Boy meets Girl

The Family Dinner

September 29, 2020

It took me forever to get ready for tonight. Although I picked out my outfit a month ago, and Josh told me to stop being so nervous, I couldn't help it. This was my first family dinner with his family.

I just stared at myself in the mirror. I kept thinking about my appearance. Is my lipstick the wrong shade? Is this dress appropriate for a dinner? Should I have left my hair flat? I pouted are myself. "What a disaster."

"What's a disaster?" Josh asked walking up behind me.

I motioned towards myself. "Me! Me, I'm the disaster."

He shook his head. "You're being dramatic. You look gorgeous." He leaned down and kissed my cheek. I smiled.

"Now hurry up. You don't want to be late."

The entire walk to the Matthews' was terrifying. This is new to me. Sure, Josh and I have had dinner with my family. We do that a lot but, what if I do something wrong.

Josh held my hand as we walked down the hall. "Relax Bunny, Everything will be okay. Alright?" He was only saying that because my hand was sweating.

When we walked into the Matthews' the entire family was there. Amy, Alan, of course the Matthews that live there, Eric and his friend Rachel (I've only seen pictures), and even my Dad and his wife Katy sat at the dinner table. The only one I didn't see was Morgan. Or Maya.

"Hey sweetie." Dad called out. "Trying to be late for your first family dinner?" He made his way across the room and wrapped me into a hug. I smiled.

"Actually sir," Josh started. "Everyone else is just early."

I took a seat next to Riley and Josh. It was a lot of people at such a small table. Maybe this was a reason Josh didn't enjoy them as much as he should.

Topanga made chicken salad with cheese cake for dessert. Auggie and Eric started discussing if cheese cake was actually cake made of cheese. Rachel, Katy and Amy were talking about a show they all watched. Cory and Dad were going on and on with Alan about the trouble they use to get into when they were young. Everyone seemed to be in there own little world.

"So," Riley said, giving my shoulder a nudge. "How's living with Uncle Josh going?"

I shrugged. "It's going good. I treat him nice and he spoils me. He's like a best friend you can talk to, but you can also make out with when you want to."

Riley chuckled. "I know how you feel. My boyfriend and I started dating back in July. I know we haven't been together as long as you two but he's caring and wants to be with me. He's never even thought of another girl." She placed her arm on the table. "Is that how it is with you and Josh?"

I think of how to respond when Riley yelped. I look up and Josh is smirking. Young family members. I roll my eyes.

"I guess you could say that. Josh shows he loves me. Does your boyfriend do that?"

She nods. Josh excuses himself to go to the bathroom. Every few minutes, I notice her look behind her at the stove. Strange. Then I see the time. 9:45pm. Seems normal to me.

"Hey, do you want to see my room. I know that sounds weird and all but, I've never given you a tour of the apartment." Riley said getting up from the table.

I shrug. "Sure. It's not like there's a lot to be shown."

Riley led me down the hall. "This is Auggie's room. That's my parents room. That's the bathroom." Strange. The door is shut.

At the very end of the hall, Riley points to a door. "That's my room." Before anything else can be said, Riley took my hand and led me to the room.

When she opened the door the room was pitch black. I mean what would you expect from a room that wasn't currently being used.

"Whoops." She said. Riley let go of my hand and walked over to the left side of her room. I heard a click and some fairy lights came on. I was speechless from what I saw in front of me.

Josh was knelt down in the middle of her bedroom. He was holding the box his mother had sent him over a month ago. His smile melted my heart. I wonder if his stomach was violently full of butterflies like mine.

"Dylan Lydia Moore-Alvarez. I have had crushes on many girls in my life. I've had maybe one or two girlfriends. But, for a while I became an observer. I learned how when you're happy you'll do a little dance that most people would think is silly. I think it's beautiful. When your sad, your voice gets shaky and you constantly reach for your hair. I noticed that one too many times. I hate to see you sad. A few months I thought I could never be happy with someone that wasn't like me. I kept looking for someone like me. Instead I found you. An amazing woman who has hurt for so long that she forgot how to love herself. I never want you to forget how loved you are. Dylan, will you promise to love me forever? Will you marry me?"

I watched Josh's chest rise and fall as he waited for my answer. Everything he said was right. I forgot how to love myself until Josh showed me what true love felt like. Even when mistakes were made I knew I could never leave him, and he will never leave me.

I take a few steps forward and look down at him. I reached out and cupped his cheeks in my hand. I watched tears form in his eyes. Man, I really need to stop teasing him.

"Yes." I say before planting a kiss on his lips. He wraps his arms around me. I kneel down to be on the same level as him but we both fall over. When we looked at each other we started laughing.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Riley said rubbing over to her windows. She pulled up the curtains to revel Zay and Lucas to the left, Smackle and this kid named Charlie in the middle and Maya and Farkle to the right.

"We heard the whole thing." Smackle said, pointing to the crack in each window.

"I know my Dad said not to tell anyone," Riley said. Josh and I both looked at her. Riley tucked a strain of hair behind her ear. "But, I told Lucas. He thought it would be a good idea if everyone could be here to see your special moment. Including Zay."

I switched my attention over to the left window. I got up and walked over to open it all the way.

Zay leaned in and grabbed my hand. "This was definitely worth the plane ticket. Wait til I tell everyone back home how Dylan Alvarez is getting married to a city boy."

I watched as Zay and Lucas started to laugh. I looked behind me to see Farkle, Maya and Riley in deep conversation with Smackle and that boy Charlie. Riley turned towards me and nodded towards Charlie. Ah, her boyfriend.

I took a deep breathe and almost yanked my hand away when Josh grabbed it. I smiled when I noticed what he was doing. He slide the engagement ring onto my finger. I felt my heart beat like it was ready to jump out of my chest.

"Let's go tell the rest of the family."

When Josh tried to led me away I yanked him back. "What about your mom..?" I asked. I don't know how she'll react to this.

"She sent me the ring cutie, remember?"

I rolled my eyes once I realized. He then led me down the hall to announce to everyone our engagement.

Dad hugged me tight and ruffled Josh's hair. Cory and Topanga said their congratulations and Alan and Amy wanted pictures to show their friends in town.

Eric warned me about how tough Josh will be as a husband and Rachel flicked him in the head. "Don't listen to him. He's the most difficult out of all the Matthews."

Josh and I laughed and the entire family gathered around for a few photos.

It's official I guess. I'm a part of the family. Guess I can consider family dinner number one to be a success. I can't wait for dinner number two.