Unpredictable Love

Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Harry's POV

As Jocelyn pulls the car into the parking lot, I examine the restaurant. To my surprise, I don't think I've ever eaten here. Surprising considering I've lived in Texas all my life. We climb out of the car, and Karleigh barely reaches her hand out to me, I gladly take it.

Her Mom, who is walking slightly ahead of us, turns around and glances at us. She smiles and turns back around when she sees our hands linked together.

Karleigh sighs, and I can feel her loosen her grip on my hand, so I grip her hand tighter. A small chuckle comes from my mouth and Karleigh glares at me before pulling her hand away from my grip, and crossing her arms over her chest.

When Catherine turns back around once more, her bright smile dims slightly, when she sees our hands have now separated.

I step ahead of Jocelyn and Catherine in order to open the door for them into the restaurant. Karleigh stomps into the restaurant behind them and I wink at her as she passes by.

A waitress approaches us to skin how many is in our party. Jocelyn talks with the waitress, and the waitress leads us further into the elegant restaurant towards a booth. I slide into one side of the booth, and Karleigh joins me on the same side.

"Alright, I'll be your hostess for today, my name is Sydney if you need anything. Can I start you off with any drinks?" She asks, with a fake smile painted on her face. Service with a smile, I suppose.

Catherine speaks up first. "I'll have your peach tea."

"I'll have the same, please." Jocelyn tacks on.

The waitress's eyes are now on me, and I have no idea what I want to drink. My eyes drop down to the menu, and I order the first thing my eyes land on. "I'll take a root beer."

She smiles and nods, her eyes dart to Karleigh. "I want a strawberry daiquiri." Karleigh says, with a small smirk.

The waitress starts scribbling Karleigh's drink into her notepad, but stops when Catherine clears her throat. Catherine is shooting daggers with her eyes at Karleigh.

"Karleigh, are you sure that's what you want to drink? There are so many options." She says between her perfectly aligned teeth.

"I'm positive, keep writing it down." Karleigh instructs Sydney.

"Karleigh." Catherine nearly growls, her deep blue eyes stabbing into Karleigh's. But Karleigh isn't backing down, her cold eyes are glaring right back at her mother's. The tension at the table is growing, and the silence is pressing on.

"I'll give you all a moment, to decide on your food." Sydney squeaks before spinning on her heels and practically running off.

Karleigh raises and antagonizing eyebrow at her Mom. "Something you need to say?" She challenges.

Her mother scoffs in disbelief. "I sent you here, so you could be getting better, not carrying on with your poor habits." Catherine scolds Karleigh, but from the look on Karleigh's face I can tell she couldn't care less.

"And you thought my location would change things, because..?" She sarcastically remarks. Catherine bites her lip, and I can see her temper is building. Tears pool in her eyes, but she blinks them back.

"We'll talk about this at home." Catherine manages to say.

"No we won't. You know, I didn't even want to come to this stupid fucking dinner, I didn't even want you to come to Dallas." Karleigh spits.

Her Mom looks, broken. She looks like, she was holding herself together with glue this whole time, and Karleigh just tore apart her weak adhesive.

I look over at Jocelyn, who is staring down into her lap, taking deep breaths. Clearly she doesn't want to have to choose sides.

Karleigh stands up from the booth, and Jocelyn's head snaps up to look at her. "Where are you going?" Jocelyn chokes out.

"Home."

"You don't have a ride..." Jocelyn barely challenges.

"Then I'll get a fucking cab." Karleigh snarls as she turns around and storms off out of the restaurant. My eyes flicker between Catherine and Jocelyn.

They both look at me sadly.

"I'm sorry, ma'am." I say to Catherine, as I stand from the booth.

She shakes her head. "No, I'm sorry. She's my daughter, not yours. I should be ashamed of her behavior, not you." She croaks, just as I'm turning to chase after Karleigh.