Olivia pulled her father\u2019s car into my parent\u2019s driveway. Both cars were there, I was sure that everyone would be in the house. Everyone would be anxious and waiting curiously to see what was up with the girl I was bringing home.<\/p>\n
We sat in the car for a few extra minutes, I was desperately trying to muster the courage to go inside and not to turn and run in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n
Olivia placed her hand in mine. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be okay. If it goes bad, we could always do your cabin in the woods idea.\u201d She offered.<\/p>\n
I laughed. \u201cOkay, lets get this over with. Quick and painless.\u201d I sighed.<\/p>\n
I pushed open the passenger\u2019s side door and climbed out onto the just fallen snow.<\/p>\n
I met Olivia at the front of the car and picked up her hand. \u201cDo you want me to carry your book?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
The cookbooks my mom had were all neatly placed on the shelf in the kitchen. Olivia\u2019s cookbook was a huge binder filled with recipes, all of which were magazine cut outs or print outs. Some were on index cards and appeared to be ancient, while others were neatly written in her perfect handwriting. Everything was crazy and chaos inside the book; taped and glued. But somehow it all made perfect sense and it seemed neat and organized.<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled. \u201cThank you.\u201d She mused, surrendering the book to me. I tucked it under my arm and took her hand with my free one.<\/p>\n
I helped her up the stairs, and opened the front door. I closed it quietly behind us. I placed her book carefully on the table in the hall and helped her with her coat, hanging mine with hers.<\/p>\n
The first sound we could hear from the rest of the house was the two girls screaming, and one of them yelling \u201cZac, quit it!\u201d<\/p>\n
I took Olivia\u2019s hand and led her toward the living room. Zac was sitting on the sofa and shooting nurf darts at the two girls. They were sitting on the floor playing with their dolls.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom? Dad?\u201d I called into the house.<\/p>\n
Olivia\u2019s hand squeezed mine worriedly. Suddenly she was getting cold feet, and I needed her to be strong enough to get me through tonight.<\/p>\n
We found my parents in the kitchen. \u201cHi,\u201d I said awkwardly.<\/p>\n
Dad looked up from the newspaper and my mom looked up from wiping down the counter.<\/p>\n
\u201cUmm\u2026 this is Olivia\u2026 Olivia, this is my parents.\u201d It seemed like the lamest possible thing I could ever say, but the words came out without a conscious thought.<\/p>\n
Mom glanced at my dad, then smiled hugely. She crossed the room with her arms open. \u201cOh, Olivia!\u201d She beamed. \u201cIt is so wonderful to finally meet you!\u201d She cheered, hugging Olivia tightly.<\/p>\n
Olivia returned her hug somewhat awkwardly. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to meet you too. I\u2019ve heard so much about you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia was deliberately leaving out that most of what I\u2019d said was bad.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, that\u2019s wonderful. We\u2019ve heard so much about you too. Our Isaac never stops talking about you.\u201d She smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom!\u201d I gaped in mortification.<\/p>\n
\u201cDi, you\u2019re embarrassing the boy.\u201d Dad laughed. He stood and shook Olivia\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice to meet you, Mr. Hanson.\u201d Olivia said with perfect sincere politeness.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease,\u201d My dad insisted. \u201cCall me Walker. And my wife,\u201d He motioned to my mom. \u201cDiana.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled. \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre those your recipes?\u201d Mom asked, pointing toward the binder in my arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, yes. I thought maybe we could swap recipes, if you wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, absolutely!\u201d Mom smiled hugely.<\/p>\n
Olivia took the book from my hands and followed my mom to the kitchen island. She opened the book and my mom peered eagerly over her shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what do you think we should make for dinner? Isaac told me you were a vegetarian, and I thought it would be an excellent lesson for the kids. Right Walker?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Di.\u201d My dad replied obediently. He placed his hand on my shoulder. \u201cCome on, son. Let\u2019s go and watch a movie or something. I have a feeling we will just be in the way here.\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head. \u201cI think I\u2019ll just hang out in here and try to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
The last thing I wanted to do was to leave Olivia alone with my mom. I definitely didn\u2019t want my mom telling her anything embarrassing, and I didn\u2019t want Olivia to be completely weirded out by my parents.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, that\u2019s a great idea!\u201d Olivia said, smiling at my mom. \u201cThat would be great for dinner tonight. And it\u2019s so easy too.\u201d She mused.<\/p>\n
There were both pouring over Olivia\u2019s cook book intently.<\/p>\n
I opened the fridge. \u201cLiv? Do you want anything? Water or juice?\u201d I offered. \u201cI could make you some tea or coffee-\u201c I offered.<\/p>\n
Olivia looked up at me long enough to smile sweetly. \u201cNo, thank you.\u201d She answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d I answered. I grabbed a bottle of juice and plopped down at the kitchen table. I flipped through the paper, pretending I was interested in the articles. I was more listening to Olivia and my mother chatter on and plan the things they were going to make.<\/p>\n
I watched Olivia. She was beautiful, she was adorably focused and looked incredibly happy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa!\u201d Taylor said from the door.<\/p>\n
