Bella's POV
I hear the honk outside my window and my heart skips.
He's here, I think.
I slip into my heels quickly, grab my bag, and head downstairs before my nerves can talk me out of it.
When I step outside, the streetlights glow softly, and Dylan's black car is parked neatly by the curb.
He steps out of the car when he sees me.
"Wow," he says, smiling. "You look…. really beautiful?"
Heat creeps into my cheeks. I'm wearing a black off-shoulder dress that hugs me just right, the slit brushing my leg when I walk. My hair falls freely down my back, and for once, I actually feel confident.
"Thank you," I say. "You look good too."
He opens the car door and offers his hand. I take it, smiling as I slide into the passenger seat.
Thirty minutes later, we pull up in front of a popular restaurant, the kind of place you only ever pass by unless someone invites you in.
Inside, he orders for us without being controlling.
"Let's order their special chicken casserole?" he asks.
"Yh, that sounds good," I say.
"And maybe cocktails?" he adds, glancing at me.
I nod. "Sure."
"That'll be all for now." He gestured to the waiter.
"Your order we'll be ready in a second, sir." The waiter bowed before leaving.
------
"So," he says, resting his arm casually on the table, "I heard here from Washington?"
"Yup, you heard right."
"Why'd move?"
I hesitate, "You really wanna know?."
"Yh, talk to me." He placed his right hands on mine, he's eyes focused on me."
"Okay, my dad's been struggling financially." I gulp down a chicken. "Things weren't really working out. We decided to move here, to the house my grandpa left us. New York is a big city, lots of people equals more customers which equals good business. Plus we don't have to pay rent anymore."
"That must've been hard," he says quietly, rubbing my hand.
"It is," I admit. "My parents work nonstop. Sometimes it feels wrong that I'm at a school like King's when they're sacrificing so much."
He nods, actually listening. "That says a lot about you."
I smile softly. "Okay… Enough about me. Tell me about you. How did you meet Ginny? I saw a pic of you two in your car." I ask, trying to change the topic.
He laughs. "We've known each other since childhood. Our parents were really close too, so we basically grew up together. Let's not talk about that…"
"Why??"
"Just ask something else."
" Ookay," I agreed even if I still wanted to know more.
"I've heard a lot about your parents"
------
As dessert, he orders something small, a shared chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream melting slowly into the center.
"This feels very rich kid of you." I tease.
"Only tonight," he grins.
Th drive home felt so good, with the breeze, the soft music and Dylan's right hands on my left, everything was perfect.
"I had a really good time," I say when he parks in front of my house.
"Me too,"
"I got you something." He reaches into the back seat and pulls out a single pink daisy.
"I saw it earlier and thought of you," he says.
I take it, surprised. "You didn't have to."
"I wanted to."
"I love it." I smile, looking down at the flower. When I look back up, he's closer. He leans in and presses a soft kiss against my cheek.
"Good night, Bella," he says.
"Good night, Dylan."
I step out of the car still smiling, waving at him as he drove off.
------
I'm half asleep when I hear footsteps outside my door.
"Bella?" my mom whispers.
"Are you asleep?" The door opens gently, few seconds later, I feel the mattress dip as she sits beside me. Her hand brushes my hair, careful, like she doesn't want to wake me.
"Mom?" I mumble, blinking my eyes open. "When did you get back?"
"Just now," she says softly. "I wanted to check on you."
I push myself up slightly, still sleepy. "How was the café?"
She smiles tiredly. "Busy…. how was your date?"
I smile without thinking. "It was good. Dylan's a real gentleman."
Her eyes move to the bedside table. "Are those flowers?"
"Yeah," I say, following her gaze. "He gave them to me."
She picks them up gently, examining the pink daisy. "That's really sweet."
"He is," I say quietly. "Really cute too."
She chuckles under her breath. "I'm glad you had a nice night."
She smooths the blanket over me and stands. "Try to get some rest. You don't want to wake up late tomorrow."
"I won't," I say. "Goodnight, Mom."
"Goodnight, sweetheart."
The door closes softly behind her.
I turn onto my side, staring at the flower for a moment before my eyes finally drift shut.
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*Mrs Allison POV*
"Darling, why aren't you asleep yet?" Josh sits up, stretching his arms.
" Nothing, just thinking about the loan we took to open my cafe and your laundry….and used the house as a collateral. This house is the only property we have left. What were we thinking?" I pulled at my hair in frustration.
"What if we aren't able to pay up in a month?"
"We would, don't let this bother you. Trust me, we would."
"Yo…."
"Nothing's going to happen. Get some rest, it's late." He pats my head before placing a kiss on it.
" Okay" I sniffed, laying back on the bed.
"Our daughter had a really great day at college, today." I smiled, turning to face him.
"I knew she would, New York is a great city. She just has to make new friends."
"Josh, we can't let her find out about the loan again.
"She'll feel really guilty about it, blame herself and go back to being miserable."
"Calm down, she won't," He lays me back on the bed. "And even if she does, we would have paid it all by then."
"Now go to bed, don't say any other thing."
I nod my head in agreement, moving closer to him. "Good night."
"Goodnight, my love" He replies, locking his arms around my waist.