Beach Side Romance

Chapter 10: Drama, Dinner and Dad

Julian POV

Olivia was getting sleepy since we both woke up early to take this trip. “O, it’s okay. Just GPS through where your house is and you can take a nap for a bit.” I assured her as we got into the car agan. “Fine, I’ll type it in. But promise me, you’ll wake me up if you take a wrong turn okay?” She said, giving a stern look. “Yes, boss.” I said as she coded her address in her GPS and I headed for the road. We arrived around 45 minutes after leaving the cemetery. 

Traffic was bad, both for a Monday and rush hour. Olivia was fast asleep as soon as we got out of the cemetery. I think she’s been more tired than I initially assumed. I sifted through traffic as much as I could but there wasn’t much I could wiggle at. When I got through the traffic finally, I turned left into the street where Olivia lived. She lived in a cul-de-sac so it was quite peaceful. I parked inside the driveway specifically where she told me to and tapped her shoulder lightly. “Olivia, we’re here.” I said, tapping her lightly again. Her eyes fluttered and didn’t even notice she was covered in my jacket. “Oh.. okay, let’s go.” She said tying her hair in a ponytail and getting out of the car. I took the boxes out of the backseat and followed her after locking the car. 

“MOMMAAA IT’S OWI-VI-YAAAA!” A small voice announced and I saw a little girl peeping from the window when Olivia pressed the doorbell. Someone quickly unlocked the doors and we were greeted with a woman in an apron holding a little girl on one side. “Hi sweetie, you look tired. Come in, come in. You must be Julian? I’m Amber.” She said with a sweet smile. “Hi Amber, sorry we’re a bit late than expected we caught traffic.” I apologized, as she led me inside. “It’s okay, Andrea here was very excited knowing you’re in town.” She said as Olivia appeared again with two bottles of beer, “light okay with you?” She asked me, I nodded and thanked her. “Oh, this is for you guys. I didn’t know what you liked, but it’s chocolate blueberry from a bakery near my office. I also got Andrea some chocolate covered strawberries.” I said, gesturing to the box I was holding. I pulled out the box for Andrea and gave it to her. “After dinner, okay?” I told her. She nodded and got the box from my hand. “Thank youuu! Can I ask Joow-yan to carry me O-wi-vi-ya?” She asked Olivia as soon as Amber took the box of cake from me to put in the fridge. “I don’t know sweetie, don’t you like me carrying you?” She answered. “I do! But Joow-yan is tawwer (taller)!” She pouted. Honestly I didn’t mind but Olivia seemed too embarrassed. “Why don’t you walk us to the dinner table, Andrea?” Olivia suggested making her eyes light up. “Owww-kayyyy, come!” Andrea said, taking Olivia’s hand and mine. 

Olivia’s dad was sitting on the dining table when we arrived, he was working on something on his laptop and was too focused on it until Andrea caught her attention. “Dadaaa, Owi-vi-ya and Joow-yan are here!” She shouted. Their dad looked at Olivia and me and stood up. “Good Evening, Sir. Julian, Julian Collins. Thank you for inviting me over for dinner.” I greeted him, walking to meet him halfway. I shook his hand and he gave a warm smile. “Please call me Johnny. Pleasure is all mine. Come have a seat” he offered. Olivia went to the kitchen as soon as the introductions were made to help Amber with dinner. 

“So, what made you accompany my daughter to Bridgewood today?” He asked. Initially, I thought he was joking, but he was serious. “Oh, I was bound to have a meeting in town as well for the project. When Olivia mentioned that she was visiting, I scheduled my meeting the same day so we can drive back together.” There wasn’t any point telling Olivia’s father anything less than the truth. “I see. Okay. And this project you two are working on, how’s it going?” He asked. Turns out he was in the same line of profession as I was back in his day, now he just consults here and there. 

I showed him the project from my phone. I wanted to borrow Olivia’s iPad but it might look weird to her dad that I already knew her password. “This is amazing stuff, son. All you?” He asked obviously, very impressed. “Well, mostly me. I had some consultants in the initial part just to make sure everything was actually in place. Now, with the hiccup I recently experienced, Olivia stepped in.” “Stepped in where?” Olivia asked as she emerged from the kitchen again holding a plate with cheese and cold cuts. I stood up to take the plate from her which her dad watched surprised. Olivia repeated her question, and before we could answer there was a knock on the door.