I twisted around and saw the shock registered on Taylor\u2019s face. He gaped at me and pointed toward Olivia. \u201cThat\u2019s her? That\u2019s your girlfriend?\u201d He asked, far too loudly.<\/p>\n
I shot up from my seat and grabbed Taylor by the hood of his shirt and yanked him out of the kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes!\u201d I hissed. \u201cCan you try for a few hours to not completely embarrass me?\u201d I demanded. \u201cFor just one night can you please be a decent human being, and a halfway decent brother and stop being a cocky pain in the ass?\u201d I demanded.<\/p>\n
Taylor continued to gape at me. \u201cYeah, but that\u2019s her? That\u2019s her?\u201d He asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, why?\u201d I demanded.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she\u2019s hot!\u201d He protested. \u201cDude, you\u2019re my brother and everything, but holy crap, what is a girl like that doing with a guy like you?\u201d He demanded. \u201cYou\u2026 you must be good at something.\u201d He mused. \u201cWow.\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head and socked Taylor in the arm. \u201cJust behave, alright? I really like this girl. Don\u2019t fuck this up for me.\u201d I said through gritted teeth.<\/p>\n
Taylor sighed and nodded. \u201cDeal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d I mused. I breathed an internal sigh of relief and followed Taylor into the living room. The girls had found another place to play and my dad now had the nurf gun. He was shooting darts at Zac and demanding how he liked being shot at.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you want to watch a movie?\u201d Taylor asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cUhh\u2026\u201d I glanced toward the kitchen. \u201cYeah, sure.\u201d I answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich one?\u201d Taylor asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. You choose.\u201d I wasn\u2019t planning on watching the movie for long.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d Taylor began sorting through the videos and dad sat down too, putting the nurf gun on the coffee table.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are we watching?\u201d Dad asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know yet,\u201d Taylor replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019re going to stay and watch too?\u201d Dad asked.<\/p>\n
I nodded. \u201cI\u2019ll be right back.\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
I stood and went into the living room. I found my mom pulling ingredients from the cupboard and Olivia reading off what they needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I have onions in the basement. Hang on, I\u2019ll be right back!\u201d She insisted eagerly. Mom left the kitchen.<\/p>\n
I moved toward Olivia. \u201cHow are you doing? Are you insane yet?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed. \u201cNot at all. I\u2019m having a great time!\u201d She insisted. \u201cYour family seems sweet.\u201d<\/p>\n
I gaped at her like she had three heads.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mom is amazing, she\u2019s a cooking genius. I\u2019m having a good time.\u201d She insisted.<\/p>\n
Olivia wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly.<\/p>\n
I sighed, folding my arms over her. I pressed a kiss against her hair softly.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed softly. \u201cIsaac, you have nothing to worry about.\u201d She insisted. \u201cI\u2019m having a good time. I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded. \u201cOkay. Let me know if you want to go.\u00a0 We\u2019ll run out of here like the place is on fire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed softly. \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s going to happen.\u201d She insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright.\u201d I nodded. \u201cI still have to introduce you to my brothers and sisters, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia nodded. \u201cOf course\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you want to meet my brothers now? I\u2019m not sure where my sisters are\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, sure.\u201d She smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d I took her hand and led her into the living room. \u201cGuys? This is Olivia.\u201d I introduced her. \u201cOlivia, this is my brother Taylor, and my brother Zac.\u201d I motioned to each of them.<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled sweetly. \u201cHi.\u201d She said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWow.\u201d Zac glanced toward Taylor. They exchanged looks.<\/p>\n
I narrowed my eyes at them, I wasn\u2019t very comfortable with my brother\u2019s ogling my girlfriend.<\/p>\n
Dad glanced between Zac and Taylor, frowning.<\/p>\n
Mom appeared from the basement. \u201cOkay, I found the onions.\u201d She announced. \u201cOh, good. You\u2019re meeting everyone.\u201d She smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it true there\u2019s not going to be any meat with dinner tonight?\u201d Zac asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cZac!\u201d I growled.<\/p>\n
Olivia began to protest. \u201cWe could make a dish with meat in it.\u201d She offered.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no. That\u2019s okay. We\u2019re being cultural tonight.\u201d Mom insisted. \u201cThese kids should see what it\u2019s like to have a different, healthier lifestyle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zac still looked worried.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d better get started on dinner,\u201d Mom insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d Olivia followed my mom from the living room.<\/p>\n
\u201cZac, if you can get through this dinner with your mouth shut, I will buy you a whole fucking month\u2019s worth of cheeseburgers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDeal!\u201d Zac said quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIsaac, language. Please.\u201d Dad sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry.\u201d I replied. I plopped down on the sofa.<\/p>\n