Catching some sun rays in the schoolyard, I sat there listening to music, waiting for Emma to come out of the classroom. We planned to go shopping and maybe grab a quick bite for dinner. The sun felt warm on my skin, and the music was a perfect distraction as I waited.

"Hey Bethany." Frida's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Hey Frida. What's up?" I replied, turning my attention to her.

"Are you ready for tonight?" she asked, a mysterious smile on her face.

"What do you mean?" I asked, curious.

"Reina didn't tell you?" Frida's eyes widened slightly.

"No," I said, now fully focused on her, my curiosity piqued.

"Oh...well, this is awkward. You've been invited to our house for dinner," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

My mind began to race. I had always imagined having dinner with Reina's parents, but I didn't expect it to be today. I felt a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling up inside me.

"Oh, well, what time?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

"Let's shoot for 7:00," Frida replied, glancing at her watch.

"Hey, Frida?" I called as she started to leave.

"Yes?" She turned back to face me.

"What was their reaction when Reina told them about me?" I couldn't help but ask, my nerves getting the better of me.

Frida gave me a reassuring smile. "Just dress nice. I'll see you later tonight," she said, then walked away with a wave.

Frida disappeared from view, my mind was buzzing with thoughts and questions. What should I wear? What would we talk about? I felt both anxious and excited, knowing tonight was an important step. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself, focusing on the fact that Reina wanted me to meet her family.

My mind was still swirling as I started to overreact about the night ahead. I needed to find a respectable yet cute outfit. Just as I was about to spiral further, Emma approached, a comforting presence amid my chaos.

"Hey girl. Ready to go shopping?" she asked, her tone cheerful and light.

"Dude, I'm meeting Reina's parents tonight," I blurted out, my anxiety bubbling over.

"Oh really? Well, that's a good thing, right?"

"Horrible! Frida told me about it, not Reina. Do you think they're going to like me? What if I'm not good enough for them? What if they're racist? What if they don't support our relationship? What if..."

SMACK! Emma lightly slapped me across the face, snapping me back to reality.

"Girl, calm down. You'll be fine," she said, looking at me with a mixture of amusement and seriousness.

"You're right, you're right," I mumbled, taking a deep breath to steady myself.

"I'm Emma. I'm always right."

"Are you, though?" I teased.

"Do you want my help?"

"Yes, please."

Emma started listing some ideas to help me get ready for meeting Reina's parents. "Okay, first, you need a killer outfit. Something that says you're confident but not trying too hard. Maybe a nice blouse and jeans?"

I nodded, already feeling a little more prepared. "Yeah, that sounds good."

"And don't stress too much about what they'll think. Be yourself. You're Bethany Ramirez. A girl who loves basketball, beaches and Reina. They'll love you because Reina loves you," she continued, her words soothing my nerves.

"You think so?"

"Trust me. I know so," Emma said firmly. "And if they don't, well, that's their loss. Plenty of parents out there that like you." 

I chuckled, feeling my anxiety start to melt away. "Thanks Em."

"Now, I need to go find something fabulous to wear!" she exclaimed, looping her arm through mine as we headed toward the shops, my worries fading with each step.

"Don't you mean, find "me" something fabulous to wear?"

"Yeah... but, I need to look cute too. Summer's coming around silly."

***

After a quick afternoon shopping session, Emma and I rushed to my house. Emma helped me put my makeup on and made sure I was looking reasonable. I wore a black blouse and light blue jeans with my black doc martens, accessories with one large silver chain and my blue stud earrings.

"You look ready to meet some parents."

"I didn't even call Reina. What if she doesn't want me there."

"Well... It's now or never."

"I prefer never."

"Stop talking nonsense. They will love you."

"Was I supposed to bring them a gift?"

"Way ahead of you."

From one of her shopping bags, Emma pulls out a bottle of Pinot Noir and hands it to me.

"People love wine. They can have some American wine."

"Say's the people who literally live across the ocean from Italy. They had authentic wine."

"We will too... someday."

I headed out the door, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. The drive to Reina's house felt both too short and endlessly long, my mind racing with thoughts of what the evening would bring.

I pulled up to the house, I took a deep breath, clutching the bottle of wine like a lifeline. "Okay, here goes nothing," I said to myself.

Taking one last deep breath, I walked up the path to Reina's front door, the evening air cool and calming. With one last steadying breath, I knocked on the door, hoping for the best.

Frida opened the door, and I stood there with a mix of relief and tension.

"Yay. You're here. Please come in," Frida said with a welcoming smile.

I stepped inside, taking in the house. It was warm and inviting, with a cozy, lived-in feel. The walls were adorned with family photos and art, giving the space a personal touch. A large bookshelf in the living room was filled with books and trinkets from various travels, and a soft rug covered the wooden floor. The aroma of something delicious wafted from the kitchen, making my stomach rumble.

As I followed Frida further into the house, I caught sight of Reina standing in the kitchen, arranging a salad. Her eyes lit up when she saw me, and she quickly wiped her hands on a towel, coming over with a bright smile.

"Bethany! You made it," Reina said, pulling me into a quick hug.

"I did. Thanks for inviting me," I replied, feeling a little more at ease with her warm reception.

