Opposites Attract

Chapter 16: Don't Make a Fool Out of Me

Thursday rolls around and I can't calm the butterflies in my stomach. I know I've met Katie once before, but what if she decides she doesn't like me? Asher surely values her opinion. Not only that, but I also worry about dinner. What if Asher messes up and my parents kick him out? Before I know it, I hear the doorbell ring downstairs.

"I got it!" I trip over my feet as I race to the door, eager to beat my parents there. Flinging open the door, I am met with an enthusiastic Katie and a nervous Asher.

"Hey," he says and pulls out a bouquet of flowers. "These are for your mom." He smiles sheepishly.

"She'll love them." I grab his hand and pull him inside. "Hi there, Katie." She smiles and waves at me. My mother comes out of the kitchen and smiles at the sight of Asher with his younger sister.

"Jane, why don't you take Katie upstairs to your old playroom and show her some of your toys?" My mother suggests. I look to Katie and see her face light up. She takes the hand I extend and we make our way to the stairs, Asher following. "Asher, honey, why don't you head into the dining room." My mother urges, her hand pulling him by his shoulder. "Richard would love to catch up with you." Asher looks at me with panic stricken eyes.

"Mom?" She avoids eye contact and ushers Asher into the kitchen before I can do anything.

"Can we go play?" Katie asks, pulling me towards the stairs. I follow her, and pray for Asher.

Asher's POV

"Good evening, son." Jane's dad greets me with an extended hand. I try to will my palms to stop sweating while I shake his hand.

"Hello, sir. Thank you so much for having us for dinner." I try to discreetly wipe my palms on my pants.

"Have a seat." He gestures to the three different chairs along the end of the table. I want to pick the one farthest away, but I don't want to seem like a pussy so I take the one closest to him. "I looked through the bag you brought to me." Fuck, where is he going with this? "I didn't even notice half of the things were gone." What the hell am I supposed to say?

"I'm sorry-" he cuts me off with the raising of his hand.

"Don't apologize, son." There is an awkward silence for twenty seconds. "Is your old man giving you a hard time?" He looks straight into my eyes for the first time all night. I know what he really means is 'did he give you that bruise on your eye'.

"He's alright," I answer. I don't need to spill all my problems to this dude. He's my girlfriend's dad, not my shrink.

"Look son," he leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. "You're father and I don't have the best relationship. And I have no problem admitting that you are not the first person I would choose to have my daughter spend her time with. But that is a different conversation. If he ever gets out of control, you can come to me." He starts to add more but Mrs. Humphrey enters the room with Jane and Katie behind her.

"Dinner is ready!"

Jane's POV

"He wouldn't tell you what they talked about?"

"Nope." I answer Melissa on our way to yoga class. "But he hasn't dumped me yet, so I guess it couldn't have been that bad." I reason.

"Well, have you at least talked to him?"

"He texted me asking if I was going to Ethan Cole's party tonight."

"Are you?"

"Yeah, I think so. I could use a night out." Melissa agrees with me as we lay out our mats. Yoga class calms my wondering mind for the rest of the day. When I get home, I start laying out what I am going to wear tonight.