about, Andie? Who is this young man?” She looked alarmed, and quickly began scanning the restaurant for a waiter who could throw this ruffian out.
“Mom, he’s kidding, we’re not getting married. And nobody needs a goat,” I hissed at him, nudging him under the table. “We’ve been out a couple of times, that’s all. But yes, this is Javier, and he’s joining us for dinner.”
My dad was just glad to finally have another guy at the table with us, even if my mom did stare icily at Javier, using her best attempt at manners but getting flustered when she couldn’t understand him. Dad even managed to get Javier to talk a little bit about sports and the outdoors, gushing about a hiking trip he got to take in South America last year with some of his work buddies when Javier mentioned Colombia.
And just like he did with a huge portion of my sorority sisters, Javier quickly won over my parents. He was the right mix of outgoing conversation partner, humorous story teller, and respectful-but-attentive boyfriend who didn’t look all grabby and possessive. Mom warmed up to him after taking in his good looks and well-groomed appearance—and after he answered some standard questions and really nosy inquiries about his mom’s brother, the ambassador—and Dad was blown away by the way Javier actually stood up when my mom and I went to the ladies’ room, just because that’s what guys are supposed to do.
Overall, the dinner was great, even after the polite mini-argument between Javier and my dad over the check, both insisting that he be the one to treat us to dinner. My dad finally won out, but only because Javier respected his elders more than he respected his customs and his insane need to help everyone he came across.
As we left the restaurant and walked to my parents’ car, Javier kept my hand wrapped in his despite the raised eyebrows and unsure smirk from my mother. He gave me a very polite kiss on the lips, shook my father’s hand, and pulled my mother in for an incredibly unexpected hug. He waved to us and walked away, causing my father to ask, “Princess, don’t you think we should offer him a ride?”
I didn’t even get a chance to respond before a mid-sized black limo turned the corner from a side street next to the restaurant and pulled up next to Javier. A youngish-looking olive-skinned driver whose black uniform barely contained his huge frame jumped out of the front seat to open the door. My mouth fell open as Javier ducked inside the car and was whisked away. Guess that kind of explains his walking everywhere. It’s just so hard to park your limo on campus.
My mother, however, instantly eagle-eyed the shiny town car and pulled me closer to her to ask in a sweet voice, “What did you say his name was again?”
My phone rang in my purse and I fumbled to answer it, confused since everyone in town who knew me was still within two hundred yards of my body. “Hello?”
“Hello, princess,” Javier said, trying to use my father’s American accent. The hilarious result of his attempt just made me giggle before he morphed back into himself. “I forgot my manners. Would your parents like dessert at my home? Or, if they are tired from the travel, I will have dessert sent to their hotel.”
“I’ll ask them. By the way, who was that guy driving that car?” I asked, somehow knowing full well what he would say.
“That was Diego, my driver and bodyguard. He takes me everywhere.”
“He’s your bodyguard? Are you serious?” I asked. My mother perked her head up and stared at me. She was so predictable. All I really had to say was, “401K? Stock options? A house in the Hamptons?” and she would have
“Mom, he’s kidding, we’re not getting married. And nobody needs a goat,” I hissed at him, nudging him under the table. “We’ve been out a couple of times, that’s all. But yes, this is Javier, and he’s joining us for dinner.”
My dad was just glad to finally have another guy at the table with us, even if my mom did stare icily at Javier, using her best attempt at manners but getting flustered when she couldn’t understand him. Dad even managed to get Javier to talk a little bit about sports and the outdoors, gushing about a hiking trip he got to take in South America last year with some of his work buddies when Javier mentioned Colombia.
And just like he did with a huge portion of my sorority sisters, Javier quickly won over my parents. He was the right mix of outgoing conversation partner, humorous story teller, and respectful-but-attentive boyfriend who didn’t look all grabby and possessive. Mom warmed up to him after taking in his good looks and well-groomed appearance—and after he answered some standard questions and really nosy inquiries about his mom’s brother, the ambassador—and Dad was blown away by the way Javier actually stood up when my mom and I went to the ladies’ room, just because that’s what guys are supposed to do.
Overall, the dinner was great, even after the polite mini-argument between Javier and my dad over the check, both insisting that he be the one to treat us to dinner. My dad finally won out, but only because Javier respected his elders more than he respected his customs and his insane need to help everyone he came across.
As we left the restaurant and walked to my parents’ car, Javier kept my hand wrapped in his despite the raised eyebrows and unsure smirk from my mother. He gave me a very polite kiss on the lips, shook my father’s hand, and pulled my mother in for an incredibly unexpected hug. He waved to us and walked away, causing my father to ask, “Princess, don’t you think we should offer him a ride?”
I didn’t even get a chance to respond before a mid-sized black limo turned the corner from a side street next to the restaurant and pulled up next to Javier. A youngish-looking olive-skinned driver whose black uniform barely contained his huge frame jumped out of the front seat to open the door. My mouth fell open as Javier ducked inside the car and was whisked away. Guess that kind of explains his walking everywhere. It’s just so hard to park your limo on campus.
My mother, however, instantly eagle-eyed the shiny town car and pulled me closer to her to ask in a sweet voice, “What did you say his name was again?”
My phone rang in my purse and I fumbled to answer it, confused since everyone in town who knew me was still within two hundred yards of my body. “Hello?”
“Hello, princess,” Javier said, trying to use my father’s American accent. The hilarious result of his attempt just made me giggle before he morphed back into himself. “I forgot my manners. Would your parents like dessert at my home? Or, if they are tired from the travel, I will have dessert sent to their hotel.”
“I’ll ask them. By the way, who was that guy driving that car?” I asked, somehow knowing full well what he would say.
“That was Diego, my driver and bodyguard. He takes me everywhere.”
“He’s your bodyguard? Are you serious?” I asked. My mother perked her head up and stared at me. She was so predictable. All I really had to say was, “401K? Stock options? A house in the Hamptons?” and she would have
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