It Started With A Concussion ✔️

Chapter 29

I wasn't expecting my Saturday night to be spent checking myself out in the mirror, wondering if this dress was too much.

It was simple, flowy and cute, but we were going to have dinner at the Riley's. I don't think I need to dress up like this.

I hesitate and decide to throw on a nice top and some jeans, playing it safe so I don't look like an idiot overdressed for the occasion.

Whatever this occasion might be.

The plans came out of nowhere. I was ready to text the group to make plans to go out when my mom knocked on the door and told me that we had a dinner to attend.

I throw on my shoes and pick at my clothing once more before hustling out the door. I walked through their door at seven thirty, on time and optimistic about the night.

I spot Lauren by the stairs and give her a hug. Looking at her attire I blew out a breath seeing that she had jeans on too. She walks me into the dining room and I nearly run into someone when I turn the corner.

"Oh, I'm sorry sweetheart." I look up at a man I don't recognize and feel Lauren stiffen behind me.

I nod and walk away, immediately getting a weird vibe from him. "Who is that?" I whisper to Lauren.

"Donovan. Rosalie's father." she huffs.

I acknowledge the fact but don't ignore how odd it seems. I've never met him before. I take my seat at the end of the table, next to Jackson. I also notice that he sat away from his family and as far as possible from Donovan.

Weird.

Alex, Eden, and Jasmine sat at a separate table, fit for their height against the wall. They talked amongst themselves as they already had plates of food in front of them.

We waited until Lauren got into her seat to start passing around the food. I could tell the air changed from the moment I stepped into their house. I ate my food silently as Lily tried her best to create conversation.

I tried to keep it going, but the only time anyone talked was when Ro would say something off the top of her head or when one of the Grant's asked for more food.

I felt bad that this wasn't going the way Lily had hoped, but I didn't know what else to do.

To make my concerns worse, everytime Donovan spoke, I could see the tick in Jackson's jaw and the uninterested faces of Annabelle and Lauren.

From the minute this dinner started, Jackson has barely said a word, giving short answers when asked to respond, and he hasn't smiled once.

The tension in this room was thick and it became even heavier when Donovan spoke once more. "I was thinking of taking Rosalie to the fair on Monday." Jackson's jaw ticked again. "Does that sound okay to you?" he asked Lily.

Lily was mid-response when I felt Jackson's finger loop around my pinky. I looked down at our hands, out of sight and practically under the table, so no one could see but us. With that barrier of safety I laced my fingers with his and held his hand completely.

Everytime Donovan spoke, he would squeeze my hand. There was obviously a strain on their relationship, if there's even a relationship at all between these two. I rubbed the back of his hand with my thumb subconsciously.

When Rosalie moved in her seat with joy about going to the fair with her dad, he squeezed my hand so tight, my fingers turned white and I had to reach over and place my other hand on top of his to remind him that he's about to break my hand.

I slipped my hand out of his and stretched my fingers out, stabbing at my side salad once more. "Sorry." He mumbles, turning his head to me.

I shrug it off before excusing myself to the bathroom. Washing my hands I look at myself in the mirror and try to figure out what's happening right now.