Let Me In

by Parker, Ali

  “What do you mean?”

  “Meeting your dad,” I said, knowing it was blunt.

  “Oh,” she said. “No, no, no.”

  “No, no, no, what?”

  “I wouldn’t be introducing you as anything other than my friend. We are friends, right?”

  “Yes, we are.”

  “If it bothers you, that’s cool. I probably shouldn’t have asked. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. My dad asked me to have dinner with him tonight. I was hoping me and you could have dinner, and well, it just seemed like why not do both?”

  I mulled it over and decided I may as well. “Okay.”

  “Really?”

  I shrugged. “Sure, why not? It’s just dinner.”

  “Right, just dinner between friends.”

  “What should I wear? Is this an Applebee’s kind of restaurant or should I wear a suit?”

  She groaned. “I’m so sorry. You hate suits, and here I am, constantly asking you to wear a suit.”

  “Hey, it’s cool. I don’t really mind the suits. It’s just not something I could wear every damn day for twelve hours a day.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  She leaned forward and dropped another one of those chaste kisses on my cheek. “Great. I’ll see you tonight then.”

  “You’re leaving?” I asked with surprise.

  “You need to sleep,” she said, putting a hand up to my hair.

  “I suppose I should probably try and take a nap. I don’t want to look like a zombie when I meet your dad for the first time.”

  “Get some rest and I’ll see you tonight.”

  I walked her to the door and said goodbye. I watched her leave, a little disappointed that she wasn’t sticking around a while longer. I had missed being around her while I was gone. I went upstairs and caught my reflection in the mirror.

  “Shit,” I muttered. I did look like hell. No wonder she ordered me to get some sleep.

  I headed for bed. A couple hours would do me good. I lay down and pulled the light blanket up and over me. I thought about the coming dinner. I was a little worried about meeting her father. I didn’t do that kind of thing. I didn’t meet the parents.

  It was no big deal, I told myself. We would sit down, have some steak, talk about the weather, and then go home. Nothing to it. Easy-peasy.

  If it was so fucking easy, why in the hell was I so nervous?

  Chapter 22

  Evie

  I was a nervous wreck. I couldn’t believe how nervous I was. I wasn’t sure if I was nervous about seeing Xander or nervous about Xander meeting my father. It was new territory for me. He would be the first in a long, long, long time. I couldn’t even remember when I brought a man home. A boy. I think the last time I was probably sixteen and going to the Homecoming dance with an upperclassman. That had been a fucking nightmare.

  I stared down at the three dresses I had pulled from my closet and laid on my bed. I couldn’t decide what to wear. I was acting like it was my first date with Xander. It was, but it wasn’t. It wasn’t a date. It was dinner with my dad and Xander would be along for the ride. Not a date.

  I decided to hop in the shower before it got too late to do it and then I would really be freaking out. I showered, shaved, and slathered lotion from head to toe. I put on a matching bra and panty set that made me feel sexy. I was going through way too much trouble for a date that was absolutely not going to end in sex.

  I couldn’t help it. I wanted to impress Xander. I wanted him to want me. I stared at the dresses again and decided none of them were right. I went back into my closet and started the hunt all over again. I was wedged in between the blues and blacks when I heard the doorbell. My first thought was it was Xander. Then I remembered he didn’t know where I lived.

  I walked to the door with my robe on and peeked through the door. “What are you doing here?” I asked Nelle.

  “I am going in late tonight and thought I would stop by.”

  I grabbed her arm and pulled her inside. “Thank god you are here. I need help.”

  “Help with what?”

  “I don’t know what to wear!”

  “You have one of the healthiest closets I have ever seen. How can you not find something to wear?”

  I groaned and dragged her into my room. “I think there are too many choices.”

  She looked at the dresses on the bed. “I like that one,” she said, pointing to a blue and black bandage dress.

  “Really?”

  She nodded. “Absolutely. It hugs your body. It’s perfect for a date.”

  “This isn’t a date,” I reminded her. “I’m having dinner with my dad.”

  “And Xander, the guy you are banging.”

  I put a hand on my hip. “Stop. It isn’t that.”

  She shrugged. “You are acting like you are getting ready to introduce your boyfriend to your father for the first time.”

  I sighed and flopped down on the bed, pushing the dresses out of the way. “I am, aren’t I?”

  “Yes, you are. You are nervous because you like this guy and you need your dad’s approval.”

  “It would be nice if they could get along. I don’t expect them to hang out or go to football games, but I want my dad to like him. My dad is far more world-wise than I am. I have to trust his judgment and his experience.”

  She didn’t look like she bought into that line of thinking. “You are not exactly a naïve little country bumpkin. You have dealt with a lot of people and know how to handle just about anyone.”

  I sighed. She was right. “But how weird would it be if Xander and I did want to date or hang out more often and my dad hated him? I would always feel like I was lying to my dad.”

  “Evie, you are twenty-eight, not eight, not eighteen. Your dad should trust your judgement. He knows he didn’t raise an idiot. You are more than capable of making sound decisions.”

  I worried my bottom lip. “I know. He knows, but he is still the kind of man that questions everything. He has some pretty high standards. I don’t think there is ever going to be anyone that passes muster.”

