Thirty Six

"Baby, relax. The stress isn't good for you."

I huffed, ceasing my rustling long enough to look at him. Christ. He was running his fingers through his dark and towel-dried hair, one hand still gripping the white cotton around his hips. He noticed the hot trail of my eyes and grinned. I narrowed into a glare, putting my hands on my hips.

"Don't look at me like that. We don't have time for me to gawk right now. I need to find you some clothes." I resumed my search. "Do you think a t-shirt and jeans is too casual? Maybe we should put you in a dress shirt. But then you would be more dressed up than my dad and it might be awkward."

"Jennifer." Joel's warm body pressed gently into my back, his hands delicately prying mine away from the drawer. "Let me find my own clothes. Go start the car and I'll be down in two minutes."

I wanted to protest, but we really were running out of time and I knew he was right. My anxiety was through the roof. I needed to breathe. I nodded, relaxing my shoulders.

"Okay. Okay, you're right. The Camaro or Equinox?" He turned me, pressing his lips to mine. He tasted like toothpaste and Joel, a surefire way to relax my frayed nerves. I hummed, placing my hands against his hot abdomen. His thumbs trailed up and down my shoulders, and he leaned back with a grin.

"Which do you think would make me look the best to Rick?" I snorted.

"The Camaro. Hundred percent." He winked, turning me towards the door and patting my ass.

"Two minutes." He repeated.

Okay. Two minutes.

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We pulled up to the restaurant five minutes early. Joel was gorgeous, as usual, wearing dark wash jeans and a t-shirt that really brought out the blue of his eyes. He looked every bit the god I saw him as when we first met. I hoped my parents liked him as much as I did. He opened the console, sliding his wallet into his back pocket before turning to face me again.

"You good?"

"Yea. You? Do you need gum?" He smiled at my sentiment, taking my hand in his.

"Nah, I'm okay. I'd have to get rid of it to eat, anyway." Oh, right. I had forgotten about that aspect since obsessing over the social bits. Joel had chosen Olive Garden after I'd voiced my complaints about not having one in Rolla, and I was eager to have their lasagna in my tummy. I wasn't sure if it was a pregnancy craving or just a normal craving, but it was potent.

Ping!

I pulled my phone from my purse to see a message from my mom.

"*Hey honey. We're here.*" My eyes shot up, and I turned to see my parents walking towards the front where Joel and I were parked. My mom was in jeans and an old Rolla Bulldogs t-shirt, and my dad was in his usual white t-shirt, Levi's, and boots. I tugged on the door, stepping out with a huge smile. God, I missed them. It had been months since I'd seen them since I didn't go home for the summer this year.

My dad's eyes widened, flitting between me and the car I had stepped out of in surprise, but my mom didn't slow down. She rushed to me with open arms and just as big of a smile.

"My baby girl!" She exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. A sharp pain shot through my breasts and I winced. "Ope, sorry, too hard?" She leaned back, smiling her apologies. I heard the driver side door open and everyone's focus shifted to Joel. My mom dropped me immediately, stepping around the car to meet Joel who was heading my way. He grunted as she caught him in a hug of his own.

"Honey." My dad complained, clearly empathizing with Joel who looked comedically confused. I never told him how affectionate my mom was. Then again, I'd never seen her tackle my boyfriends like that. She ignored my dad, but released him anyway.

"It's so good to finally meet you! My goodness, you're even more handsome in person."

"Mom."

"Oops, sorry. Didn't mean to embarrass you, honey." I looked back at my dad, who looked to be scanning Joel with a scrutinizing gaze, obviously waiting for my mom to be done with him. I stepped forward to hug him, breaking him from his target.

"Hey, darlin'."

"Hey, Dad. It's good to see you." I squeezed him, making sure not to press my tender chest to his. I released him after a second, pulling away to lead him to Joel for an introduction. "Mom, Dad, this is Joel."

"Hello." He stepped towards my dad, offering his hand for a shake. My dad gripped his hand firmly, eyeing the ink on his arm closely.

"That's quite the car you have. It's a 2020. Graduation present?" I could tell by the tone that he was digging for information, and didn't actually believe it was a gift. Joel shook his head, pulling his hand back.

