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The next evening, Destiny found herself staring into her closet, trying to decide what to wear. She was heading to her family's house for dinner, and it wasn't just any regular gathering everyone was going to be there.
Her grandma, both of her brothers she barely talked about, and of course, her dad. It wasn't something she was particularly looking forward to. Family dinners always felt heavy, filled with expectations and tension she didn't want to deal with.
But this time, she wasn't going alone. Von had agreed to come with her. Not as anything more than a friend at least that's what she kept telling herself but she knew her family would read into it. Especially her dad.
Destiny had tried to pick something simple a sleek black dress with her favorite heels. Casual but still put together. Von showed up to pick her up right on time, wearing a fresh white tee, a clean pair of jeans, and sneakers that matched perfectly with the chain around his neck.
He always had a way of looking effortlessly good, and Destiny appreciated that he didn't try too hard, even when meeting her family.
"Ready?" he asked, leaning against the doorframe as he watched her give herself one last look in the mirror.
"As I'll ever be," she sighed, grabbing her bag and slipping her phone inside.
Von sensed her unease, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her. "You sure you wanna do this? You don't seem like you tryna be there."
Destiny shrugged, trying to shake off the nerves. "It's just... family stuff, you know? It's always a little tense."
Von stepped closer, placing a hand on the small of her back. "I got you. We'll get through it, right? I'm just your friend, here for backup."
Destiny smiled, appreciating his calm energy. "Thanks, Von. Let's get this over with."
The drive to her family's house felt longer than usual. Destiny stared out the window, watching the city lights blur by. Her mind was racing, thinking about how her dad would react, how her brothers would give her that knowing look like they always did whenever she brought someone around.
She barely talked about her family, and for good reason they were complicated. Her dad was a businessman, always in her ear about making smart choices, which translated to him constantly telling her how she should live her life. And her brothers... well, they were a different story. They loved her, but they always had their own way of showing it.
When they finally arrived, Destiny's stomach twisted with anxiety. The house looked the same as ever large, imposing, and filled with memories she'd rather forget. Von parked the car and glanced over at her.
"Yo, you good?" he asked, sensing her nerves.
"Yeah," she lied, forcing a smile. "Let's do this."
They walked up to the front door together, Von standing close by her side. The door swung open before they could even knock, revealing her grandma's warm smile.
