Can This Be Real?

Chapter 3: Celebratory Dinner with the Houghs

Derek POV

She fits right in. I sat back and watch in amazement of how she captivated my entire family with conversation. She was so animated and spoke with such ease that I looked around at my family and saw the joy and laughter she brought on their faces. Which is not an easy thing to do. My family has personality and it is quite a daunting and intimidating situation to walk into much less handle a full evening and dinner with these Hough women. But Bethany shined. This entire night, she shined.

She threw her head back and laughed as my sister Marabeth recalls some random, embarrassing story of me as a child. I overhear my niece, Paris, bombard Bethany with questions about photography and Instagram. Julianne asks Bethany about her upcoming trip to Mexico. My mom and stepdad inquire about her family and their influence on keeping her grounded as things take off in her life. I sit back and in awe of how well Bethany handled the questions left and right. I must have only said 3 sentences the entire night. With charisma and charm, Bethany had completely won everyone over. 

As we were finishing the last bite of dinner, I glanced over at Bethany and our eyes met. I instinctively placed my hand on her knee just out of comfort and need, and that’s when I felt it. It was a spark. It was something different yet felt so right. Lost in a trance, Bethany and I were both completely oblivious to the glances my sisters, nieces and mother exchanged. All silently conversing with one another witnessing exactly what we were feeling even though neither Beth nor I knew exactly what those feelings were exactly.

As we gathered our things and headed for the door of the restaurant, I say, “Babe, where are you meeting your sister? I’ll walk you out.”

She replies back, “No, don’t worry about it. Spend time with your family.”

I look her in the eye and say with a slight smirk, “I’m walking you out.”

She shakes her head and laughs. I walk a couple of steps ahead with my arm around my mom and we turn to look back to see my stepdad wait for Bethany as she takes some last minute photos with some fans.

My mom whispers to me, “ I really like her.”

I reply, “Yea, I told you she is amazing. Just with everything she has accomplished, what she has created for herself and what she represents…”

My mom interrupts, “ No, I mean I really like her. I was watching you with her tonight during the show, throughout the entire season, throughout dinner and while she was talking. The way you looked at her. The way you smiled at her. The way you laughed. The way your eyes lit up…all I am saying is that I really like her… for you.”

Before I could even answer back, I hear the laughter of Bethany and my stepdad become much louder as they caught up to us as we walk out. My mom had this ridiculous grin as she glances up at me and then over to my stepdad, who was walking with his arm around Bethany. All I could do was just chuckle and shake my head in agreement. Could this be real? Could we really build this into a real relationship? Could she be the one?

As we finally got to the parking lot, I take Bethany’s hand as we wait for her sister’s car to pull up and meet us. I quickly embrace Bethany and whisper into her ear, “Babe, I am so amazed by you. From the freestyle tonight, handling the elimination, the fun we had during the press interviews after and being able to handle my family during dinner. You amaze me. I am so proud. I am so thankful for this journey and to have you in my life.” I give her a kiss on her neck just below her ear, which makes her giggle with delight. We slowly pull back from the embrace but my hand remains on the back of her neck and the other on her hip. I lean my forehead onto hers, look her in the eye and as I opened my mouth to speak, we hear her sister’s car pull up.

Bethany states, “Hold that thought and we’ll finish this tomorrow?”

Relieved, I reply, “Yea, definitely. Get a good night’s sleep cause tomorrow is going to be a whirlwind.”

I take Bethany’s hand and guide her into her sister’s car. I close the door and wave goodbye. I turn to see my parents beaming with delight. My eyebrows shift with confusion as I question, “What?”

My mom replies, “Oh nothing son.” Thinking she was done and not going to input her two cents, she continues, “ Since you asked, I saw the hesitation of you thinking of what you were going to say before she got into the car. Almost as if it were something you just had to get out but knowing you, you had no clue what you wanted to say…” I think to myself, how does my mom know me so well, she continues, “If it helps, just remember that I really like her and you should always listen to your mother’s intuition. ”

"Thanks mom...thanks."