Olivia POV

“I see the way he looks at you, Olivia. Don’t act stupid.” Mom scolded as she was checking on her roast beef. She was preparing a hearty spread, and  Andrea was enjoying one strawberry that mom unwillingly allowed her to eat just to get her inside the kitchen. “I don’t know what you’re talking about mom. But the reason we were late was because he took me to visit his mom earlier today..” I shared with her while cutting the pecorino into little triangles. She stopped what she was doing and looked at me dead in the eye, “he schedules his meeting the day you’re also driving back, takes you with him to visit his mother, and is comfortable to meet a family he’s never met for dinner. Olivia, if this fine man does not have any ounce of liking towards you he would not do one of the things I’ve mentioned, let alone all three,” she scoffed and continued glazing some butter for the veggies before she placed it back into the oven. “Okay, so say he does like me. We’re still in a professional working relationship. You know I wouldn’t.” I protested finally giving in to her thoughts. I finally finished plating this cheese platter and went out of the kitchen to serve it. “This conversation isn’t over, Olivia Jade,” I heard my mom say from the kitchen.

Dad and Julian were having a good conversation I assumed and Julian was showing something to my dad. “Stepped in where?” I asked, hearing the last bit of their conversation. Julian walked to me taking the platter from me which my dad quickly noticed. I asked the same question again but before anyone could answer me, someone knocked. “I’ll get that,” my dad said.

I sat down beside Julian looking at him, waiting for an answer. “Oh, we were just talking about the project, and I told him I had some help conceptualize the whole thing in the beginning, and then it only wasn’t until now again that I had help. No big thing really.” He said as he took a melon wrapped in prosciutto.

“Young man, she doesn’t want to see you and I honestly don’t think there’s a proper reason for what you did.” I heard my dad say. “Are you expecting other guests tonight?” Julian asked. “No, I think it’s just us,” I answered. Mom arrived with her platter of roast beef with Andrea trailing behind her. “Who was it, sweetie?” She asked me. I shrugged my shoulders while Andrea went to Julian who carried her to sit on his lap. As she placed the food down, she quickly got her oven mitts off and peeked. “Oh. I should go help your father.” She said walking out. “Johnny?” She asked as if she was looking for him. “Amber, can you tell this…” I could no longer focus on the conversation. I knew who the person at the door was, and stood up. “Hey, where are you going?” Julian asked with Andrea tugging my skirt “Owi-vi-ya, no. Don’t go out there. You know dada doesn’t like it.” She said pleading. “Sorry sweetie, I have to.” I said walking towards the living room. “Dad? Mom? Who’s at the door?” 

Drew wasn’t wearing the same clothes he wore earlier. He looked dressed up, like he came from a dinner. He was wearing something familiar, like what Julian had on, actually. “Olivia, please. We need to talk,” he said. Eliza was behind him. “Let’s talk here.” I answered. “Somewhere in private?” He pleaded. “If you want to talk, we’ll talk here. In front of my parents. I told you earlier today, Drew. We have nothing more to discuss. I saw what you both did, and you both denied it when I asked even before that incident. You know what could’ve hurt less? If you both just came clean with all the shenanigans you were doing behind my back.” I spitted out. 

Eliza who was not speaking let out an annoyed sigh. “Drew, let’s go. We tried more than enough to look for her and ask her to listen. But she won’t and she doesn’t want to” She protested. “Speak of the woman who called herself my best friend. It’s always been him, right? Well, now you got each other. I’m happy for you. Please leave before we call the police” I said. 

“NO!” As soon as Drew shouted, Julian was carrying Andrea out to the living room. “I’m sorry, she was crying asking me to take her to Olivia. I couldn’t do anything to stop her from crying.” He said walking towards us. Andrea was shaking and holding Julian’s shirt tightly. “Oh, hello person I saw earlier today.” He said looking Drew square in the eye. “O-owi-v-vi-ya, what is he doing here?” YOU MAKE OWIVIYA CRY! I DON’T LIKE YOU!” Andrea bawled, taking Drew out of shock. She hugged Julian tightly, and he was trying to coax her to calm down. Andrea slowly reached for mom who took her and started walking out of the room to calm her down. “Shhh it’s okay baby, Olivia’s going to be okay. Dinner in ten, okay? Both of you, I want you out of my front porch before I scream bloody murder,” She said before she was out of sight. “YOU SAID YOU WERE A CLIENT. Why are you here?” Drew pointed at Julian. “He’s a guest,” I defended putting myself in between Julian and Drew. My dad was about to lose it, and Julian had his hand on my shoulder, I think ready to pull me back in case. 

