Dinner Drama

Scott turned, speechless, and went downstairs to shower. He was trying to focus on taking it slow, they needed to talk, hang out. But all he could think about was her shapely legs, how good her ass looked in those shorts, eating what smelled like a delicious dinner and then taking her back to her bedroom for dessert.

“Fuck!” Scott snorted. He knew what he needed to do, but he could keep saying it, thinking it, it didn’t matter, the minute he looked at Suzie, he wanted her.

“Maybe I should go to dinner blindfolded.” Scott said out loud with a laugh. Seeing Suzie cooking had a strong impact on him. He had always loved cooking with Martha, even more at Angel’s when it would be all of them in the kitchen together, cooking as a family. In fact, it probably wasn’t a coincidence that Suzie in a pair of tight shorts and an apron got him so riled up, he’d been in the kitchen with Martha, Angel, even Lydia when they were dressed similarly when he was a hormonal kid going through puberty. He had always found that casual, at-home look far sexier than when girls were dressed up to look good at a bar. He’d never seen anyone look as good as his Aunt Angel making dinner with her daisy dukes. . .

“Nope.” Scott said out loud. He wasn’t going to follow that train of thought, he was already turned on enough and he was about to eat dinner with Suzie’s parents, and Marissa wasn’t going to get him out of answering questions tonight. Being horned up wasn’t going to help him at all.

Scott got out of the shower, grabbed a towel, opened the bathroom door, and he almost ran into Doug.

“Hey Scott.” Doug said, his face serious.

“Doug,” Scott said, understanding what was coming.

“What’s up with you and Suzie?” He asked.

“You want to do this now, or can I get dressed first?”

“Oh, you aren’t getting out of this, you can answer while you change.”

“Doug,” Scott said, feeling the weight of the words he was about to say. “I’m serious about her, I know it’s strange and really sudden, but Suzie, she’s really great. I think I. . .”

He stopped himself from saying it. His face was burning, his anxiety threatening.

“You planning on marrying my sister, Scott?”

“I don’t. . . I’d need to talk to Suzie about that first, Doug.”

Doug laughed. “Oh God Scott, you’re in love with my sister, aren’t you? You fucking dope.”

“What?” was all Scott could say.

“I know you Scott, and it’s fucking weird as hell that it’s my sister, but you’re in love with Suzie.”

“Scott?” Suzie’s voice came from the stairs.

Seriously? Scott mouthed to Doug. “Yeah I’m here.”

“Is Doug right?” She said as she came into view. Her brown eyes, freckles, the apron, her legs. . .

Scott had to choose, he could say what he felt, or lie to her, she was leaving in three months and love wasn’t a great place for that situation.

“Shit, Suz, I’m sorry, I was just messing with Scott, you know how fun it is to. . .”

Scott cut him off. “He’s right Suzie.”

“I want to hear you say it.” She said, closing the distance between them, her eyes searching his.

“It’s fucking crazy, Suzie, it hasn’t been enough time, we don’t even really know each other that well.”

“And. . .”

“And I think I’m in love with you.”

She walked straight to him, put her hands on his face, pulled him down to her and kissed his lips gently. Scott put his hands on her waist, kissed her back. When they broke their kiss she smiled at him, her big brown eyes locked on his, her hand trailing down his bare chest.

“I knew it.” She said with a wink, then turned and walked back upstairs, a little extra wiggle in her walk.

“Oh yeah, dinner’s ready boys.” She called back down the stairs, in the haughtiest voice Scott had ever heard her use.

“I’ll buy you some time if you want to run, Scott.”

Scott stood there speechless. What the hell had just happened?

Doug laughed, slapped him on the back and walked upstairs.

Dinner was delicious, and Scott got to find out the difference between bacon and things called pancetta and guanciale. It tasted like bacon to Scott, whatever they called it.

When they were done Suzie went into the kitchen and came back smiling, carrying a small tray of fancy bowls.

“Wait till you try this, Scott.” Suzie said, placing a bowl of yellow ice cream in front of him. He smelled it and his memory was triggered, shortly after they moved here, when Doug and Scott first became friends, Mrs. Carter’s mom had been in town. . .

“Is this gelato?” Scott asked, remembering.

Suzie beamed. “It’s Nonna’s recipe, I’ve never made it before today.”

“Well it tastes right.” Mr. Carter exclaimed, already eating his.

Scott tried a taste, it was smooth and lemony, refreshing, light, delicious.

“Suzie, this is ridiculously good.”

Suzie’s smile got even bigger.

“I mean it, wow.” Scott was being honest, he might not have the most refined palate, his family made simple, cheap dishes, their grocery budget had always been tight, but he could still tell Suzie had done a hell of a job making this.

Suzie came over and kissed Scott on the head. “I’m glad you like it.”

Scott’s eye caught Mrs. Carter’s face, and she didn’t look happy, she didn’t look angry either, just worried.

“How are things at the shop Scott?” Doug asked.

“They are good, I’ve always liked working for Bob, and Jenn’s actually a good boss as well.”

“What kind of prospects do you see there?” He followed up.

“I don’t know, there’s a chance I could take over the garage when Bob retires, but who knows when that would be. I’ve only been there a few days, a bit too early to plan ahead.”

“I mean, that’s not exactly great money.” Scott looked at Doug, but Doug wasn’t looking at him, Doug was looking at Suzie.

“There’s more to life than making money Doug.” Suzie snapped at him.

Scott started putting things together, Suzie this morning, talking about not going to law school, the worried look on Mrs. Carter’s face with Suzie’s sudden interest in cooking, Doug bringing up money. . .

If Suzie didn’t go to school, if she relied on him to make money, she’d have to lower her expectations, her spending, her lifestyle would change a lot. He couldn’t afford even a decent house on just his wages, Suzie would have to work, and even then. . .

He had zoned out for a second, Suzie and Doug were arguing.

“Suzie, I’m just saying, you aren’t the most money conscious person.”

“I don’t need my man to be rich Doug, there’s much more important things.”

“Yeah, until you’re shopping at Walmart for clothes.”

*SMACK*

Scott looked up to see Suzie storming toward the front door, Doug’s face red where his sister slapped him.

“Well, you earned that one Doug, I hope it was worth it.” Mr. Carter said.

Scott got up and followed Suzie outside.