Solo (26 page)

When I reached my grandparents' drive, I called Lucas to let him know I was safe.

That night, I sent Quinton an e-mail with the two tracks attached, begging for his assistance. I explained my predicament, the layout of my solo, and where I needed the tracks to be mixed. I had faith that he wouldn't let me down.

Between school and working overtime on the hip hop portion of my routine, time flew. I couldn't believe Wednesday was already here. I gave in and let Lucas drive me to school. I was nervous about dinner with his family. I figured if I didn't have my car, I wouldn't try to find a way out.

During lunch, Casey asked how my talent show routine was coming along. "Progressing" was the only word that came to mind. She reminded me she would help if I needed pointers. I had to swallow to keep from laughing. She was so sweet—if she only knew. Well, she'd know in two weeks. Kind of scary to think about, considering I still hadn't heard from Quinton on my music.

During study hall, Lucas said, "You look nervous."

"I
am
nervous. This is another first for me. I've never met a guy's parents before. I guess that's obvious if you consider that you're my first boyfriend."

"Wait. What did you say?" He looked puzzled, or maybe it was shocked.

"I've never met a guy's parents before," I repeated.

"No, no—you've
never
had a boyfriend before."

"Yeah, I figured you knew that. What does it matter? You said you'd never had a girlfriend."

"Well, I know why
I
haven't had a girlfriend—but
you.
I don't get why you've been single." He shook his head.

I felt my cheeks flush. "Can we please change the subject?"

"Sorry," he grinned. "Well, anyway, you don't need to be nervous. My parents are really down to earth. My mom is a lot like your mom. She's very easy going."

"Yeah, I met your mom briefly."

"You did?"

"At the supermarket with my mom. They went to high school together."

"She never mentioned that. Did you meet my dad?"

"No, I just talked to him the day I showed up at your stables."

"He's very blunt, don't take anything personal. It's just the way he is."

"Thanks for the warning."

"The one you really need to be worried about—more like I need to be worried about—is Lily, my sister," he grimaced. "She's a typical thirteen year old. If she gets a chance to embarrass me, she takes it."

"Oh, this should be a fun night."

Lucas squeezed my hand. "Eliana, I'm not going to leave you alone, I promise."

I took my time saying goodbye to Casey after school. We were discussing our plans for Saturday. In light of recent events, she decided to get ready for prom with me. I didn't mind going over prom details with her, it helped prolong my dreaded dinner plans.

Lucas waited quietly while Casey babbled. He had to be bored, but he hid it well.

"Is this all right? Or should I change?" I asked when we were in his truck.

"You look fine. It's not a formal event."

"I want to make a good first impression."

"You could show up in your gym clothes and still make a good first impression."

"That's not funny."

"Sorry. I couldn't resist."

"I'm trying to put that nightmare behind me."

We pulled up to his enormous farmhouse. He came around the truck to open my door. "You don't have to be nervous; no one is home right now. My mom isn't back from picking up my sister, so we have about thirty minutes before the chaos starts."

"Oh, okay."

"Do you want a tour of the house?" he asked as we walked through the front door.

"That would be nice."

The bright formal living room with its modern furniture caught my eye. It didn't fit the typical country farmhouse cliché. The crisp ivory sectional was in perfect contrast to the dark cherry wood coffee table.

After we moved through the foyer and down the hall, we entered a gigantic kitchen. It was three or four times bigger than my grandparents'. Magnets and snapshots covered the stainless steal fridge. I analyzed every picture of Lucas. "You've always been really cute, huh—did I just say that out loud?" I turned to see Lucas leaning against the island staring at me.

"Come on. Let's finish this tour before everyone gets back." He grabbed my hand and pulled me through a doorway. It led to a huge family room with casual furniture. School pictures of Lucas and, I assumed, Lily, covered one entire wall.

"This is where I hang out if I'm not in my room." He hit a button and a large screen lowered from the ceiling. It put my grandparents' twenty-seven inch to shame. "This is where I watch Jeopardy," he joked.

I knew that Lucas and I came from totally different worlds, but this took it to a whole new level. "Wow, you have a nice home."

"I guess. We're almost done, let's go upstairs." He led the way to the second floor and down the hall, pointing out his parents' suite and Lily's room. He opened a door. "This is my room."

I walked in and looked around while he stood in the doorway. His room didn't surprise me. It was about four of mine put together and painted navy blue with white accents. One wall was covered with baseball caps.

"You have a lot of caps." I cracked a smile seeing a cowboy hat hanging among them.

"Yeah, I guess so." He still stood in the doorway.

I turned to look at the rest of his room. A king size bed was placed in the center of the wall opposite the caps. There was a computer desk set in one corner, and a sitting area with a flat screen mounted on the wall. He had a studio apartment rather than a bedroom.

"You're really spoiled," I muttered, just loud enough for him to hear.

"Look who's talking," he rebutted.

"Um, my room looks nothing like this." I turned around, not realizing he was standing directly behind me. "Oh."

He cradled my cheeks with his palms and leaned in for a spur-of-the-moment kiss. If I hadn't been afraid that one of his parents would walk in, I would have shown more excitement.

I leaned back and whispered, "Not that this isn't great, but your mom will be home soon. I don't want this to be her first impression."

He pressed his forehead against mine, still cradling my face, and let out a deep sigh. "I know. Come on, let's go downstairs."

"Lead the way."

We were on the stairs when the front door swung open.

His mom smiled. "Hi, you two. I was hoping to be home before you got here; sorry."