Eliza who was already overwhelmed with what she was seeing tugged Drew’s arm. “Drew. Let’s go. Before they call the cops.” “Yeah, Drew. Listen to Eliza. I stand by what I said, okay? I will not hear you out. What you did isn’t some joke. Let me move on with my life like how you moved on with yours, with her.” I pointed at Eliza who was now pissed but scared. “You’re just upset because you couldn’t give Drew what I can!” She said. “I just chose not to open my legs for a guy who would willingly ask someone else because it was available,” I snorted. She has never seen me like this, neither has Drew. “This is not over, you will listen to me even if it’s the last thing I do.” Drew made an ultimatum before walking away.

I shut the door, locked it up, and let out a sigh. “I’ll give you a minute pumpkin’ I’ll help your mom set the table.” My dad said walking away dialing on his phone, probably calling the subdivision security. Julian spun me around so that we were standing face to face, “he will not stop. I’ve never seen him this crazed.” I said, eyes wide open. “I thought so, it’s okay. We’ll take a detour tonight, in case he follows. If you want maybe we can come up with an idea with your parents in case he tries to do anything stupid tonight.” He suggested. “I’m so sorry you got caught up in this, Julian. I didn’t mean to, and s**t. It was all the wrong place, at the wrong time that f****d me over.” I said, now shaking with tears starting to threaten. “Olivia. Listen to me. Remember what I said during the first time we went to the site? In Santa Catalina?” He asked. I looked at him who was now wiping away a lone tear from my face, “I’m here for you.” He was genuinely here for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Julian POV

Drew was insane. When Olivia stood in between us, I had the urge to pull her back again, and I almost managed to do just that. Even if she managed that situation pretty well, I wanted to punch that fucker in the face. The lady was a different story, she seemed to be madly in love with Drew.

We went back to the dining table to rejoin her family. Andrea, who was now happy again, ran as soon as she saw Olivia to hug her tightly. “I hope you’re not allergic to anything I’ve put out for us tonight, Julian.” I smiled remembering what Olivia answered to me when I asked her something similar before, but I shook my head, “no known allergies, Amber. Thank you so much for this” I said. Dinner was amazing, and thankfully, the dessert didn’t disappoint.

Amber shared the story of when she and Johnny met over 10 years ago, and how she was grateful Olivia welcomed her as her mother. Johnny was discussing the plans with Olivia offering some more insight and said something about a house where Olivia just said “I’m not sure, dad. I mean mom has mentioned it but nothing that I would say I have a decision on right now.” I discussed with Amber that Drew may follow us back to the beach, and she had come up with a plan. She’ll drive with Olivia to a nearby coffee shop using the (white) R8 we drove in, and I will drive the (red) R8 and meet them there. 

“Visit us again soon, okay?” Johnny told Olivia as he was saying his goodbye. Andrea who was now sleepy in Johnny’s embrace gave Olivia and I a kiss on the cheek “please come back okay Joowyan?” She said, rubbing her eyes and dozing off. Amber and Olivia hopped in the R8 as expected, and Johnny and I were on the look-out from the porch. “We’ll give it 5-10 minutes then you can head off too.” He said. 

I sat down with him asking about his time as a full-time project manager, he shared that when Olivia wanted something similar he was nothing but proud of her and what she’s achieved. “That Drew is what held her back really. She was passing opportunities to take business trips overseas, and travel. But you, boy, you’re different.” He said. He took a good look at me. “I could easily say you’ve captured my wife, and my little one right here. But you have your eye on my Olivia.” He continued, “this night was all it took for me to take a good read at you, boy.” “If I were to be completely honest, she’s already captured me. But right now, I just want to be here for her, especially seeing what Drew has been doing since she left with my very eyes,” I admitted. “Oh, I know, and thank you for that. Olivia’s very easy to like, as you may have already experienced. But it’s her kindness that shattered her to pieces. Whatever it is you want to pursue, you have my blessing. I know that you know what line not to cross.” He said and stood up to shake my hand again. “Have a safe trip back, my boy.”