It's just dinner, so why do I feel so nervous?

Because I've never really had to meet the parents before. The only guy I've ever dated was Jay and his mom already loved me. This is different. I tried asking Aspen and Gentry for advice, they only said good luck.

I'm screwed.

Deciding I need a snack to cheer me up, I wander downstairs and help myself to the pantry. A wolf whistle has me frozen in place, a bag of chips in hand.

"Take the towel off." AJ jokes and I feel myself blushing.

Turning around, I take in my entire group of idiots staring at me. Garner shoving his hand over Seth's eyes. Resting a hand on my towel to ensure it stays up, I feel my skin burning. "What the fuck are you guys doing here?"

Peyton snaps a picture as the guys are trying to not laugh. "It's game day."

"What?"

"The SEC Championship." Jay says.

"We're gonna watch Ashton kick some ass!" Houston cheers.

"That's today?" They nod. "So you decided to watch it here?" They nod. "And didn't tell me?"

"We figured you were too busy getting dressed." Gentry coughs. "I like the hair by the way."

"Thanks." I flip him off.

"You're still doing dinner?" Aspen asks, raising a brow.

"Yes."

"Are you ready to meet the parents?" He pushes.

"I hate meeting parents." AJ whines. "They're always so judgy."

Peyton hits him. "That's because you're you. I'm sure they'll find Jovie absolutely wonderful."

"It's Jovie." Houston and Garner laugh.

"I'm lovable." I defend myself and all of my friends suddenly find our floor to be fascinating. "You losers love me so that says something. Now, I'm going to go back upstairs, for the love of God, no one look at my ass."

AJ snickers and I chuck the bag at him. Running to my room, I try to calm myself down. This is a sign that Beau's house will be better.

*****

Looking at myself in the mirror, I flatten my hair down. Straightened, it looks like liquid fire. Almost all of my freckles covered by foundation. I can do this. My friends don't know shit. Tonight will be great. I like Beau and I love food.

Walking downstairs, I'm focused on not trying to hurl as I bump into Aspen. His hands wrap around my waist to prevent me from falling, I expect him to let go but he just stares.

It's uncomfortable. Anxiety creeps in as he continues.

"Do I look bad?" He doesn't respond and I'm convinced my chips are going to make a reappearance on the stairs. "I'm going to change real quick."

I turn to move but he keeps me in place, "Don't, you look-"

"Beautiful!" My mother cries, coming around the corner. "My baby girl is beautiful!"

"Please don't cry, it's not a big deal." I joke as Aspen moves back.

She ignores me, trying to snap a quick picture on her phone as everyone comes to see what the commotion is all about.

"Hot momma!" AJ shouts and I feel myself blush. I didn't ask for all this attention for once in my life.

"I'm offended, you never dressed this nice for our dates." Jay mock pouts and I flip him off.

"That should tell you all you need to know about our relationship." I joke.

"Why do you look like you're dressed to for a funeral?" Houston asks.

"Isn't red usually what you wear with that skirt?" Garner follows up.

I knew I should've changed. Flattening my black, white, and gray skirt, I second guess the black sweater. "I wanted to look more normal and red draws attention."

Plus, the sweater hides my figure over a red bodysuit. I'm going for a modest is hottest look tonight.

"Either way, you look good sis." Gentry offers.

Mom goes to the kitchen, returning with the bottle of wine. "Remember your manners, cross your legs, and please don't swear."

"Good luck with that." AJ mutters under his breath, I slap his arm as I take the bottle.

She just stops and stares at me, "Ma, you've got work"

"Right. I have to go." She snaps another picture. "Manny got her bridesmaids dresses in so if she blows your phone up, let her. Scarlett isn't there to stop her from looking at every single dress."

Getting excited to see what dress she picked for me, I grin. "Awesome, now go."

Hugging everyone, including nine children, one more time Gentry drags her to the car, so she won't be late. Everyone disperses now that the game is back on and I take a moment to collect my nerves.

"Flawless." Aspen whispers in my ear, "You look flawless."

From the tone of his voice I can't tell if it's a good thing or not.

My minds a mess as I walk next door, why does he always have to do that? Here I am, about to go to my boyfriend's house, and he acts like that. We had a damn deal.

What an ass.

Knocking on the door, Beau appears on the third knock. "Wow." His eyes roam over me. "You look great."

Hanging my coat up, he sneaks a kiss before linking our hands together. The smell of lasagna making my stomach rumble as we enter the kitchen.

I'm ready to eat.

