Only, Always, and Forever You

30 - Dinner

Cole's POV:

I never let anyone in my room, other than Luke and my mom, but even that's rare. It's because I can't tolerate being around anyone for too long.

Amara, however, is an exception.

When she told me that my mom invited her to stay for dinner, I wasn't at all surprised. My mother is big on hospitality and does not take 'no' for an answer. Although, I doubt that Amara would have the heart to say no to that woman in the first place.

I walk down the hallway towards the kitchen, and I hear the light patter of Amara's steps behind me. I can tell she's upset about everything that happened with Oliver, but I'm just glad he's out of here. I feel bad, but I feel bad for her, not him.

I walk into the kitchen and am met with the glorious smell of my mom's cooking. Without her even telling me, I know she has cooked my favorite: pasta carbonara. AKA, Heaven on a plate.

My mom has always been an incredible cook. Maybe that's why my father stayed...

Haha. I cope with uncomfortable humor, if you couldn't tell.

Just to lend a hand, I grab the plates my mom has prepared and bring them over to the already set, large dinner table before sitting down. This table is meant to be used for dinner parties, but since Amara is joining us for dinner tonight, I guess my mom wants to make it special.

I'm sitting down on one side of the table, my mom on the opposite, and Amara next to me. I smile at the fact that she chose to sit on my side.

"This looks incredible Mrs. An— I mean, Anne," Amara compliments, to which my mom smiles at her and accepts it graciously.

I appreciate how polite Amara is. Anyone else our age wouldn't even think twice about the amount of time my mom put into making this. But Amara does. She's so thoughtful, and considers every detail with the utmost appreciation and care.

I admire that about her.

I admire everything about her.

I nod to show my agreement, but I can't hold myself back anymore. I start to shovel the food into my mouth, forgetting to take breaths in between mouthfuls. I look up after a minute to see my mother staring at me, incredulous, while Amara quietly giggles.

"Are you not going to have better manners while we have a guest, Cole-bear?" my mom questions, and I get embarrassed from her tone but also from the nickname she used for me. In front of Amara.

Hopefully she missed that.

"I must apologize for my caveman of a son, Amara," my mom says to her, clearly proud to call me her child.

"It's perfectly fine, nothing I'm not used to after growing up with an older brother," Amara assures her.

I can practically see my mom's ears perk up at Amara's mention of her family, "A brother? Tell me more about your family!"

My mother wears an eager, intrigued smile on her face, and I know how this is going to go. I only hope Amara knows that she isn't getting out of this conversation until my mom knows every detail about her. I could intervene and stop it before it gets too far, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want to hear what Amara has to say, too.

"Well, I have one brother, Andrés, but he now lives with his girlfriend. And my mamá, well, she is my best friend; I love her more than anything, but she works a lot. I don't get to see her too often. Usually it's just me at home," Amara explains, and my heart pangs again, remembering what she said the other day at her father's grave.

Shit. I hope my mom doesn't ask about that.

I decide to step in and not give my mother the chance to bring up sour memories for Amara. I know she wouldn't mean it in a cruel way, but knowing my mother, she'll definitely ask, and I don't want to make Amara uncomfortable.

"Her mother is Dominican, too. Amara told me how she and her family used to go there every year when she was little," I butt in, knowing my mom will get completely distracted by this new information.

"Wow! Really?" my mom says, clearly intrigued.

Amara laughs shyly, and I bask in the sound, "Yeah, she was born and raised in the Dominican Republic until she came here."

"That's amazing! Well, I'll have to meet your mother sometime. She sounds like a marvelous woman," my mom says, and I can see Amara smile at her words.

"I'm sure she'd love to meet you, too," Amara begins, "And I've heard only good things about you."

"Really?" my mom questions, looking at me with an impressed look, "Well, I hope so. My Cole-bear better be saying only good things about me!"

The two of them laugh, and I just sit there eating more food, turning slightly red from embarrassment.

"He does. He told me all about how funny, admirable, and beautiful you are, all of which I can see is true," Amara says, and I watch as my mother's face lights up from the compliment.

"I like her already," she says to me, before returning to the both of us, "So, how did you two meet, anyway?"

Amara and I both look at each other, trying to decide who wants to explain. I let her, considering my mouth is stuffed with pasta right now— I can't exactly speak.

"We met in the school library. For some reason he had a book of jokes, and he started reading a few out loud. They were so ridiculously stupid that they were hilarious. But other than that, there wasn't too much else," she explains quickly with a smile.

Wasn't too much else? I guess, I should have done the explaining. She skipped over my favorite parts.

The part where I admired every detail of her face. The part where I basked in the beautiful sound of her laughter. The part where I offered her a ride home just so that I had an excuse to keep talking to her.

The part where I realized that I'm capable of feeling something stronger than just a platonic attraction...

No. I can't be admitting that stuff, even if it's just in my head. Then I'll get attached, and then I'll do something stupid, and then I'll hurt her.

I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I hurt her.

Today I went too far already, and I even managed to hurt her through everything with Oliver. But now she's sitting here, talking with my mom, getting closer and closer to my heart, and I'm not doing anything to stop her.

I can't keep letting her get this close to me, or else she's going to end up getting hurt. I can't let that happen.

I know it probably just seemed like a few stupid words, but when I made that promise to her dad's grave, I meant it. I can't let her be around someone that's not good for her, even if that someone is me.

As much as I want to be selfish, I know I can't be.

Amara deserves better than this.

Better than me.

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Ugh! It makes me so frustrated when characters think they're doing the right thing, but they're actually just being stupid...

But don't worry, my lovely readers— what is meant to be will be.

Love will always prevail!!

Also, sorry if my updates are slow this week. I'm super busy with school right now (unfortunately), but I'll update as much as possible.

I love seeing what you guys think of my stories, so don't forget to comment and vote!! Love you all!! <333