Page 53 of Damaged Professor

ThemomentthatAbbysteps out of her house, I know that this is the best decision that I could have ever made. There’s something about the look on her face that pushes into my heart and fills me with an overbearing warmth. I can’t stop smiling when I get out of the car, stepping around the front of it, so I can open the door for her.

“You look amazing,” I tell her, honestly.

She smiles at me. Her hair has been clipped out of her face with a simple black metal butterfly clip, and the dress that she’s wearing hugs her body perfectly. It’s got just enough cleavage to give me a peek of her perfect breasts, but she’s covered enough to be modest in front of my parents and my other family members. The bright teal of it plays well with her hair. It’s a mixture of modern and retro, in a way that only Abby can pull off.

“Thanks,” says Abby. She pauses by the open car door to lean forward and give me a kiss on the corner of my mouth, leaving behind just a hint of tacky lip gloss. “So do you.”

I know that the white button down I’m wearing fits well, but I know I can't compete with how perfect she looks. The curse of being a man is that there are only so many things that you can wear to a family function without having your mother fuss at you for dressing down too much or trying to steal the show. All the same, I know that she means the compliment earnestly, and I thank her before closing the door and hurrying back around to the driver’s side.

The moment that I’m in, I tell her, “This is your last chance to get out of here. Once I start the car, there’s no turning back.”

“Oh, you aren’t going to turn the car around if I misbehave?” She teases.

I ask her, laughing, “And how are you going to misbehave? Are you going to throw something on the floor? You don’t have too many options in here.”

“I don’t know,” says Abby, an almost seductive quality to her voice. Her gaze blatantly slides down to my crotch. “I’m sure that I could come up with a way to act up.”

Thankfully, she’s just teasing and she doesn’t actually plan on me walking into my parents anniversary party with a hard on. That’s a relief. A bigger relief is that she hasn’t changed her mind, and she still wants to come.

The drive out to the park that my mother has rented out is a long one, but it’s peaceful. There’s something about the fact that we don’t have to do anything in secret anymore that makes the whole trip seem that much nicer. We spend the whole time going back and forth with our conversation, trading jokes and stories and actually having the chance to act like a couple.

The park rises before us, already filled up. Abby says, “Wow, you weren’t kidding about how many people are going to be here.”

“Did you think I was?”

“We all over exaggerate about how many friends our family has,” says Abby, with a shrug.

I ask her, worried, “Are you changing your mind?”

Abby is quick to shake her head. “Never in a million years. Now get over here and walk me over like you promised.”

“Ma’am, yes ma’am,” I tell her, hopping up and out of the car. I shove the keys and my phone into my back pocket as I hurry around to her side. By the time I get to her, Abby has already gotten out and is waiting for me.

She offers me her hand, but I go a step further and I take her arm, linking us together. We’re still like that as we cross the road and enter the party. The park itself has been dressed up perfectly, with the catering tent on one side and a covered dance floor set up on the other. It’s extravagant but open, just the way that my mother has always loved it.

I don’t see my parents, but there are plenty of other people to make the rounds with, and I sweep Abby around, pretending that she’s my prized bride to show off. I think that she gets a kick out of it. Every time that I stop and introduce her as ‘my girlfriend, Abby’ her whole face lights up, and she gets this look like I’ve just given her the best gift in the world.

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Ashton says, grinning. Abby gives him a warn hug and asks about Jenna.

“She's better than ever.” He motions behind him. Jenna is still on crutches but promptly uses them to jump around. “Yeah, I need to go, I have to stick by her side or we’ll be off for another trip to the hospital.” He pats my back, letting me know we have his stamp of approval.

At last, I spot my mom and my dad, talking to Uncle Randy. I hook my arm into Abby’s again, leading her across the park and over to them. “Come on, my parents are over here.”

I can feel the hitch in her steps. “Your parents?”

“Linda and Martin,” I say, giving her the quick rundown again. “And they’re going to love you.”

“Are you sure?” For the first time, a hint of true nervousness creeps into her voice. I turn to look at her, giving her a bright smile and pressing a kiss to her mouth.

“I’m positive. There’s no way that anyone could meet you and not love you, Abby. Come on, let me introduce you to them,” I say, goading her along.

After a moment, Abby nods her head and lets me finish walking her over. My mother is tall with hair that’s dyed just slightly the wrong shade of red to be considered natural. Don't get me wrong it’s not a cheap die job, it’s just a touch over the top. My mom likes to stand out, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that even at her own anniversary party, she still manages to look beautiful yet professional, with her straight skirt and her stiff looking blouse.

My father has always been a little bit more laid back and it shows in the way that he’s standing at ease, holding a drink in one hand and waving with the other one as he talks. His hair is silver and starting to thin, but he holds himself and acts as though he’s still twenty years young.

The moment that my mom sees me, she rushes over and throws her arms around me. She plasters a kiss to either side of my face and she tells me, “I was wondering where you had gotten off to! Your brother said that you were here, but I haven’t seen you all night!” And then her gaze travels down my arm, which is still linked to Abby’s, and then over to Abby’s face. A look of interest instantly forms on my mom’s face. “Oh? And who’s this?”

“This is Abby,” I tell her. “My girlfriend.”

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