We stop in front of the center island. A middle-aged blonde woman cutting vegetables in a beautiful pant suit that flatters her figure. Beau clears his throat and she looks up.

"You must be Jolie." She dries her hands off before walking around.

"Jovie. It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Ellington." I correct her, it was just a simple mistake.

"Call me Wendy." She offers, hugging me tightly.

Major downfall of being short, with most hugs my face ends up pressed into people's boobs. Trying to hold my face back, I pray for this eternal hug to end. Finally breaking apart as footsteps sound from what I'm assuming is the tv room.

Letting out a sneeze, I turn to find a serious man with graying hair frowning down at me. I think I just peed myself a little.

"Dad, this is Jovie." Beau informs him.

I offer a weak smile as I shake his hand. He doesn't return it. "Is that wine in your hand?"

Blushing, I finally remember the gift. "Yes, it's from my mother. She's sorry she hasn't been over to introduce herself." I hand the bottle to his mom, who puts not down without reading it.

That's not the cheap shit either.

"Do you drink, Jovie?" Tom asks.

"I'm allergic." I squeak out, wanting to hide myself behind Beau as I sneeze again. I'm allergic to his mom's perfume.

"It's a simple yes or no?" He pushes.

I want to say no but if I lie, I feel like he'd find out somehow. His eyes send tremors through me. "In the past, yes, but not anymore."

He hums, turning around and going back to his recliner. We go to follow but Wendy grabs my arm. "Jovie, would you like to help me with dinner?"

"Oh, I'm not much help in the kitchen..." and I'm going to sneeze my head off if I stay around you much longer. Beau nods his head in encouragement, so I bite the bullet. "I can try."

Hopefully I don't lose a finger.

All I do is cut carrots, hoping she kept me for the conversation, but Wendy doesn't say much.

Great. On the bright side, at least she isn't nosy.

I try to listen to the game and I'm silent with my cheers since I know Beau's family is Georgia fans. Now is not the time to show my support for Alabama. Sitting around the table, the food looks beyond amazing. My mouth waters but I notice ricotta cheese and my stomach drops.

"Excuse me, but there any eggs, glutton, or dairy in this." I ask, really hoping the answer is no.

"Oh, you're one of those girls." His father snips, swigging his water. My jaw drops and Beau tries to speak but I beat him to it.

"No, I'm actually allergic. I'd prefer to not die at the table." Way to hold the attitude in, Jovie.

Tom stares me down and I grip my fork a little tighter. Wendy wipes her mouth, "Yes, dear, there is. I wish I had known beforehand."

"Don't worry, there's a lot of things I can't eat." I assure her with a forced smile.

"By looking at you, one wouldn't be able to see you can't eat much." Tom says, taking a large bite of bread.

"Dad." Beau snaps. Forcing a smile to stay on my face, I pick at my salad.

"Jovie, I've noticed your mother is always coming and going from odd hours of the day." Tom states his observation with the expectation for an explanation.

"She works a lot. Some days she has early mornings, others it's late nights." I keep it short; they don't need to know what she does.

She works hard and that's all that matters.

"And your father?"

I go to stab a tomato and miss it. "He left six months ago."

The couple shares a look that makes me want to scream. How dare they judge us. It wasn't my choice. It wasn't my brothers' choice. It was what my mother did for us.

"How many siblings do you have?" Wendy asks.

"Gentry is my twin brother and Garner is a freshman." I explain, anticipating the negative comment bound to escape their mouths.

"By the amount of cars always seen at your house, I would assume your family could rival the Duggar's." Tom clips.

I let out a tight laugh, "No those would be our friends. Aspen, Houston, Jay, AJ, Seth, and Peyton practically live at our house."

"All those boys just staying in your house?" Wendy asks, mildly shocked.

Oh God, not the old conversation of separation is best and corruption of the young female. If anything, I've corrupted them.

"Peyton's a girl, she's my best friend, and the guys have been a part of my life since kindergarten. We even shared a crib with Aspen." I try to make light of the situation, sending Beau a plea for help but he focuses on his plate.

Wendy makes a little "oh" sound.

"Have you dated anyone else?" Tom asks and I have to check his face to know he's serious.

These are not normal conversation starters.

Taking an extra-long sip of water to calm myself, I smile. "I've been on dates, but I've only ever had one boyfriend." They both stare at me expectantly and I can't lie because Beau already knows. "Jay was my boyfriend for two months in our junior year."

"Is that the black kid?" Tom asks bluntly and I pinch myself.

