"Where is he? He knew about dinner tonight. He told me he would be here at six!" Hayley stated while checking her watch for the fourth time which now read 6:48.
"I'm sure he's on his way honey" Collette answered trying to calm her daughter's nerves. "He probably just got stuck in traffic. You know how Orlando is."
Hayley nodded, "Yeah, but he still could call.
"Relax, I'm sure he'll be here soon." Collette reasoned, as the two women finished with their last minute getting ready touches.
As Hayley was slipping her shoes on the phone rang, "Hello?" She answered, quickly snatching it up.
"Hun, it's me. Look I'm sorry I didn't call sooner, but I got tied up unexpectedly. I'm really busy here. But I'll meet you at the restaurant in like 30 minutes. I promise." Jesse's voice greeted her rapidly.
Hayley sighed. He'd been doing this more and more every time they'd had plans.
"Ok." She replied, her disappointment was easily detected in her voice, but she knew there was nothing she could do.
"I gotta go now. See you at dinner. Luv ya, bye." He responded, then quickly hanging up and leaving Hayley with a dial tone.
"What happened?" Collette asked, seeing the disappointment and frustration in her daughters face.
"Um...nothing. He's going to meet us there." She answered reaching for her keys, and trying to mask her emotions. "Are you ready?"
Collette nodded, biting her lip to keep from saying anything. She knew how here daughter could get. It was best just to keep quiet until Hayley wanted to talk.
"Ok, let's go." The two headed out the door. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I can't wait to see her again. It's been too long since we've had a chance to sit and actually talk!" Collette smiled opening the door to the restaurant, The Olive Garden. Hayley smiled back and followed her mother into the building.
The two greeted the hostess, and were soon escorted to the table where they were met by a short woman who had red hair, blue eyes, and a smile spread across her face.
"Denise!" Collette exclaimed hugging the woman enthusiastically.
"Collette! Wow how have you been?" Denise asked smiling, and returning the long awaited hug.
"Good. You remember my daughter Hayley." Collette said, pulling back and motioning towards where Hayley stood.
"Of course, how could I forget! Lordy you've grown up!" She responded smiling and reaching out her hand.
Hayley let out a small laugh and accepted the woman's hand, giving it a firm shake.
"My son should be here any minute." Denise stated, just as a tall, dark man appeared from behind them.
"Oh here he is now. Right on time. This is Alex. Alex this is Collette Monroe. You remember her, don't you?" She introduced, motioning with her hand, to an attractive tall young man; who stood at about 5'9, with fiery red hair that stood up wildly, and a perfectly sculpted goatee, various tattoos stuck out all over his arms.
"Hello Alex" Collette greeted him. "My you've changed." She was a bit taken back by all the tattoos and wild hair.
"Hello Mrs. Monroe, it's nice to see you again." AJ smiled, chuckling at her remark and shaking her hand, before turning his full and complete attention to Hayley.
He smiled at her, shyly Hayley smiled back. She was also caught off guard by the hair and tattoos, not to mention the fact that he was famous.
"Oh, and this is my daughter Hayley." Collette stated, noticing he was staring at her. His eyes seemed to be raking up and down Hayley's body, something Collette didn't much appreciate.
"It's nice to meet you." Hayley said, still smiling. He reached out and took a hold of her hand. It was soft, warm, and small compared to his own.
"The pleasure is mine." He smiled taking off his blue sunglasses to reveal amazing round chocolate brown eyes. "Easy Romeo. Her boyfriend Jesse should be here in a little bit." Collette smiled, uncomfortably, half-jokingly. She didn't fully approve of his appearance.
Half way into the dinner a man who stood at about 5'8 with honey brown hair and ocean blue eyes approached the table in a rushed manner.
"Hey babe." He greeted Hayley, leaning over her chair and pecking her cheek before quickly sitting down.
"Why hello Jesse. This is Denise and Alex." Collette greeted him, introducing the McLean's.
"Umm...It's actually AJ." AJ politely corrected her. He'd been telling her that all throughout dinner, but she still continued to refer to him as Alex. Hayley though called him AJ, and he was quickly liking the way it was sounding, rolling off her tongue.
"Uh...Hi." Jesse said quickly, he reached across the table and shook both their hands. It was then that he noticed AJ, and the way he kept looking over at Hayley, and he put a protective arm around her, to warn the guy about already taken property.
"Are you hungry?" Hayley asked, she was slightly embarrassed that he'd been so late.
"Starved." He answered, picking up the menu that had been left for him.
"Oh, Jesse is a new intern for a law firm. He beat out hundreds of applicants!" Collette stated trying to break the new tension that had risen, and promote his character a bit.
"Oh really? What firm?" Denise asked trying to sound interested, she could tell Collette was proud of that accomplishment.
"Only the best one here in Orlando." Jesse laughed haughtily. "It's the Myer & Gene Law Firm and Associates. The best one in Orlando." He repeated. "I guess that says a lot about me." He added, scanning the options in the menu.
Hayley bowed her head slightly, embarrassed at Jesse's last statement, and turned her head. Her eyes met AJ's, and he rolled them and then winked at her.
This caused her to half smile, and Denise, who had caught the exchange between the two plastered a smile across her own face.Just then Jesse's cell phone rang, "Jesse Gordon here.........Uh huh.............No sir...........I'll be right there." He said before hanging up.
"I gotta go." He announced depositing his phone back into his suit jacket pocket. He stood up and leaned over giving Hayley another quick peck on the cheek.
"You just got here." She argued, sounding a bit insulted.
"I know but the firm needs me. They said it's important." He said adjusting his jacket. "I don't know when I'll be home tonight. So don't wait up for me. Luv ya." With that he pushed in his chair and was off and running among the many table and out the door.
"It's always important." Hayley muttered more to herself. She let her eyes meet AJ's again, and he gave her a sympathetic smile, before launching into a Backstreet Boys tour story that was sure to keep them rolling in their seats.
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