Chapter 16

DIANA

Abigail picked me up at my place to take me to our parents' house for dinner. "Have you heard anything about your car?" she asked.

"I'm still waiting on the insurance to settle things. I hope it's soon. I hate not having a car."

"Have you talked to your boyfriend lately?" she teased.

I blushed just thinking about him. "No. Not since the flats and we don't have a label on whatever this is between us."

I had a feeling I had ruined things between us. He found out I was a virgin and that was that. He was an experienced man who likely preferred his women with experience as well. I still couldn't believe I told him. I realized things were getting heated in the back of the truck and I just thought he should know.

Abigail pulled the car to a stop and we headed inside. I was hoping this dinner would be better than the last. It usually took my dad a week or two to get over being angry. As far as I knew, Jessie hadn't done anything stupid to stir the pot and piss my dad off all over again.

The comforting aroma of home-cooked food greeted us. Abigail flopped onto the couch while I carried my dish into the kitchen. Mom was bustling about, putting the final touches on dinner.

"Hey, Mom," I said, setting the tray down on the counter. "I brought dessert."

My mother turned to me. Her face lit up with delight as she took in the sight of the dessert bars. They were a family recipe, passed down from my nana. They were always a hit with my parents. "Oh, Diana, those look delicious," she said, reaching out to give me a quick hug. "Your nana's recipe, I presume?"

I nodded, feeling a swell of pride at the mention of my nana. She was an incredible cook. Her recipes always held a special place in my heart. "I was missing her and thought I would make these, bring her to dinner with us."

"That's very sweet." She smiled.

"Can I help with anything?" I offered.

"Actually, yes, could you please set the table?" my mom asked.

I nodded and started setting out plates, silverware, and glasses. As I placed each item on the table, my mind drifted back to the events of the other night. The awkward encounter in Troy's truck replayed in my mind, making me cringe with embarrassment all over again. I couldn't believe I had let things go that far with Hudson. He awoke feelings in me that made me act impulsively.

When I went back to get the butter dish, Mom gestured for me to join her at the stove.

"Your father knows about Tuesday," she whispered.

"Tuesday?" I asked with confusion. "What's happening on Tuesday?"

"Last Tuesday." She gave me a look and I knew exactly what she was talking about.

"Oh." A knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach. Having the town mayor as a father was a constant source of frustration for me, especially when it came to matters like this.

"The pool hall?" I asked, wanting to make sure we were talking about the same thing. I didn't want to confess to anything he didn't know, not that there was anything to confess.

"Yes," she whispered. "Something about you making a fool of yourself and being reprimanded."

"He must have found out from the principal," I muttered, rubbing a hand over my face. "I was a little late. No need to tattle on me to the mayor."

My mother gave me a sympathetic look, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. "You know how your father is," she said, shaking her head. "He just wants what's best for you. He doesn't want to see your good name besmirched."

"His good name," I corrected. "And I've never besmirched anything."

"That's not fair," she chided. "He's looking out for you."

"If you say so." I sighed.

My father was strict because he cared about me, but he took it too far. Going out and having some beers was totally normal. Dad was just a control freak who made everything about him.

The thought of facing his disapproval over dinner was enough to make me lose my appetite. I was going to be the one in the hot seat. It was always like that at these dinners. One of us always did something that irritated my father and the family meal turned into a struggle session. We were reprimanded and put back on the right path. Not that any of us had ever had a chance to really veer too far off the path. Hence, my virgin status.

I was terrified my father would hear about my sexual escapades. In high school, I didn't dare. And then it just kept going. I couldn't find a man I liked well enough to trust him to keep his mouth shut if we ever got to that point. Even my own boss told my father when I messed up, so I wasn't just being paranoid.

"I don't think you did anything too bad," she said. "But I wanted you to know he knows."

"Thanks, Mom. I better go face the firing squad. Is he in the den?"

"Outside, with Jessie," she answered.

I grimaced. "Is there a risk of shrapnel?"

She laughed. "I think they've mended fences."

That fence has been mended so many times it was falling apart. But I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe things could get better from here on out. I took a deep breath and steeled myself for the conversation ahead.

I stepped into the backyard and was greeted with the familiar sight of my father and Jessie, lounging in chairs with glasses of whiskey in hand. The scent of cigar smoke hung in the air. My father looked up and smiled.

"Hello, darling," he said, rising from his chair to plant a kiss on my cheek. "You look lovely today."

I returned his smile. Maybe Mom was wrong. His affectionate gesture belied the seriousness of the question I knew was coming next. He was a politician. He knew how to smile and put people at ease a second before he pounced.

"Why were you late for work on Tuesday?" he asked, gesturing for me to sit down.

Jessie shook his head slightly like he was disappointed in me, although I could see the barely suppressed smile. He was enjoying not being the punching bag for once.

I sat down while I scrambled for an excuse that didn't reveal the whole truth. "I overslept," I replied, hoping he would accept my explanation without further interrogation.

But my father wasn't one to let things slide so easily. He furrowed his brow, his gaze searching mine for any sign of deception. "Overslept, hmm?" he said, his voice skeptical. "Your phone doesn't have an alarm on it?"

Before I could respond, Jessie jumped in, coming to my rescue. "It was my fault," he declared. "I was supposed to pick her up. I was the one who was late. She didn't oversleep."

