When I Met Her....

Dinner

* "HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS" TRAILER IN THE MEDIA*

Dinner

Laurel's POV

''Hey, what's for dinner?" I ask, walking into the kitchen.

Tonight, Julia and I were having dinner with my parents as an official couple, and my nerves are on the most dangerous edge.

"Steak and potatoes with sauteed asparagus." Steph says, opening the oven and closing it again.

"Do you guys need any help?" I ask.

"No, princess. We have everything covered." My father smiles at me as he's cutting the long asparagus into smaller pieces.

"Are you sure?" I ask again.

"Yes, baby we're sure." Steph chuckles.

I know there is nothing left for me to do in the kitchen but I stay put anyway. I just really need every single detail of this night to be perfect.

"A penny for your thoughts." Steph says, walking towards me slowly wiping her hands on a kitchen towel.

"Just a little anxious, that's all." I hiccup nervously.

"About what?" Steph asks, tilting her head to the side, subconsciously rubbing her baby bump.

"Who wouldn't be nervous?"

"Both your father and I have met Julia already." Steph tells me.

"Yeah, as a colleague, and as a wife's colleague. Not as your daughter's partner."

"That's true." my father calls over his shoulder as he begins oiling the pan for the asparagus.

"It's not like she's a different person though." Steph says.

"Yeah, but now you're not just meeting her now as a friend but like a person you're probably going to have to deal with for the rest of my life."

"For the rest of your life?" My father asks skeptically.

"Yes, daddy for the rest of my life. She's not just some fling. I'm in love with her." I tell him.

Steph and my father share a look, and Steph turns to me. She smiles softly, rubbing her hand gently up and down my arm.

"Let's go find you something to wear." She says, leading me out of the kitchen and to my room.

"What's up with Dad?" I ask Steph, as we walk into my closet.

"Um..." Steph hums, running her hands over my all of my clothes on hangers trying to find something for me to wear. "I think it's honestly just new for him. He hasn't spent as much time with you as I have since you've been here so he hasn't been able to see first hand how much you've grown. I think its just going to take him a little while to come to adjust to the new you."

"Hmm," I mumble, trying to keep down the sudden uncomforting feel of anger.

Steph looks over her shoulder at me and asks:

"What's wrong?"

"Is Dad having an issue with me being a lesbian?" I question, wanting to get straight to the point.

"No, honey. Of course not. He loves you and whatever decisions you make with your life is your choice. We will fully support you. You'll just have to take it slow with him. Let him breathe every now and again, ya know."