"No, sir. I bought her myself." My mom's brows shot up. Shit.

"As a student?"

"That's a fifty thousand dollar car." My dad added. Shit, shit, shit!

"I'm not a student." Joel stated simply, confidently. "I'm a professor at MU." Fuck. Okay, that was more forward than expected.

My parents eyes shot to me, demanding further explanation. I cleared the lump from my throat.

"Um, yea. Joel is, um, an art professor."

"Not yours, though. Right?" My mom added in a horrified whisper. My silence answered for her, and her eyes went wide. "Jennifer."

"It's not like it sounds. I met Joel before we knew about me being in his class. So it's not anything shady, I promise!" I assured them, looking to Joel for support. He smiled at me, taking my hand in his.

"And the school is okay with… this?" My dad gruffed, gesturing towards our hands. Joel shifted, his smile fading as he turned to face my dad.

"I am working with my department head at the moment on appealing to the board. There are some special allowances regarding relationships that begin prior to classes." What? He was working with the department? Since when? God, did he tell them? What did they say? Joel glanced at me briefly, with a 'we'll talk later' look. There was a brief pause as the news sank in before my mother broke the silence.

"Okay. Well, this is certainly unexpected, but… as long as Jennifer is happy, we are happy for you. Right, Rick?" She crossed to my dad, patting him on the arm. He clenched his jaw.

"Dad, I'm happy. Really, really happy." I emphasized again, meeting his soft brown eyes with a plea for acceptance. He relaxed his shoulders.

"Yea, okay, darlin'. You're a grown woman. You can make your decisions. I just hope you know what you're doing." My smile grew, and I nodded.

"I do. Thank you, dad." I hadn't expected such an accepting response from him, but it was a huge relief. Still, I knew that it was only the first hurdle. The next would come when I led them back to Joel's house instead of my old apartment.

"Well, let's go get some food in us. What do ya say, Joel?" My mom chirped, clearly as ecstatic by my dad's words as I was.

"I think that sounds great, ma'am."

"Oh, please. Call me mom." She insisted, tugging him by the arm towards the door. He gave me an amused smile. I shrugged.

"Jan, you're scaring the poor boy." My dad groaned, making her giggle.

"I'm just welcoming him to the family, honey."

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"Mm…" I moaned, the cheesy Italian goodness melting on my tongue, satisfying my soul. Joel's hand landed on my leg, his low chuckle making me flush in embarrassment.

"That good?" I nodded, forcing the hot pasta down my throat so I could speak.

"I've been craving it all week." I admitted. He raised his brows.

"Really? Lasagna?" He stabbed his fork into his Fettuccine, twirling it. I shrugged bashfully.

"I'm surprised, honey. You didn't get your Dr. Pepper. You always get it when we eat out. Are you tight on money?" My mom's eyes flitted to her purse, ready to throw down some bills for me. I laughed, secretly cursing her for being so damn observant.

"No, mom. I'm doing fine."

"Oh. Okay, I see. Well, your dad and I brought you a little gift for your senior year, but we can wait til we get back to your apartment to give it to you." She resumed eating her salad, not noticing the look of panic I flashed Joel. He squeezed my leg, chewing his food and nodding for me to tell them. I was hoping he would do it for me, but I guess hearing it from me might be easier on them.

"Actually, mom, you'll be staying with Joel and I tonight. At his house." My dad's fork clattered to his plate, making me flinch.

"You're... living with Joel?" My mom placed her hand on my dad's, clearly trying to calm him. Joel wiped his mouth with the cloth napkin, placing it back on his lap.

"Yes. I moved in this week."

"Why the hell?"

"Rick."

"No, Janet, this is bullshit. She moved in with a grown ass man a month after meeting him. This isn't something Jen would do. She's a smart girl and I know we raised her right. So I want to know why she's being so stupid." Mom gasped, and I felt Joel tense on my leg. He had never said anything rude about me my whole life, and I had to fight my tears from forming at his hostility.

"I love your daughter, sir. I asked her to move in with me."

