Unbearable (Unexpected Sequel)|✔️

58- The Dinner of Doom

"Look, I promise they'll love you, okay?" I held Dean's cheeks and squished them. "And they better because I don't date anyone who doesn't have my parents' approval." Now that was a total lie but I liked watching him squirm.

Dean and I were huddled on the bleachers, staring at the empty field. School dismissed minutes ago but the poor kid was terrified to meet my father tonight. It was taking everything in him to not flee.

He removed my hands but never let go. "And who exactly had your dad's approval?"

I thoughtfully tapped my chin as I thought about the answer. "Dylan, of course. Oh! And Reece, I think."

"Reece?" he hissed.

I nodded. "Yup, he came over for dinner once long ago."

"I see," he bitterly responded. "Arabella, I hate to break it to you, but I don't think I'm your dad's type." Ah, he had a point. My dad preferred footballers. Both Reece and Dylan had that athletic-but-also-a-good-guy charm. Dean? Not so much.

I smiled and put my hand on top of his. "Relax. He'll have to like you."

"And if he doesn't?"

I innocently batted my lashes. "Simple. I dump you."

He paled for a moment before a spark of realization flashed in his eyes. He amusedly cocked his head. "You would, would you?" Slowly, his body slid closer.

"Y-yes." Damn me! Why did I stutter?

He was close enough to wrap an arm around my waist. I kept my gaze on the dead field in front of us, afraid of what would happen if I were to get lost in his eyes.

His hot breath fanned across my cheek before reaching my ear. "I've tried so hard to get you back. What makes you think I'm letting you go so easily?"

Oh my.

A shiver ran down my spine.

"Are you sure I can't just come over now and stay for dinner?"

I internally groaned. "Dean," I whined, "I already told you that 'meeting the parents' isn't a casual thing. You need to show up at the doorstep and make a good first impression." You know, even though my mom adores you for some reason and my dad knows you exist but not exactly what you are to me.

His nose nuzzled into the crook of my neck. "Alright, alright. For you."

"Have you never met anyone else's parents?" Like Skylar's.

He pulled away and beamed at me, a weird expression on his face, but I loved it. "You, Arabella Wilks, are the first girl I've had the pleasure of doing this for. Maybe even the only girl."

Damn it, how could I not love him when he said stuff like this?

Grinning, I clutched him by the shoulders. "Let's go pick out a suitable outfit."

His face paled again but he let me drag him anyway.

~~~

At exactly 7:30, the doorbell rang.

Thanks to technology, I knew this was going to happen. Right on the dot, I was at the threshold, swinging open the door before my dad could. As I did, I made sure to look over my shoulder. He narrowed his eyes at me before retreating back into his office.

"Hey, ba–"

I cut Dean off by dragging him back outside and closing the door behind me. He stared at me blankly. Before he could question what I was doing, I crashed my lips to his and kissed him like there's no tomorrow. Because there was the possibility that this dinner wasn't going to go well. And that meant tomorrow's sun may not shine.