Addicted (Billy Hargrove)

- twenty five -

- Stacy Harrington -

Song: We Will Dance Again by Sumbuck

I didn't think I would be this stressed out over hamburgers. It is just dinner with my mom, Steve, and Billy, yet it feels like this is the end of the world. What if my mom doesn't like Billy? What if Steve was right after all and Billy isn't fit for me and therefore isn't fit for our family?

I shake the thoughts from my head. This man has made me happy every day since the day I met him. He talked to Steve, for god's sake. I think. Whatever he did, he did something for us to be together, and that itself is enough proof that he is more than what people like Steve think of him.

I walk down the stairs after mentally preparing myself in my room for the last hour. I see the back door is open and I walk out to see my mom flipping the burger patties on the grill. The mouth-watering smell fills my nose, making my stomach growl.

I hear a knock at the door a bit earlier than I expected and I take a deep breath. I turn around and walk back inside to get the door. I open it and sure enough, Billy is standing there with his hands in his pockets and an adorable grin on his face.

"Hey gorgeous" he says. I walk up to him and give him a light kiss on the lips before pulling away.

"You're early" I say.

"I like to make an entrance" he shrugs. "Plus, I thought we would talk or something before dinner." I smile and motion for him to come inside.

"Wow, homey" he comments, joking to me while I close the door behind him.

"Please, you have been in my house before" I laugh.

"Well, not everywhere" he denies. I nod, my nod saying 'okay, whatever you say' while smiling. I start to walk, bringing him outside.

"Try to have a filter" I quietly comment before we reach the door. "Be polite please."

"When am I ever not polite?"

I look over at him, raising my eyebrows. This makes him laugh and I grab his arm, looping it in mine. We turn back to the door and I bring Billy out to where my mom is flipping the burger patties. As we walk over, her head turns up and her eyes scan Billy.

"Hey" she greets with a smile.

"Mom, this is William" I introduce. Billy turns his head to look at me with a disapproving look on his face before turning back to my mom.

"Billy, ma'm" he says, extending his hand to her to shake it, ever the gentleman.

"Carol" she replies, wiping her spare hand that is not holding the spatula on her apron and shaking his hand with it. "Nice to meet you."

Billy is smiling, pleased with himself. "Is there anything I can help you with?" he offers, melting my heart that he wants to help my mom finish up dinner.

"Oh uhm" she looks around, scanning everything around her. "No, it is okay, I am about to be finished. Not many patties to grill" she laughs. "You guys could set the table, though."

"Perfect" Billy replies, pulling on my arm to bring me back inside. He leads me to my kitchen where he has not once but stolen leftovers a multitude of times.

"Told you she would like me" he smirks and I roll my eyes, trying to contain my excitement. Billy and I grab some napkins and we lay them in four spots on the table before getting some Coke's, setting them in each spot above the napkins. Once my mom finishes up with the burgers, she brings them in and we start making our burgers. Steve comes down from his room and does not address Billy.

I don't know whether or not I want them to talk. On one hand, I want them to get along, but what if a conversation between them goes wrong? I want to have them bond, not brawl.

Again.

I grab a cheeseburger, putting some lettuce, tomato, and ketchup onto it and some chips on the side and I go to sit at the table. Billy and I sit on one end, while my mom and Steve are on the other end. Billy and Steve are on the opposite sides of each other, while I am facing my mom.

"Looks amazing" Billy compliments as he immediately digs into his food. We all begin eating before my mom speaks up.

"So Billy, where are you from?"

He swallows his giant bite of food before speaking. "California, ma'am."

"Wow, California. Big place" she comments, and Billy nods. "Did you live along the beach?"

"Yes, I used to surf there when I was little" he recalls a memory, and I see something flash through his eyes. He is smiling, but I assume it brings back a memory of his mom. In the time I have known Billy, I have learnt to know when something is bothering him. But, I do not make any comment about it. He wouldn't want me to bring it up or even ask anything in front of other people, so I keep quiet.

"That's amazing" my mom praises. "Stacy used to swim when she was young but couldn't win a race."

Billy chuckles and my jaw drops. "Wow thanks mom" I laugh and say sarcastically.

"I'm sorry, honey" she giggles. "You looked adorable, though."

I smile at the teasing, but I know Billy is going to use this against me later.

"So what year are you again?" my mother says, breaking the moment of silence.

"Senior" Billy replies, and my mom looks over at Steve.

"So you guys must know each other."

Steve looks up from his plate and looks over at Billy. I can tell he has something to say but doesn't want to, or more realistically, is controlling himself from saying it. "Yeah, we do" he says instead.

"We're good friends" Billy lies, smiling as he teases Steve. This lie brushes over her shoulder and pleases my mom, continuing to eat with a look of content on her face.

Throughout the rest of dinner, there is some more small talk between my mom and Billy. Mostly questions about school and family, which Billy is understandably vague about. Once we all finish, Billy helps my mom clean up. It is so sweet watching him help my mom. They finish and he excuses himself to go to the bathroom and my mom comes up to me.

"I like him" she says with a smile. "He is a sweet boy, and very handsome too" she whispers. I giggle and smile.

"Yes he is."

Billy comes back out and bids his goodbyes to my mom and Steve, who reluctantly returns it. I lead him back outside, closing the door behind us.

"How did I do?"

"Great" I say, smiling as I lean in and quickly peck him on the lips. He grabs my back, surprising me by pulling me into the kiss. It causes me to laugh as I pull away. He looks happy, like he was seriously trying to impress my mom. And I believe he was. It is so incredibly cute.

I give him one final kiss before I watch him pull away in his camaro. I can't hide the smile stuck on my face as I make my way back up to my room.

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honestly, this may be the bare minimum or something, but if my mom likes my bf, hes a keeper. period. like im rly close w my mom and if she loves my bf i would DIEEEEEEE

anyways so thats why i wanted to write this scene, i thought it was super cute

we're coming to an end!! how do yall feel?

THANKS FOR READING AHHHH MUAH MUAH

- Liz <3