  “Except for me.” She grinned. “Your dad loves me.”

  “Now, he does, but trust me. He wasn’t thrilled with the idea of you in the beginning.”

  She waved a hand. “It’s a good thing I don’t give a shit. I’ve got enough people judging me. I don’t need any more.”

  “Maybe I should cancel,” I said. I had been running through various scenarios all day about what could happen. There were very few times the little run through came out good. Most of my imagined scenarios ended with my dad tossing his napkin onto the plate and walking out. In some cases, he grabbed me by the arm and made me go with him.

  “You can’t let your dad ruin this,” she warned. “You like Xander and that’s what really matters. You said Xander is a bit of a slow burn. You need to start the burning process if you ever want your dad to like him. Let them meet and see if it’s a clash of the titans or more of one of those horribly awkward encounters where no one talks.”

  “As a friend,” I reiterated. “I like him as a friend. We are just friends having some fun.”

  “Whatever you say. Keep telling yourself and maybe you will believe it.”

  “Nelle, I can’t let myself fall for him, not now.”

  “Why not now?”

  I groaned and looked up at the ceiling. “Because I made a big deal out of wanting to be friends only and he went along with it. Hell, he jumped at the chance. I offered him no strings attached and he was thrilled. I can’t change my mind now.”

  “You are a woman. That is your prerogative. It’s kind of a known fact that women can and will change their minds frequently. It’s what we do.”

  I shook my head. “It isn’t what I do. I’m not wishy-washy. I say it and I mean it.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Dumb. You would stick to your guns just to prove a point, even though it made you miserable?”
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  “I don’t know.”

  “That is really stupid. If you have strong feelings for this guy, which I can tell you do, have another conversation with him. Talk to him about maybe casually seeing each other. Ease into the whole thing. Don’t show up at his house wearing a wedding dress and carrying a magazine about babies. Go slow and easy and see if he’s the skittish type.”

  “You make it sound like I’m approaching a rabid animal,” I quipped.

  “I have found most men resemble scared little beasts,” she answered. “A tranquilizer gun might be needed.”

  I burst into laughter. “I’m not going to tranq Xander and drag him back to my place and tell him he will be mine.”

  “I think there is a movie about that,” she mused aloud.

  She had effectively lightened the mood. I felt a little better. Not a lot but enough to be my usual rational self. “Okay, now, I need a dress.”

  “Wear that dress and your black heels. Leave your hair down and make sure you go a little darker on the eye makeup than usual.”

  I got up and picked up the dress. “Don’t leave,” I said and went into the bathroom to quickly dress. I slid the tight fabric down my body before turning left and right in the mirror. I did love the dress.

  I walked into my bedroom once again. Nelle handed me the shoes. I slipped them on and held out my arms before doing a slow turn. She gave me a thumbs-up. “Perfect. He is going to be blown away.”

  “Is it too much?” I asked, smoothing the dress over my stomach. “I think it might be too tight for a dinner with dad.”

  “It’s not too tight. I see women wear those to the office all the time. It looks good. I love that dress.”

  “Thank you. I’m so fucking nervous.”

  “I know you are,” she said, looking me directly in the eye. “Nervous is okay. Try and relax. Get through the introduction and then let the chips fall where they may. If your dad doesn’t like him, it doesn’t mean anything. You have already said your dad likes very few people. It doesn’t mean Xander is a bad guy. You have to find out whether you like him. Don’t worry about daddy just yet.”

  “I hope he does like him. I do value my dad’s opinion.”

  “I know you do, and that is perfectly understandable, but don’t let his opinion ruin something good.”

  I sat down at my vanity and started to do my makeup. “He can’t ruin something that isn’t there.”

  “Keep lying to yourself,” she teased. “I do have to get going. Good luck. Call me tomorrow and let me know how it went. Remember to breathe. Use those skills you have worked so hard to develop to smooth out any problems.”

  I smiled. “You are right. It will be fine.”

  She patted the top of my head and left. I looked in the mirror and hoped I was right. I wanted them to get along.

  I didn’t want to be late. That would make my dad crazy. I fluffed my hair and then headed out. I got to the restaurant a full fifteen minutes early. My father was already seated, his glasses sitting on the end of his nose as he scanned the menu.

  “Here you go, miss,” the nice waiter said as he pulled out my chair. “Can I get you a drink while you browse the menu?”

  “Just a diet soda for me,” I answered. “We’ll need a third seat.”

  My father lowered the menu. “Excuse me?”

  I smiled up at the waiter. “Please?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  He rushed away and returned a minute later with an additional chair and silverware wrapped in a napkin. “Can we have a clean set for our mystery guest?” my father snapped. “Maybe a fork that hasn’t been rubbed against the leg of a chair.”

  “Dad,” I scolded.

  “I’m sorry, sir,” the waiter said, looking mortified. “I’ll be right back.”

  He rushed away, giving me a chance to scowl at my father. “Dad, don’t be like that.”

  He didn’t get to answer. The waiter returned, putting the new silverware at the place setting before scurrying away. “Who did you invite? Nelle?”

