Page 5 of Stay Awhile
I walked over to the empty chair, and he stood, pulling out my chair for me. Another point, but I wasn’t going to tell him or my family that. I was pissed at them for putting me on the spot as it was. Reign cleared her throat as my brother, Hunter, andhis wife, Janine, spoke, then my parents, Barbera and Richard, spoke.
“Jim, this is my baby sister, Skye. Skye, this is a friend of David’s, Jim,” she announced like she hadn’t given me all these details outside.
I smiled and shook his outreached hand. “Nice to meet you,” I told him.
“Likewise. You’re very beautiful,” he said.
I smiled tightly and gave another thanks before looking at the food in front of me. I grabbed my plate and started piling the chicken, greens, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes on my plate. I went to grab the corn when my mother cleared her throat. I looked in her direction, and she signaled with her head for me to put them down.
I ignored her and placed some corn on my plate, too. I came here hungry. I didn’t give a damn that they thought it was a good idea to set me up on a blind date. That had nothing to do with me. I was going to eat whether he was here or not. As soon as everyone’s plates were filled, my mother spoke up. “Alright, let’s hold hands so we can say grace,” she announced.
I looked over at her then laughed lightly, because they were laying it on thick tonight. We usually said grace, but we didn’t need to hold hands to do it.
“Uhm, Skye. Is there a problem, honey? Would you like to do the honors of saying grace?” she asked smartly.
“Oh me? Of course not. I’m not familiar with this new way you’re doing it. I would hate to slow you down on teaching us something new,” I responded.
I didn’t give a damn that we supposedly had company. The facts just were what they were. They were putting on because this man was here and it wasn’t necessary. If he did become my man, he would notice all the shit they did tonight wasn’t normal,so it didn’t bother me one way or another if they wanted to look crazy. To each its own.
“Lord, thank you for our daily bread. We appreciate all the things you have given us and the people you have brought into our lives. As our family grows, we only can give you more thanks, especially what you continue to do for each of my children. My son Hunter and his wife as the start their family, my daughter Reign and her husband David whose marriage is beyond anything I could hope for my children, and my baby Skye who is a boss with her own and such a big heart ready to be love?—”
Before she could finish, I cleared my throat and tapped the table.
“God bless our food and the hands that prepared it. Thank you! Amen!” I intercepted. I opened my eyes to see the look of amusement in my brother’s and his wife’s eyes. Reign’s and my mother’s eyes were wide because they were one side of the same damn coin. Meddlers. My father chuckled and then proceeded to eat his food as if nothing had happened.
I picked up my fork and ate as well because I was not about to entertain these folks. The rest of the dinner went along fairly smoothly, at least whenever my mom or sister weren’t trying to upsell my ass to Jim. I knew he could tell because every now and again he would chuckle and give me apologetic eyes.
At least he was a good sport about all of this was all I could tell myself. Once I had finished a plate and a half, that mother was blowing steam about, I grabbed my keys and stood in the middle of conversations.
“As much of a good time as this was, I am going to head out. Y’all have a good night, and Jim, it was very nice to meet you,” I told him as I pushed my seat away from the table.
My mom quickly stood and frantically looked around. I knew she was trying to find any reason to either pull me to the side orto get me to stay, but I was not having it. I wanted to be home with no stress and this night was very far from that.
“Uh, Jim, you mind walking her out? You know, just to make sure she makes it to her car safely?” my mother asked him.
Now, I couldn’t help to laugh because she pulling out all the stops. I looked down at Jim and returned the same apologetic smile he had been giving me all night.
“You really don’t have to. These folks built this house like a fortress, with all types of security around. It’s not necessary.”
Jim pushed his chair out and waved me off. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t mind. Let me grab my coat out of the living room really quick,” he announced as he stepped around me.
The moment he was out of earshot, my mother lit into me. “What in the world are you doing? You can be so damn ungrateful sometimes. Did you have to sit down there and eat like you hadn’t had a meal in weeks, Skye?” my mother asked in a hushed tone.
“What did you want me to do? Be desperate? You shouldn’t have made my favorite meal if you didn’t want me to eat it.”
Hunter was practically in tears at this point. Before my mother could respond, Jim was standing in the open doorway with his jacket on. If I were him, I would get the hell out of here and away from these crazy ass people.
“David, I’m going to head out, too. It was nice seeing you again, and thank you so much, Mr. and Mrs. Daniels, for hosting such an amazing dinner. It was nice meeting everyone, and hopefully I can get another invite,” he said.
I shook my head as I followed him outside. He walked me to my car and stuffed his hands into his pocket.
“So is this how it is all the time?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” I said sarcastically.
He laughed and shook his head. “Well, it was nice meeting you, and if I wasn’t gay, I would definitely ask you on a date, butif you ever want to go to a bar with me to window shop, we can definitely get together. You seem like my kind of people,” he said with a feminine wave of his hand.
We both laughed, and I nodded, then gave him my number.