I shoot him a grateful glance, amazed at his willingness to take the blame for something he had nothing to do with. My father looked at him for a moment, his expression unreadable, before nodding in acceptance.

"If you offer to help someone, you need to follow through," he said sternly and puffed on his cigar like a steam engine. With one last big cloud of smoke, he stubbed it out and walked inside, leaving Jessie and me alone in the yard.

I turned to him and smiled. "Thank you. You didn't have to do that."

Jessie shrugged. "Easier for Dad to accept me screwing up than his princess," he said with a smirk. "I was sparing us all from having to listen to him go on about it all night."

I was touched by his support. Then again, if anyone knew how much of a pain Dad could be, it was Jessie.

"Well, thank you," I said, smiling at my brother.

"Not a big deal. Just trying to get a little good karma when I can."

"We better get in there," I said. "Don't want to be late for dinner."

"Dad will ask if our phones have alarms," Jessie said with a laugh.

When we all sat down, things were a lot less tense than our last dinner we all had together. It was the typical ebb and flow of our family dynamics.

"So, have you guys heard about this newcomer in town?" Dad asked.

I almost choked.

"Hudson?" Jessie asked. "He's alright."

"I heard he's from the city and has been stirring up trouble," Dad said. His disapproval was evident on his face. "We don't need that kind of drama here. We have a good, clean, respectable town."

"He's not stirring up trouble, Dad," Jessie said. "He's just trying to make a life for himself here, same as anyone else. People around here get a little territorial. We need to start supporting newcomers and welcoming them to the community instead of shunning them."

My father's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. "That man has no respect for this town or its traditions," he retorted, his tone tinged with anger. "Turning the pool hall into a nightclub, renting that extravagant house on the edge of town? It's disrespectful."

I exchanged a glance with Abigail and Jessie. They both remained silent. They didn't sell me out for spending so much time with Hudson, and for that, I was grateful. But it wouldn't be long before our father started asking questions.

People would talk. He would find out I was the one dancing with Hudson. I would have to come clean about my relationship with Hudson, and that was going to send Dad through the roof.

Thankfully, nothing else was said about Hudson. We talked about nothing in particular, which was a nice change from the constant lectures and sermons.

After dinner, we retired to the living room for dessert. I brought out Nana's coconut bars I made earlier. Dad talked about some of the things happening around town. I felt like we were treading back into dangerous territory. I didn't want Hudson's name to come up again. I had the worst poker face.

"I'll clean up," I offered, hoping to stay out of whatever conversation was about to happen. Abigail and Jessie helped me in the kitchen while Mom and Dad relaxed and ate more of the bars.

"Thanks for not saying anything about Hudson," I said quietly to both of them.

Abigail nodded, her expression serious. "Just be careful," she said. "Daddy thinks he's city trash, and you know how he is when he makes up his mind about someone."

I nodded. "He still thinks Rachel is a bad influence because she convinced me to get a perm once."

"I think Hudson is a breath of fresh air," Jessie said. "This town could use a little shaking up."

"Easier said than done," I replied with a grimace. "But remember, we're not just shaking up the town. We'll be shaking up our father's expectations of us too."

"I'm not going to quit hanging out with him because Dad doesn't like it," Jessie said. "I'm an adult. I can pick my own damn friends."

I nodded, appreciating his sentiment. "I feel the same way."

"Yeah, I'll bet you do," Abigail teased. "You've got eyes for that man. No one blames you. I'm just saying, you guys were pretty friendly at the bonfire."

If only she had seen us in the back of that truck.

"I like him," I said with a shrug. "Not for anything serious but he's fun."

Abigail's eyes twinkled with mischief as she nudged me playfully. "I think you're more smitten than you're letting on."

My face flushed, betraying me like it always did, so I couldn't deny she was right. Hudson had been a bright spot in my life recently, bringing with him an energy that was so unlike the rest of our town. He was new and exciting and a little edgy.

The conversation turned to other stories from the bonfire night. Lou Grady had made out with his third cousin. Ben Mason had wrecked his suspension doing a jump. Sara Crowe had puked in her boyfriend's lap, and the rumor was she was going down on him when it happened. They were already calling her Sara Blow and Sara Throw Up, which was less clever but I doubted it was any consolation to poor Sara.

No one could get away with anything in this town without everyone having a damn opinion. It was a reminder to keep my business behind closed doors. No more making out in the back of trucks, no matter how hot it had been.

After everything was cleaned up, we got ready to go and headed into the living room.

"We're leaving," I said to our parents.

"Have a good week and stay away from that troublemaker," Dad warned.

"Dad, you do know we all grew up a few years ago, right?" I teased. "You did your job. We're good. You don't have to worry about us."

"We're not children anymore," Jessie chimed in.

Dad gave a reluctant chuckle. "That you aren't," he admitted. "Time flies."

Not long after, Abigail pulled to a stop outside my house. I was about to get out when she stopped me. "Promise me something," Abigail said.

"What?"

"Promise me you'll be careful. Dad isn't all that wrong. Hudson is new and he does seem to like to shake things up. I don't want you to get hurt or to get a town nickname."

"I can handle myself," I said defensively. "I'm not running off and eloping with the guy. We've hung out a couple of times. Big deal."

Secretly, I felt like it was a huge deal, and I couldn't wait to see Hudson again.