Page 21 of Beauty and the Nerd
It was awful. She looked like a raccoon and dug into her bag for the little packet of makeup remover wipes she carried in case of rain or the unexpected overnight stay with friends. She mopped up her eye makeup before using the mascara to brighten them and hide the redness a bit better. Then swiped a little powder onto her cheeks to hide the last of her tears before turning back towards Ben with a half-smile.
“Gorgeous as always. I really like you without makeup though, you don’t need it,” he stated, and she grinned lifting up to kiss him softly.
“Thank you.” She slid her hand into his, ready to face someone other than just him now.
He moved them out of the bathroom, sliding his free hand onto her back to guide her to the door for her coat and stopped when he heard his dad call his name.
“Come back to dinner Ben and please bring Emma,” he said as he turned to face them.
“No, I’m not about to let someone upset her again,” Ben stated, keeping his arm around her as his mom came out into the hallway.
“I’m sorry,” his mom said meeting his gaze. “I just…I just don’t want you being hurt Ben.”
“And naturally, because Emma’s gorgeous, you think that she couldn’t possibly truly be interested in me. Like I said before, way to have confidence in me Mom and way to judge someone based solely on looks.” His jaw tightened in irritation again. “Emma’s had enough people judge her based on her looks, think she was just another pretty face. I thought that my family would be different. That even if it surprised you, that you’d trust my judgement. Know I’d never be stupid enough to let some pretty face fool me. Take the time to get to know her the way I did, so you can see why she means so much to me, see how amazing she is.Especiallyafter I told you how special she is to me. I told her that you’d all love her, but you wouldn’t even give her a freaking chance. So no, I’m not going to make her stay and eat dinner while she feels like she’s being judged. You don’t get to judge her. You don’t get a say in who I date,period.”
“Ben we’re sorry,” his dad said with a smile at his insistence of protecting Emma. “We can clearly see that you’re invested in this relationship, and we’d like the chance to get to know Emma.”
Ben shook his head at them putting a smile onto Emma’s lips. “Maybe another night when I know Mom will act like an adult.”
“Hey, it’s alright,” she said softly resting her good hand on his chest. “We can stay.”
“I don’t want you upset, especially not because of my family, Em.”
“I’m fine, really.” She just wanted to get this over with; she didn’t know if she’d be able to face coming back another night after this. “Dinner’s already ready, and we’re here. Let’s just stay.”
“You’re sure?” he asked, and she nodded smiling when he dropped a kiss onto her temple bringing her into his hold. “Alright but I swear if you so much as…”
“Ben, stop,” Emma said, trying not to smile at the look he gave his mother. She’d never had someone stand up for her so much, especially a guy against his own family. While it wasn’t the first time a date’s mother hadn’t liked her on sight, they’d never been this blatantly antagonistic towards her and she really hoped it was just because she didn’t know her.
“Never when it comes to you Em,” he stated, before walking her back to the dining room tossing a ‘shut up’ look at his brother when he started to ask him about not being a virgin.
“Please tell me it wasn’t that crazy Crystal person that’s always calling the house because she can’t get you on your cell,” Daphne said, and Emma lifted a brow at Ben in surprise at that news. “Eww, that’ssogross. Seriously big brother, you need your head examined for that one.”
“You slept with Crystal from the academic bowl team?” Tara asked, gripping her water glass tightly barely breathing.
“Can we not discuss this right now?” Ben stated, feeling his ears redden now that the rage that caused him to blurt that out wasn’t feeding his anger to the same point.
“I think it’s a conversation we should have, just perhaps not with your brother and sister around,” Simon suggested letting Emma relax into the seat glad to be beyond it.
“Alright, so we hear you’re still a virgin and Homecoming Queen?” Adam said, earning a dark glare from Ben putting a blush on her cheeks.
“Stuff it, Adam, or else,” Ben warned before leaning over to give Emma a soft kiss.
“Ah man, not while I’m eating.” Adam groaned as Daphne giggled watching them.
“Hush both of you,” Tara stated, as they passed the food around to fill their plates. She kept an eye on Ben and Emma, meeting her husband’s gaze when Ben reached over her to take the heavy plate of the meat before Emma could begin to attempt it.
“Would you stop?” Emma said with a grin at him.
“No, not when you’re still wearing that brace,” he stated, putting a piece onto her plate before taking the heavy ceramic casserole dish from his aunt that contained the baked beans.
“What happened to your arm?” Daphne asked, looking between them. “You’re a cheerleader, right? I remember seeing you at the football game we went to earlier this year.”
“Yes, I’m a cheerleader,” Emma said watching his mom for her reaction to that news. She saw Tara’s eyes tighten slightly but that was as far as it went, and she relaxed further. “I was in a car accident two weeks before break. I broke my arm and then sprained it this weekend.”
“That wasn’t very long to be wearing a cast; most doctors go with six weeks not four, don’t they?” Tara said, and Ben nodded.
“It was a light break, and someone made sure I wore the sling and didn’t use it letting it heal quickly,” she stated, shooting Ben a smile.
