Where We Begin

Chapter 15 - You Can Stay For Dinner

July 5th, 2002 - Busta

After my mom caught us asleep in my room, I gave Taylor an oversized sweatshirt to cover up a bit more and we walked downstairs to the kitchen. My mom was standing by the sink, her arms folded and her face filled with anger. 

"I don't even know where to begin. I'm not sure I want to know what I just saw!"

"You were always insisting I make new friends," I muttered. Taylor smacked my arm.

"I'm so, so sorry, but it really wasn't what it looked like," Taylor said, taking the lead. "We were out at the park and got caught in the rain. Busta gave me some dry clothes to wear because I was freezing. He was just trying to help me out."

"You're the same girl he helped out of a pool last night?" my mom asked bluntly.

Taylor's cheeks flushed. "Yes. It's becoming quite an embarrassing pattern."

"Really, we didn't do anything. We were just talking and we fell asleep, I promise," I insisted.

My mom's expression was starting to soften. "I suppose I can believe you, but for the record, I am not a big fan of two teenagers sharing a bed, especially when no one else is home. You swear nothing funny was going on?" 

"We swear," Taylor and I said in unison.

"Did you put the wet clothes in the dryer?"

We looked at each other, then shook our heads no.

My mom sighed. "And you didn't think to get the poor girl something from Ivy's closet instead? Some yoga pants or something?" 

"Wow, that's a great idea. I didn't even think about that!" I said. My mom gave me an annoyed look. 

"I should really get home, my parents are probably wondering where I am." Taylor glanced nervously at the clock. It was past 5pm. 

"You know, hun, I'm going guess they wouldn't be thrilled about you coming home in a pair of boy's boxers. Why don't you give them a call, let me dry your clothes for you and you can stay for dinner."

"Ha!" I exclaimed. They both whipped their heads in my direction. "I told you she'd ask you to have dinner." 

"Thank you so much, Mrs Peterson," Taylor gushed. 

"It's actually Ms now, but just call me Marie." My mom smiled. She didn't seem mad at all anymore, thank God. "Go get your stuff. I'll grab some actual clothing for you." 

Taylor turned and hurried back upstairs. I watched her go and smiled. Her butt looked way better in those boxers than mine did. That was really saying something too, because I have a very cute butt.

"And as for you, mister." 

My smile faded as I faced my mom. 

"I'm not happy about how I had to be introduced to her, but... she seems like a nice girl. I'm not sure how you went from claiming you have no friends to me catching you in compromising situations with a pretty and well-to-do red head, but let's not have it happen like that again. Understood?"

"Loud and clear," I replied as she left to go upstairs to Ivy's room.

Close call. I figured I was going to be grounded until school started. I got a soda out from the fridge and sat down at the island, replaying the events of the day in my head. It was so weird that 24 hours ago I was sitting on the couch feeling sorry for myself and now I had spent the afternoon with Taylor in my arms. 

When she fell asleep before I did, I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Even with no make up, damp hair, and dressed in my old shirt, I had never seen anyone look so beautiful. Laying next to her, I felt like the luckiest guy in the world.

The door to the garage opened and Buddy came strolling in. "OK, what's with the sick new Lexus in there? Did we win the lottery?"

"Not exactly. More like I did." 

As I spoke, Taylor came back down from my room with her wet clothes in tow and walked over to us. "Hi, you must be Busta's brother. I'm Taylor."

Buddy's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head. "Duke and Kayden were right," he mumbled. Taylor looked confused. 

"Remind me to tell you later why Duke and Kayden need to get a life," I said. "Be nice, say hi to the pretty girl." 

"Uhhh hi Taylor. Any reason you're in Busta's boxers right now?" Buddy asked. Taylor raised an eyebrow, and glanced my way for an answer.

"It's a long story," my mom interjected as she entered the room with some of Ivy's yoga gear. "Follow me, Taylor, I'll get those in the dryer and show you the half bath so you can change."

They left and I looked at Buddy, running my finger across my neck to let him know he was dead meat.

"Dude, you have so much to explain," he said.

"Not right now. Don't be an idiot around Taylor at dinner."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. The girl you claimed hated you yesterday is walking around our house in your underwear and mom is letting her stay for dinner? Someone needs to tell me what's going on. Is she like your girlfriend now or something?" he asked.

I glared at him. "That is exactly the kind of dumb stuff you are not allowed to say in front of her."

"Well if you would just answer me, I would stop asking."

"I ran into her at the park, we talked for a while, we got caught in the storm and she came over to put on dry clothes and... hang out," I explained as quickly as I could.

Buddy rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. Probably more like you were stalking her at the park."

My mom came back in, followed by Taylor, who was now dressed in black yoga pants and gray hoodie that actually fit her. 

"OK everyone out of the kitchen, dinner will be ready in 20 minutes. Go watch TV or something," my mom ordered. "Anywhere but a bedroom."

* * * * *

Dinner went smoothly. My brother didn't say anything too stupid and my mom really seemed to like Taylor. After getting past the whole barely clothed in bed with me part, there wasn't much not to like from a parent's perspective. She was smart and got good grades. She came from a wealthy, happy family. She was polite but also funny. And on top of all that, she was smokin' hot. 

I probably appreciated that last part more than my mom. 

There was still some daylight left when we finished eating, so after Taylor put her own clothes back on, she drove me back to the park to get my bike. She parked next to where it was locked up, but I wasn't quite ready to get out.

"Crazy day, huh?" I said, stalling.

"Crazy couple days actually," she replied. 

"So uhhh would you ever want to hang out again?"

"No thanks." I felt my heart sink, until she looked over at me and laughed. "Oh my God, your face. You really believed me." 

"Well, yeah! I'm not exactly fighting girls off with sticks here, there was a good chance this whole thing was just a fluke for me and some kind of temporary insanity on your part." 

She leaned over and took my hand. "It would be insane for me to not want to see you again."

"Cool, so like wanna go on a date? How's now for you? Now is great for me." I smiled.

"I would love to but I told my parents I'd be home after dinner. Plus I'm in my running shorts. I actually prefer something a little more feminine when I go on a date. How about tomorrow night?" 

"Absolutely." 

I drew her towards me. We kissed for a couple minutes, then said our goodbyes. As I watched her drive off, I was already thinking about seeing her again. I knew the next 24 hours were going to be some of the longest of my life.