, before returning to my side.
“Father, Mother, this is my boyfriend, Jay Spencer.”
“It’s nice to meet you Dr. and Mrs. Dumont,” I tell them. On the car ride here, Kate had emphasized how important it would be to her father to be addressed as doctor instead of mister. I couldn’t care less what was important to the man since it clearly wasn’t his daughter, but Kate had asked and…you get the idea.
