Head Over Boots

16. Take Back Home Girl

I walk into the kitchen after Rachell drops me off to find Luke, Nate, Charlie and Bently talking about what sounds like football.

"Hey Hot Chick's back!" Bently cheers, breaking their conversation, looking a lot brighter than he did this morning.

"She has a name, try using it," Nate reprimands him, smacking him upside the head.

"Good day?" Luke asks me.

"Yep, we both got dresses. Jesse is going to lose it when he sees Chelle. not sure I want to hear about yours though," I grimace, shuddering at the thought of what he could have been up to last night.

"Yeah, you probably don't," he laughs. "Can we see your dress?"

"Nope, it's a surprise and already hidden in my room," I poke my tongue out at him.

"Hey, I promised Jenny I'd ask if you wanted to come over for dinner tonight?" Nate looks over at me, interrupting our banter. "Feel free to say no, I think she's a little obsessed with you," he grins at me.

"Sure, I love jen, when do I need to head over?" I find myself getting more and more attached to Jenny, at this point it almost feels like she's another of my siblings. It must be nice for her too, to have someone outside of her family who can easily communicate with her.

"Now, if you're ready?" Nate stands up, wringing his hands together, looking slightly pale.

"Sure, I'm starving, Chelle and I ate hours ago," I tell him as he walks towards where I'm stood at the door. "See you later," I call to my brothers before we head out of the house together.

"So, it wasn't just Jenny who wanted to ask you to come to dinner tonight," Nate talks quickly as we slowly walk down the street towards his house. So close together that our hands brush as we walk, my fingers itching to reach out and grab his.

"No?" I question looking up at him.

"No, I wanted to talk to you without anyone listening in," he nods his head back towards my house, clearly already having figured out how nosy my brothers are. I swear they're worse than girls.

"Okay.." I can feel my heartbeat speed up, my breath shaking with nerves. Have I been imagining everything? Does he want to make sure I know we're just friends? But he said last night he wanted to kiss me. I take a deep breath, trying to relax myself.

"Yeah, I wanted to ask if you would go to the dance with me next weekend?" He rushes out as he grabs my hand gently, pulling me to a stop. "Like as my date?" He looks at me questioningly, the anxiety on his face is adorable.

"I'd like that," I smile, trying not to sound too excited as I feel my nerves wash away, my heart beat speeding up for a different reason.

"Thank god!" He sighs, playing with my hand in his. "I was so nervous to ask you, I even asked Rachelle to get me a tie that matched your dress, I was so hoping you'd say yes." He chuckles nervously.

"Aw, you're sweet," I put my hand up on his flushed cheek as he smiles softly down at me. "Is that why she practically kicked me out of the store?"

"Yeah, I told her to make sure you didn't know. I was scared you'd be finding a way to let me down easy before I even got to ask you." he brings my hand up to his lips, leaving a searing kiss on my fingers.

"Well, I'd be delighted to be your date to the dance," I smile up at him, wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug as he wraps his around my waist.

"Perfect," he pulls me to his side as we carry on towards his house. "Just so you know, slow dances are my favourite."

"Let's pray I remember how to dance and don't crush your feet," I laugh, wrapping my arm around his waist. "When I was little, even though he's not much older, Luke used to put me on his feet and we'd dance like we used to see all the other girls doing with their dads."

"That's Jenny's favourite game," He tells me, Meg greeting us as we walk through his hallway and into the dining room, where his family are sat along with Jesse and Rachelle.

"You said yes?" Rachelle asks excitedly, seeing how we are stood. I nod in confirmation as she squeals. "Now you have to get ready at mine, then the boys can pick us up together." She demands.

"How about we get ready at mine? Neither of my brothers know how to tie a tie and I live closer to town," I amend as we sit down just as June starts to serve the food.

"Sure, either works for me," she shrugs. "Have you shown anyone your dress?"

"No, my brothers wanted to see, probably to make sure it isn't too revealing, but it's hidden." I shake my head.

"Chelle won't show me her's either," Jesse mumbles, looking like a petulant child.

"It's gorgeous Jesse, you'll die when you see her," I tease him as he frowns.

"This dress better be worth the wait."

"Lily's dresses are always gorgeous," June smiles. "She made my wedding dress, I've still got it stored away in the attic."

"I never struggle buying a dress from her," Rachelle smiles. "It's so easy that she has the matching ties too, lord knows Jesse would just buy whatever colour he felt like if I left it to him." Jesse nods in agreement with her.

"Is Jenny coming to the dance?" I ask, the little girls holds onto my hand as we try to eat.

"No, my sister is coming to baby sit for us. It's a late night for her and there aren't any kids there," June replies.

"What do you want to do on Monday?" I ask Jenny, dropping her hand so I can sign to her.

"Make cakes, get Ice cream and go to the Garage," she quickly signs back.

"How did the training go this morning?" Fred asks the boys.

"Good, they're both potential NFL material," Jesse nods, having eaten at a super human speed and already cleared his plate.

"Yeah, but I can promise you they will not be drinking that much again," Nate laughs almost sadistically.

"Oh, what did you do to them?" June groans. "You can't be too hard on them, you did the same  at their age."

"And Coach kicked our asses for it," Jesse retorts.

"Not much, just suicides, conditioning, and then a shit load of drills. Charlie held up well, Bentley was puking but the third round of suicides," Nate smiles.

"Where is he? I thought he might join us," June questions.

"He's with Luke and Charlie, I think they were going to the diner," I shrug.

"Good, that boy needs a good friend," She states.

---

After dinner Nate insists on walking me home, like usual.

"I'm really looking forward to Saturday," he tells me as we stand at the entrance to my driveway.

"Me too, I've never had anyone ask me to a dance before," I scrunch my nose, smiling up at him.

"I've never asked anyone to a dance, so it's a first for both of us," he pokes me on the nose.

"Thanks for walking me home."

"No problem, I guess I'll see you Monday," As he slowly leans towards me we catch a glimpse of movement in the front window of my house and he diverts his course from my lips to my cheek.

"I swear I will kiss you this weekend, no matter what," he whispers in my ear before kissing my cheek and heading back home, leaving me stood frozen like an idiot in my driveway.