"Sorry for not telling you or texting you. I was kinda busy. I also was dealing with a mini-heart attack trying to deal with this."

"I had one too."

Reina's parents appeared from the kitchen, both wearing friendly expressions. Her mom was petite and elegant, with a kind smile that put me at ease, while her dad was taller, with a gentle but firm demeanor.

"Bethany, these are my parents. Mom, Dad, this is Bethany," Frida introduced us, her voice full of affection.

I got a cold shiver down my spine. This was the moment that I wasn't prepared for but I knew that I had to do.

"It's lovely to meet you, Bethany," her mom said, extending her hand. She also spoke in a British accent. "Please call me Mirei."

"Okay. Nice to meet you. Thank you for having me over," I replied, shaking her hand and then her dad's.

"Welcome to our home," her dad added with a warm chuckle.

"I brought a little something," I said, handing them the bottle of Pinot Noir. "I hope you like wine."

"Thank you, that's very thoughtful," her mom said, accepting the bottle graciously.

Reina gave me a reassuring nod as we made our way to the dining room. The table was beautifully set, with candles flickering gently and a delicious spread of food laid out.

"Wow, everything looks amazing," I said, genuinely impressed.

"Reina helped a lot," her mom said, smiling at her daughter.

We took our seats around the table, Reina beside me, and I felt a sense of belonging and comfort. As the conversation started, I could feel my initial nerves melting away, replaced by the warmth of the family's hospitality.

"So, Bethany," Reina's mom began, passing me a bowl of salad, "tell us a little about yourself. What are you planning to do after graduation?"

I took a deep breath, grateful for the straightforward question. "Well, I've committed to playing basketball at the University of Miami. I'm hoping to study business. I want to sell houses in the future. Kinda like my dad."

"That's wonderful," her dad said, nodding appreciatively. "We've seen you play. You're incredible. Very nice jump-shot."

"Thank you, sir," I replied. "I've been playing for as long as I can remember. It's a huge part of my life."

"And what about outside of basketball? What do you like to do?" her mom asked, genuinely interested.

"I love music and going to the beach. Whenever I'm not practicing or studying, I'm usually at the beach or listening to music," I said, feeling more relaxed as I spoke.

"That's great to hear. I'm the new general manager at the Westin hotel, just a small walk from here. You're free to come in and use our pool or use our private seating areas.," Reina's dad said. "I'm hoping Reina will come and get a job with me once she finishes school."

Reina rolled her eyes playfully. "I will. Stop bothering me about it."

Her mom chuckled and then glanced at me with a teasing smile. "Speaking of Reina, did she ever tell you about the time she tried to make a lemonade stand?"

Reina's eyes widened, and she blushed deeply. "Mom, no!"

"Ooo, this I have to hear," I said, grinning at Reina, who buried her face in her hands.

"Well," her mom continued, clearly enjoying the story. She was about seven, and she decided she wanted to earn some money. So, she set up a little table outside our apartment in Albania with a sign that said 'Lemonade.' But she didn't have any lemons, so she used orange juice instead. So technically she made an orange stand. A few of our neighbors bought some out of pity.

The table erupted in laughter, and I nudged Reina gently. "Orange juice stand, huh?"

"I was seven," Reina mumbled, still embarrassed.

"It was so funny, Bethany," Frida commented.

"What's funny was you falling off that horse when we went to Italy."

"That really hurted," Frida mentioned.

"For me, that was cinema," Reina.

I laughed at the two sisters bickering, feeling a bit more at ease in the warm, lively atmosphere. But soon, the conversation took a more serious turn.

"Bethany," Mirei, Reina's mom, began, her tone soft but firm, "you may not know, but it was quite a shock when Reina came out to us. I grew up with a very traditional mindset."

I nodded, feeling the weight of the moment. I could sense this was something important for both of them.

Mirei continued, "It's been difficult for me to reconcile my upbringing with who Reina is. We might not understand everything, and it will take us some time, but we want you to be happy. That's important to us."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. It was clear that, while they might still be coming to terms with everything, they were trying. And that effort meant the world to Reina—and to me.

"I understand," I said, meeting Mirei's gaze. "It's a big adjustment. I just want you to know that I care deeply about Reina, and I'll do my best to make sure she's happy."

Her dad nodded, his expression softening. "Thank you, Bethany."

The conversation eased back into lighter topics, and I felt a sense of acceptance. A few more silly stories were told, and laughs were spilled at the table, but while there might still be challenges ahead, I knew we had taken a big step forward.

It got late so I said my goodbyes to the family and walked outside with Reina falling right behind me. I smiled at her and brushed her shoulder.

"Thanks for doing this. It felt nice. I was thinking of a thousand things in my mind throughout the night."

"Promise me that you still love me."

"I still do?"

"Promise me."

"Okay. I promise I will love you."

"Bethany I love you."

"I love you too."

"I know you do. But we still got four more basketball games to go. And if we win we're going to Disney World."

"Four more games and Disney World. Sounds like a date."

We stood in silence for a moment with our fingers intertwined. The night was filled with a quiet romantic serenity, as we walked hand in hand. Everything felt perfect, and I was ready to face the future with Reina by my side.