"That's okay; I took the time to give Eliana a tour," Lucas replied as we hit the last step. "Mom, this is Eliana."

She stuck out her hand. "I remember meeting you at the store."

"It's nice to see you again, Mrs. Andrews."

"Please call me Carrie."

"Where's Lily?" Lucas asked.

"Oh, she's still outside." Carrie raised her eyebrows. "I'm sure she'll be in shortly."

It was kind of scary to think I was nervous about meeting a thirteen year old. From my understanding, it was her life's mission to torture Lucas at any cost. Was she outside preparing her plan of attack?

Carrie headed toward the kitchen. Lucas squeezed my hand and pulled me behind him into the family room.

"Does your mom need any help with dinner?" I whispered, as we sat on the couch.

He laughed. "No, I'm sure she has it under control. You'll learn that it's
her
kitchen and we just get to eat there."

"All the same, I'd like to at least offer my help."

He sighed. "All right, come on."

We returned to the kitchen and stood beside the island. Lucas nudged my arm. I looked at his mom as she pulled bowls out of the fridge.

"Did you two need something?" she asked.

"Well, I wanted to know if you'd like any help with dinner," I replied shyly.

"That's very nice of you, dear, but I really have things under control. Dinner will be ready in an hour. You two go enjoy yourselves."

"We'll be in the family room if you change your mind." Lucas pulled me out of the kitchen.

We'd just settled on the couch when his sister walked into the room. "Hey Lucas, what's happenin'?"

I peeked over the back of the couch to see a short bean pole with bone-straight blonde hair and the same amazing aqua eyes gawking at me. She kept her eyes on me as she walked around the couch to sit in the plush chair across from us.

"We're just hanging out. Eliana, this is my sister, Lily."

"Nice to meet you, Lily." I smiled warmly.

"Yeah. Yeah. You're really his girlfriend?" she spouted.

"Lily, please don't start your crap," Lucas hissed.

She made a face at her brother. "I'm curious. How did you get a girlfriend that looks like
that?
You're such a dweeb."

Um—am I in the same room?

I looked at Lucas' flushed face. I wasn't quite sure if it was embarrassment or anger. I placed my hand on his leg, hoping it would distract him enough to stop throwing Lily a fierce 'you're dead' glare. "Yes, Lily, to answer your question, I
am
his girlfriend."

Lily's eyebrows puckered. "Why?"

Lucas turned toward me with a half grin. Her question seemed to please him. The spotlight focused on me now. Too bad I couldn't duplicate his fierce glare and redirect it toward him. I glance at his smug expression and then back to Lily. Grabbing his hand, a wide smile crossed my face, "Because he's a dweeb."

Lily busted a gut laughing, and Lucas couldn't resist joining in.

"I like her, she's hilarious," Lily snickered and walked out of the room.

A few minutes later, we could hear his mom and Lily in an uproar of laughter. His mom had a contagious laugh and I started to chuckle.

Lucas pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me. "You know, I'm never going to hear the end of that." He started nibbling on my neck.

"Stop that, your mom is in the other room."

"It's just a little nibble; calm down. You worry too much."

"You wouldn't do that if you were at my grandparents'. Would you?"

He stopped and started tickling my neck with the tip of his nose.

"Lucas, stop it, before…"

A cough from someone clearing his throat came from the doorway. My eyes rounded and my heart started racing. Lucas' dad stood in the entrance looking stern.

"Dinner will be ready in ten minutes." He stared at Lucas.

"All right. Dad, this is Eliana."

"Nice to meet you, Sir."

He looked at me. "Likewise—remember Lucas, ten minutes."

I smacked Lucas' arm when his dad was out of sight. He tried to hold back a laugh.

"This is
so
not funny. Your dad thinks we were making out," I snapped.

"I'm sure he didn't think that. We wouldn't have been sitting up if we were making out, and we wouldn't be in the family room."

"Oh, so he knows your usual make-out routine," I glared.

"Come on, Eliana, Do you really want to talk about this right now?"

"No, I really don't want to know." I stared at the ground. I didn't want him to know he'd hit a nerve.

He leaned over and whispered, "Don't worry; you're the first girl I've ever brought home to meet my parents."

"Let's go, I don't want to hold up dinner."

His family was already seated when we entered the dining room. We sat next to each other and across from Carrie and Lily. His dad sat at the head of the table. It was all so 'Leave it to Beaver' it felt weird. My parents and I usually made our plates in the kitchen and enjoyed dinner sprawled on the couch or chairs in front of the TV.

"Eliana, I hope you like chicken," Carrie said.

"I do. It smells really good."

"Thank you."

Lily kept staring at me, making me uncomfortable. I wanted to get dinner over with.

"Lucas, did you invite Eliana and her family to our Memorial Day barbeque?" Carrie asked.

"Not yet. Eliana has been busy working on a dance routine for the talent show." He looked at me. "I'm throwing her one thing at a time."

"Please think about it. We'd love to have your family over," Carrie said.

I looked at her and smiled. His dad threw her a glare. I glanced at Lucas to see if he'd seen it, but he was preoccupied with his chicken. I just knew his dad thought we were making out. He probably thought I wasn't good enough for his son.

"I'll have to talk to my mom to see if she already has plans. If she doesn't, I'm sure we can make it."

Lucas placed his hand on my leg and I instinctively stiffened. He noticed and removed his hand. I prayed no one else saw it. If they did, they didn't say anything.

"This is great chicken," I said.

"Oh, thank you, it's an old family recipe." Carrie looked pleased.