"He's half Mexican." I explain, hence the last name Gonzalez.

The question itself doesn't bother me, Jays even said it's just putting a name to a face, it's the tone.

He curls his lip, not even hiding his opinion. "And that's the same boy who's at your house?" I nod, it's not like I'm going to go home and screw him. "I see."

It's quiet for a long moment, nothing but the sound of metal scraping glass that echoes through my mind. A phone rings and I want to die when I discover that it's mine.

"Sorry, I'm a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding and his fiancé is sending me pictures of my dress." I fumble for my phone.

"That's so exciting!" Wendy squeals. "Show me a picture of them."

Pulling up a picture from their engagement party, I hand my phone over. Her smile drops. "Oh, my, that– that's your cousin?"

"That's Drew and his fiancé, Manny." I grin proudly. "They've been together since senior year."

"That's very nice." She hands the phone back. "How is he related to you?"

"Our moms are sisters." I try to hold my anger back. What's so hard to believe? That I'm related to someone who isn't white? "Triplets actually."

His parents share a look before returning to their dinner and Beau squeezes my hand under the table.

"How about some dessert?" Wendy stands up after twenty minutes of silence.

I sneeze in reply.

*****

After refusing peanut butter pie, because I'm allergic, we sit in the living room to watch the end of the game. As Alabama takes the title, I let out a small cheer.

"You're a fan?" Tom asks.

"Not traditionally but for this game I am." I admit.

He grunts as a familiar face fills the screen. Ashton McClain talks about how much work they have left in the season. "That boy is a disgrace to football."

"How so?" I ask, all ears for his reasoning.

"Football is a man's sport and all that boy does is run around with children videoing him. Not only is it a disgrace to the sport, but he assumes he's better because of it."

"Ashton is very proud of what he has accomplished." I snap.

"You talk like you know the boy." He snorts.

"She does." Beau offers.

"I do." I meet his stare. "And Ashton McClain is one of the kindest, sweetest, best people I know. He's worked hard for his position."

Tom looks back to the tv and just when I think the conversation is over, it shows Ashton swinging Scarlett Rhodes around in a hug before kissing her. "That's even worse."

"They're in love."

"They are a media spectacle and it's ruining college football." He snips. "Not to mention she's Mexican and probably after his money."

"That girl has been my friend since birth and we're practically family. She's not Mexican, she's Puerto Rican and she has more money at the age of 19 then any of us ever will." That's it, I can't be here anymore.

My skin is itching, and my temper is about to explode.

"Thank you both for dinner and the company but it's time I go home." I stand up and head for the door.

Beau follows me outside, "Jovie, wait!"

Slowing down, we walk side by side before stopping on my porch. "I'm sorry, Cutie. They promised they wouldn't do any of that."

I sigh and he leans in for a kiss. My hand shoves him back. "You can't kiss me?"

"Are you mad about dinner?" He questions.

Am I mad? Am I mad! "Yeah, I'm pretty fucking pissed. You left me alone with your mom, who's perfume I was allergic to by the way. You said nothing while your father interrogated me like I was a common criminal."

My voice is bound to carry but I don't care, let the whole neighborhood know how fucking pissed I am.

"I tired." He offers and he did, but it wasn't enough.

"I specifically reminded you four times this week about my allergies and thank God I double checked!"

"I forgot, Cutie, it's not that big of a deal." He tries to reason, shoving his hands in his pockets.

My eyes bulge out of my head. "I could've fucking died, Beau. What part of that do you not understand. Not just sneezed my ass off, not break out, died!"

He hugs me and I angle my face so I can't smell his breath. "I'm sorry. My dad's a tough man and I didn't want to interrupt him."

"I'm your girlfriend, you should've said something. Revealing my dating life wasn't necessary." I snap. I understand being a little fearful of your parents, but some things aren't okay.

He sighs, "No, it was wrong and I'm sorry but..."

"But what?" I demand, pulling away.

"It's a little uncomfortable that you're so close to an ex." He admits and I laugh.

"Jay means nothing, it was a relationship that ended platonically." Like I've told you a thousand times.

"I know. I'm okay, but it took my parents by surprise." He offers, focusing on the ground. "I'm sorry."

"My job isn't to please your parents." I offer.

"It's not and I'm sorry." He runs his fingers through his hair. "They do this every time I bring a girl home. It's embarrassing and rude. They assured me it would be different tonight."