  “No, it’s actually someone else. A friend. I would like you to meet him.”

  “Him?” he asked, taking off his glasses and resting them on the table. “A boyfriend?”

  “No,” I told him. “Not a boyfriend. Just a friend.”

  He looked at me with those eyes that saw too much. “A friend? Since when do you have men that are friends?”

  “I have plenty of guy friends.”

  “None that I’ve ever met,” he said, obviously not happy.

  “This guy is different. I think you might actually like him. You have some things in common.”

  He offered a small smile. “Is this friend a serious friend?”

  I giggled. “Dad, I swear he is just a friend.”

  “I don’t think you dressed up for me,” he said with a small smile.

  “Of course, I did.”

  I heard my phone vibrate in my purse. I quickly pulled it out. “He’s going to be here in a few minutes,” I said. “I’m going to go out and meet him.”

  “I guess I’ll be waiting here,” he said with a silly smile. “This should prove to be an interesting evening.”

  “Promise me you will be nice,” I said.

  “I’m always nice.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “Dad, you are rarely nice.”

  “I am a man with standards. I don’t have a high tolerance for stupidity, disrespect, or arrogance.”

  I slowly nodded. “I know, Dad. I know. I’ll be right back.”

  I got up and walked out of the dining room to wait for Xander. I was having second thoughts about bringing Xander to meet my father. Serious second thoughts. I sometimes forgot how abrasive he could be. He was very abrasive.

  I prayed everything went well. It just had to.

  Chapter 23

  Xander

  I pulled my car up to the valet and got out, handing him the keys. Evie was standing outside the restaurant, waiting for me. I walked toward her, putting one hand on her waist and dropping a kiss on her cheek. “You look stunning,” I told her.

  The dress she was wearing hugged every curve. It gave her an hourglass figure, a la Marilyn Monroe. I liked it. If only we weren’t having dinner with her father. My imagination was running wild. There was so much I could say to her that would get her juices flowing and get her into that bathroom stall with me pounding deep inside her.

  “Thank you.”

  “You are meeting me outside,” I commented. “Does that mean your dad isn’t here yet?”

  “No, he’s here. He’s always early.”

  I grimaced. “And I’m always late.”

  “You’re not late tonight. At least, not that late.”

  “Sorry,” I murmured.

  “It’s fine.”

  She didn’t move to go into the restaurant. I could sense her discomfort. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, of course. Great.”

  I touched her cheek, being careful not to press too hard and ruin the makeup she had so carefully applied. I liked the look on her. It was very dramatic. “If everything is great, why are you out here and your dad is in there?”

  She sighed and looked down at her feet. “Because I felt like I should warn you.”

  “Warn me about what?”

  “My dad. He can be, uh, off-putting sometimes. He really is a good guy, and he has a beautiful heart and soul, but he can make it difficult for people to see it.”

  I smiled. “Evie, I have dealt with men like him my entire life. I know how to fly under the radar and avoid saying things that will piss them off. I’ve told you my dad wasn’t the easiest to get along with. I survived him. I can survive your father.”

  “You’re right. I’m making a big deal out of nothing.”

  “If you are that worried about the two of us meeting, I can make up an excuse and bow out. I don’t want you uncomfortable. I agreed to come because I thought you wanted me to. If you would rather we not do this, I’m cool with it
.”

  She softly laughed. “I’m sure you are. No one wants to meet the parents.”

  “But this isn’t that,” I reminded her. “We’re not doing an official meet the parents. This is me meeting your dad in a very casual way.”

  She nodded. “You’re right.”

  “Should we go in or do you need a minute?” I questioned.

  “I’m good. Thank you for asking. Just remember, he is all bark and no bite.”

  “Is he going to dislike me on principle?”

  She gave me a look that said that was exactly it. She was so friendly and open, I couldn’t imagine her coming from a man that was the total opposite. “Maybe. He dislikes most people when he first meets them. It isn’t anything personal. It’s just the kind of man he is.”

  “I’m going to be fine,” I assured her. “If he doesn’t like me, I will survive. I’m not going to get too hung up on another person’s opinion of me. I learned how to ignore that shit a long time ago.”

  “I wish I was as thick-skinned as you,” she said. “I try and tell myself I don’t care what people think about me, but I do.”

  “You are perfect the way you are.”

  She looked up at me and smiled. “Thank you. Let’s do this.”

  I opened the door for her and let her pass in front of me, taking a minute to appreciate the fine ass that was hugged and lifted in the dress. I looked away. I wasn’t sure where her father was sitting. I didn’t want him to see me checking out his daughter’s ass the first time he met me. I wasn’t sure what she’d told him about us, but I didn’t want to do anything that would embarrass her or make her uncomfortable. We were friends that had never seen each other naked as far as I was concerned.

  Evie wound around a few tables. I could see the top of a man’s head with a menu shielding his face and assumed that was where we were headed. There was a slight hint of nerves in my belly as I stopped in front of the table.

  “Dad,” Evie said.

  The man lowered his menu and looked up at his daughter. Nerves turned to anger as I stared at Dr. Fucking Marsh. “You are fucking kidding me,” I mumbled under my breath.