Once Upon A Bet

/43/ Unraveling rumors

[A/N: I don't speak swedish, I'm relying on google translate, so don't hold it on me and feel free to correct with respect]

Dedicated to bookaholic-V, thanks a lot for the support and love so far <33

PJ slowed the car, softly parking before a building I hadn't been to before and nerves eat me alive. I shifted in my seat, twitching the skirt of my dress stressfully; but right by my side could sense even more intense waves of discomfort coming from Fawn, so I pushed my own unease down.

"Hey," I took her hand and she breathed out forcefully through her nose, like trying to calm herself without taking her eyes off the house. "Are you ready?"

"My parents are in there." she muttered and familiarity of the bitter feeling in her voice pinched me from inside.

I took her hand, squeezing it and she sent me a quick grin, pressing back before finally stepping out the car.

I got no idea what her deal with her parents was, something about them not supporting her and favoring her brothers, but I got no further details. Fawn never really talked about it and I knew better than to ask about family drama. When she wanted to talk about it, if she ever did, then she would.

I got out as well, softly closing the door behind me an looking forward to the short, large building. It had two stories, with balconies and three steps to three different doors. I could spot some neighbours around chatting and a little group of children skating at the other end of the block. We were on the outskirts of the west side, near the river, but verging the end of the town, which make this part look more like a village rather than a city.

There was barely traffic here and it was all filled with a soft summer breeze and a radiant sun over our head. The heat wave was still rolling and even in the thin sundress I felt suffocated, but beaming. Today was the kind of day that you want to stay outside. The children's laugh and soft birds chirping made it all seem bucolic, like an idyllic day was about to happen. Please don't let it go wrong.

I'd never known where the Tucker's nest was, aside from the extremely vague information that it was on the west side. But here we were now. A huge diner they had been taking preparation for weeks now and that would afford all the Tuckers, Jake, his parents, his uncles and aunts, all his cousins and family friends... this almost felt like I was stepping into a private reunion.

Yes, I'd been invited.

And yes, things with Jake were developing into something more, like the two years apart and first month here wasn't even real. It was as if we hit pause before things started going bad back then and just resumed it here.

And, of course, I was still shaking like a leaf at the perspective of being here and met his entire family. So far I only know Fawn and his mother.  Anything beyond that felt like too much, even if I'd had days to wrap my mind around that idea.

Fawn got out Avery's embrace, apparently the tall girl had this calming effect on all of us when feeling down and with one last smile she was the first to climb the stairs to the doors into the building.

"Having second thoughts?" I was snapped back to reality at the voice beside me and turned to see PJ locking the car and glancing to where Avery was too disappearing too.

"Should I?" I wondered back instead. Not in vain, he had met them, just like the rest of the group. I was the new addition here.

PJ smiled. "Not at all. Mostly, they are nice people." Mostly. I gulped, glancing at the front door and only daring to approach it when he casually laid his arm across my shoulders, giving me somehow a sense of protection. "Don't worry, they'll love you."