"Bullshit. If you loved her, you would want what's best for her, not just what'll satisfy your horny ass." No. No, no, no! This was all going to hell! I covered my mouth. Joel pulled his hand away, clenching them atop the table.

"I am doing what's best for her. I'm taking care of her."

"She can take care of herself."

"Well, it's not just her anymore!" Joel barked.

Oh my God.

Silence ensued and I wished the floor would swallow me. I was shaking, my stomach turning at the tension.

"You're pregnant?" My mom finally whispered, her eyes guarded in concern. I looked to Joel for help. I couldn't talk. I could only cry. His eyes softened and he brought his hand back to my leg, rubbing it in comfort.

"Yes." He took a deep breath before facing my dad again. "And we couldn't be happier with it." My dad's chest was rising and falling quickly, his gaze storming with rage, but Joel didn't stand down. He had his shoulders squared and his eyes focused on his. But just when I thought my dad would blow up, he turned back to me, eyes cold.

"Fuck this. I'm not watching my daughter ruin her life." He stood, pulling a few twenties from his wallet and tossing them on the table, before heading for the front door. My chest tightened. I couldn't breathe. I knew he'd be upset, but he was so damn hurtful. He didn't understand our love, our relationship. Time didn't matter with us. I loved him.

I looked to my mom, who looked like a complete wreck. Her hands were trembling and she was looking between me sobbing and the door my dad left through, silently picking a side. I was surprised when she stood, crossing to me first with a hug.

"Shh, it's going to be okay, honey. Let me talk to him. He's just upset right now. I'm sure once he calms down, he'll apologize for this." But she didn't sound convinced. I knew my dad. He was stubborn as hell, just like me. He could hold a grudge for years. The idea of years without my dad made me cry harder, and my mom rocked me. "I love you, baby girl. Stay calm, okay? It'll be okay. I'll call you." She pressed her lips to my forehead before releasing me and giving Joel a quick hug on the way out. As soon as she was out of sight, Joel stood, scooting my chair out so he could kneel in front of me.

"Hey, baby." He said softly, encasing my hands in his, prompting me to look at him. I sniffed, meeting his eyes through a hazy barrier. "It's done. It's all out. The hardest part is over."

"But, my dad."

"I know, baby. He's pissed, but he knows. He'll come around, I promise."

"You don't know that."

"I do. Because he loves you. He won't abandon you just because you got pregnant." He smiled, pulling his hand to my stomach. "Besides, he'll want to meet his grandchild." A little bit of the haze cleared, and I let out a halfhearted laugh.

"Okay."

"Okay? I love you."

"I love you, too. I'm sorry." I pressed my lips to his.

"Don't be. You have nothing to be sorry for, Jen. Finish your food, and we can head home. I'll draw you a bath and you can relax. Does that sound okay?" I turned to my food, but my stomach was still queasy.

"I don't think I can eat anymore." He furrowed his brow.

"Okay. Well, I'll get you a box for it. You can eat when you get hungry again, but you do need to eat. Two bites isn't enough." He was right, but my heart was hurting too much to think about food. I didn't know how long it would take for me to feel up to it again, but I knew I needed to get home. There were eyes on us all around the restaurant and I didn't feel like ruining everyone else's lunch.

He paid with his card, tucking away my dad's money to return to him later. Once the waiter returned with my boxed food, we left. The drive was short, which I was thankful for, because I didn't feel like stewing over what happened, and my thoughts wouldn't leave me the fuck alone.

Was he right? Was I being stupid? I understood why he thought that. It was all too abrupt. And even though I knew the truth, he probably thought we made our decisions because of the pregnancy. He didn't know that I would be living with Joel even if I wasn't pregnant.

"Do you regret it?" Joel asked as he pulled in beside my car.

"What?"

"The baby. Moving in with me. Do you think he was right?" I took a deep breath, unclipping my seatbelt.

"No. I don't regret a single thing." I saw the corner of his lips raise.

"Me either. Now, let's get you two bathed and blanketed." He opened the door, walking around to my side to open mine.

"Not yet. First," I stood on my toes, pressing my lips to his neck and inhaling the sweet scent of his cologne. "You need to get me naked."