If this is love//Andy Fowler//Road Trip

Part 6: Meeting her parents

"I know it feels like more than you can take. But you're strong enough believe me when I say."- Don't hurt yourself, Road Trip

Gemma had arranged for Andy to come over and meet her parents, for she wanted any way to spend more time with him. But a part of her wasn't ready for it to be alone yet. She knew who Andy was, she knew who Road Trip were, and she wasn't sure if she was ready yet. So to spend more time with Andy, she'd invited him to come to dinner with her parents.
She'd spent the whole of the day, cooking up a rice salad and curry, which she wouldn't eat but her parents always did, she'd set the table, laying out their poshest cutlery set and ornate glasses and found two candela which she lit in the centre of the table. The room looked fairly ordinary still, there was nothing she could do to torn such a mundane place into somewhere amazing, but she'd done all she could.
It was 2 hours until Andy arrived, and she had yet to pick out an outfit. In a state of panic over this, she rang her best friend, Sophie, who lived two doors away, who came over instantly to help her. Sophie, was great with clothes, make up and hair and had Gemma in a pale lilac, knee length flowing dress with her hair in a scooped bun and her make up done in a minimalistic way.
"All set then," Sophie said, and she left just ten minutes before Andy arrived.
Gemma's dad let Andy in, taking him through to the dining room where he took a seat, next to the place that Gemma had set for herself, intending her dad to sit beside her. As Andy and her dad were talking, Gemma came downstairs, and her mother served up the food, making them seem as a proper functioning family.
The meal lasted for about an hour, through which much awkward chat was made, and Andy tried hard to not notice how little Gemma took of the food.
Things were drawing to a close, no more polite chat could be invented, and Andy could see Gemma starting to get nervous. Unsure of what it meant, he locked eyes with her briefly. That was long enough to know it was time for him to leave.
"I have to be at a meeting with my manager soon." He said politely, "Thank you so much for your hospitality, the food was delightful and I have had quite a perfect time. Thank you Gemma too." He finished as both he and Gemma rose from their seats.
"I'll show you to the door." Gemma said, taking him to the front door quietly.
"Goodbye Gemma," he said, "Thanks for inviting me, I really can't think of a better way to spend my evening. I'm sorry to go, but I can see it is time..." He debated adding those three little words on the end, but didn't want to rush things instead leaving them hanging in the air as he walked away from her door.