"Before they found out my mom was divorced. Before they found out I'm close to an ex that isn't white and acted like I was going to screw him the second I got home. Before they learned my cousin was bi-racial. Before they trash talked people I consider close enough to be family." I recall.

"None of that stuff matters to me. I promise their opinions aren't mine." He says.

"I know, but it still bothers me." I lean against my house.

"If you want, we can spend some time together." He tries to smile. "Go for a drive."

As nice as that sounds, I just feel drained. This was exhausting. "I'm tired, Boo."

His smile falters a little, but he goes in for a kiss. My hand stops him, "You can't."

He seems primed to argue but the door opens. My entire friend group is standing there, a slice of pizza hanging from AJ's mouth.

"Sup, Cuties." Gentry winks.

"Beau, Jovie is the older sister I didn't ask for so drop the subject." Jay says, chugging a soda.

Oh my God, have some common decency to pretend you didn't hear 'till I get inside.

Beau balls his fist up, "I should get going."

Seth grabs my arm, "Aspen made sure to order a gluten free veggie pizza so you won't starve, Jo."

My stomach growls and they laugh. Looking over my shoulder, I wave to Beau but he's already walking back.

Great.

Excusing myself upstairs, I try to calm down. Tonight was the biggest shit show I've ever experienced and that's saying something since my entire life has been one. Throwing my clothes off, I grab a sweatshirt from my closet and begin wiping my makeup off.

My tears doing most of the job for me.

There's a knock at the door eventually, "Jojo."

Shit, pulling my head up I cringe at how blotchy my face is. The door opens, Aspen closing it quietly behind him, a pizza box in hand.

"How bad was it?" He questions.

"Fine." I shrug but it's useless.

Standing up, I grab the box and crawl into bed, he follows. I need comfort food right now. It's not until I'm on my second slice that I open up. "His family sucks."

Aspen chuckles, "How so?"

"His dad fat shamed me. Judged my parents for being divorced. Judged the fact that I dated Jay. Hates the fact I'm in a house full of teenage guys."

Shoving the food in my mouth, I try to calm the rising anger.

"I can go kick his ass if you want but I don't know if my dad can help me out of that." He jokes and I don't laugh.

This isn't a laughing matter.

He wraps an arm around me, "What he said was wrong, you're perfect Jojo." I snort. "I'm serious and anyone who wasn't here for that time of your life with your dad has no say."

He's right. They don't know how painful that time was for our family. We were shipped off for mom to deal with it all in her own and it was hell.

"He's a sexist, racist asshole." I mutter, thinking back to how Tom didn't help with any of dinner, dessert, or cleanup.

"That's reason enough to slash his tires."

"They have cameras." Sadly, I've seen them.

I eat some more, and he clears his throat. "What did Beau do about his father?"

"Absolutely nothing, just focused on his food." I say bitterly. "He tried one time and gave up."

"That's a real douche move."

"I know." I can't stop telling myself that. "And he forgot tell him mom I had any allergies and then demanded what the big deal is."

He clenches his jaw, "How the hell did he forget?"

"I told him four times this week alone, so I have no idea." I sniffle, there really isn't an excuse.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I caught it before I ate it. It's just the carelessness that's bugs me." There's only two other people who've ever been so thoughtless and I know exactly how they feel about me.

Sitting in silence, I let my thoughts brew.

"I'm happy you changed." Aspen offers.

Looking over at him, I raise an eyebrow. "Why?"

"You just weren't you." He offers.

He's right, I couldn't recognize myself in the mirror but still. "I thought I was flawless."

Aspen shrugs. "That's not a good thing."

No, I think that's basically perfection. "You make no sense, Aspen."

"I do, don't worry." He smirks. I'm too confused to question him as my door busts open.

"There's my betrothed." A voice calls out and before I know it, Sage Rhodes jumps onto my bed.

"Why are you here?" I demand.

He grins, making himself comfortable. "Well, we were in town for the big game and we wanted to say hi."

"Surprise." Aspen says half-heartedly and I laugh.

"I'm ready to kick some ass!" Gabe cries, running into my room.

"No way." I laugh as he hugs me.

"Yes, surprise, we're here." My cousin stands up and yanks me to my feet. "But we're limited on time and I want to meet your friends and plan the best way to burn you boyfriend's house to the ground so let's move it."

Following him downstairs and surrounding myself with my friends, I feel my soul lighten. This beats crying myself to sleep.

*****

Hi, I wrote this chapter MONTHS AGO, way before I published ITE and I'm so happy it's finally out!

I hope you liked it!