Page 44 of Electric Blue Love
She nodded and wrapped her arms around herself. “Do you want to come in and meet my family?”
“Another time,” I promised and wondered if I’d make good on it. If she’d ever ask again.
“Alright, well...” she dropped her hands in front of her and fidgeted, still not moving.
“Sweet dreams, Bianca,” I said softly, and I stepped forward and brushed my lips against the corner of hers for just a second before turning away. I didn’t look back, but as I walked I felt lighter and younger and on top of the fucking world. She seemed to have that effect on me.
“My baby gother first job,” my mother had tears in her eyes as she placed both shaky hands on my face.
“I haven’t taken the job yet, Ma. There are still other options – other companies, graduate school even. They said if I decided to go to grad school to call them when I was done, and they’d still be interested if they had openings to fill.”
“I thought you said this company was your top pick,” my dad interjected. He moved casually in front of us to the stove, taking over the chopping my mother had been doing.
“They are. I just want to think it through before I make any big decisions. Another couple of years of school and there will be more opportunities available for me and a better salary, too. With a better salary I could help out more, pay for some of Donnie and Leo’s college tuition. The odds of them both getting scholarships for all four years is unlikely and −”
“No.” My father stopped chopping. “The boys are not your responsibility. We’ll help them as much as we can, and they’ll have to apply for loans or get jobs to cover the rest. You worked hard for your scholarship and they can do the same.”
“But I want to help.”
“They’ll be just fine. We’ll be just fine,” my father said as he dropped the knife down on the cutting board and walked over to me. He wrapped me into a big hug. “We’re proud of you. You’ve worked hard and it’s paying off.”
My mother wiped tears quickly from her face but didn’t interject. I wasn’t sure if it was guilt she was feeling for not being able to help me and the twins more or if she was silently wishing she could do the unthinkable mom move and accept my offer to help. I would regardless, but I knew my telling them that would be met with resistance.
“Are you staying for dinner?” she asked instead as she moved toward the stove and stirred the soup simmering in a big pot. Turning the burner off, she lifted the pot and began walking toward the opposite counter where she’d sat out plates and silverware. I shared a worried look with my father, but he shook his head, silently communicating not to say anything to my mother. He could read the concern on my face. I bit back the words to tell her to sit down and let someone else worry about dinner for a change. She worked too hard.
“No, Court’s having people over to his house.”
“Are we going to get to meet this Court you’ve mentioned?” My father asked as he placed a kiss on my mother’s cheek and suavely took the pot from her hands.
“I’m not sure,” I called as I slipped on my jacket and smoothed my dress down.
I didn’t think Court was too eager to meet my family. I wasn’t sure if it was uncomfortable for him because I was a girl and we had this weird friendship or if it was the family dynamic that bothered him, but I had seen it in his eyes yesterday when he had looked at our pictures in the hallway. He didn’t want to be here.
I gave them both a kiss on the cheek and I moved toward the front door. “I’ll see you guys in the morning.”
I took the subway from my parents’ house and as we drew closer to Court’s apartment I started to sweat with nervousness. I ran my hands down the front of my new dress. I’d bought it after my interview specifically for the party. It was the first piece of clothing I’d bought for myself in years and I was anxious that it was all wrong for whatever was going on tonight. The light pink sundress wasn’t overly revealing, but it was nice enough that I knew Court would notice the change in my wardrobe. I’d considered texting him earlier to ask what I should wear, but it had felt important to do it on my own.
When I was finally standing in front of his apartment door, my heart was beating so fast I nearly turned around and headed home, but before I could chicken out, Leika appeared behind me and a tall man with blonde hair that fell nearly to his shoulders was just a step behind her.
“Bianca!” she called out and stepped to me wrapping me in a big hug like she’d done the night before. “I’m so glad you came. How’d the interview go?”
“Good. It went really well. They offered me the job,” I said with enthusiasm and it was the first time I’d allowed myself to show any excitement over the news.
“Yay! Then this can be a celebration to many more nights of hanging out together in New York.” She smiled wide as she spoke and then as if just remembering someone else was in the hallway with us, she turned to the man standing behind her. “I’m sorry I forgot you two haven’t officially met. Bianca this is my boyfriend Jeff.”
“Nice to meet you.” He extended a hand and smiled at me while wrapping his free arm around Leika’s waist. “Leika’s been talking about you nonstop.”
She slapped him playfully and his smile widened. “I have not. Don’t tell her that. You’ll scare her off and I like this one. She’s good for Court.”
“We’re not –”
“Oh. I know.” She stepped forward and opened the door without knocking. “He’d never have brought you around if you two were dating – especially so soon, but the fact that he brought you at all says something.”
“We’re just friends.” I tried to sound convincing when I said it – not for her benefit but for mine. Admitting that I felt differently felt like inviting a broken heart.
She stopped and looked back to me, eyes narrowed like she was studying my answer. “You know, I think you both really believe that.”
I followed her through the apartment and while I was eager to memorize every word she said about Court so I could dissect it in detail later, my attention was pulled to the open concept apartment. A gray modern looking couch with a matching arm chair faced a mounted TV hanging on the main wall of the living area above a fireplace. It was cozy. Inviting even. So completely opposite of what I’d expected.
