
Lᴀsᴛ Sᴜᴘᴘᴇʀ (2)

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Liz, Conrad, and Dakota decided they'd ride together to the restaurant the moms booked for lunch. Dakota sat in the back with Liz in the passenger's seat and Conrad driving.
Dakota huffs out as he sits up, "So, Conrad."
Liz sighs as she closes her eyes and leans her head on the door. Conrad looks in the rearview mirror at Dakota, "Yeah?"
"You got something you wanna tell me?"
Conrad looks over at Liz who turns to him with a shake of her head, "He knows."
"Oh." He mutters
"Mm." Dakota says, "See, proposing is one thing, right? Pregnancy is a lot bigger."
"It wasn't on purpose."
"That somehow doesn't make it better."
"Dakota, please." Liz says
"Okay, alright. Enough of the third degree." Dakota says holding his hands up, "All jokes aside, if you guys are happy, then I am."
"Thanks, man."
"My question is, how the hell are you going to tell Mom and Dad?" He says turning to Liz
"I can't." She chuckles humorlessly, "Dad showing up was not supposed to happen. Mom was one thing, but there's no way in hell I can tell Dad with everyone there. No chance."
"Then we'll wait." Conrad says
"The problem with that is our dad is gonna flip either way." Dakota says with a grimace, "I say just rip the bandaid off."
Liz whips around in her seat, "Dakota."
"What?"
"No. I'm not doing that." She says turning back around in her seat
"I'm just saying. It's better to just get it out of the way rather than just waiting for the inevitable." He says sitting back in his seat, "You obviously have more important things to worry about than Dad flipping out about a life that isn't his."
Liz lets out a shaky sigh as he looks out the window. She feels Conrad's hand grab her hand. She flips her own and intertwines them.
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The teens waited around the restaurant as Laurel and Megan tried to straighten out a mix up with the reservations. The boys stood together while Belly and Liz sat at a bench. Belly turned to Liz, "Are you okay?" Liz turns to her, "You just seem a little distant."
"No, yeah. I'm fine." Liz nods, "I just didn't expect my dad to be here."
"Oh, yeah." Belly says smiling sympathetically
"I thought your dad was supposed to come."
"He was. He had some last minute thing with work." She explains waving her hands
"Oh. That sucks."
"Yeah." Belly sighs, "I really wanted him to be here."
Liz smiles as Megan walks over, "Okay, girls. Table's ready."
•••
"It's a great table, huh?" Adam asks
"It's real nice." Ben nods
"Yeah, it's really nice." Laurel says
"And then a little 50 spot for the guy gets us the best table."
"Thank you." Megan says
Jeremiah frowns at Steven, "No, zero clue."
"It's like the best commercial ever."
Conrad looks over at Liz. The girl feels his eyes and looks over at him. He raises his brows and she immediately nods with a smile. He nods back as Laurel speaks up, "Anyway, lunch is on me. No arguments, Adam."
"Laurel." Megan complains
"In that case, I'm gonna get the surf and turf." Adam says to the waiter, "Thank you."
Liz looks down at the menu and her eyes widen at the prices. Surf and Turf was one of the most expensive things on the menu. She looks over to Conrad who tenses.
"Oh, uh, same. Thank you." Jeremiah says
"Um... I'll have the tomato bisque, please." Belly says
"For your entrée?" Laurel asks
"Yeah, yeah, I'm not that hungry."
"I'd love the salmon." Conrad smiles lightly at the waiter who nods before turning to Liz.
The girl folds her menu and hands it to him, "I'll have the same."
"Of course."
"Thank you." The two say before the waiter moves on. Liz lets out a deep sigh before she sips from her water.
"Can we get a seafood tower, please?" Adam chuckles as he watches Belly eat her crackers, "Can we get that right away? I won't let Belly starve while we wait for the mains."
"Thanks, Mr. Fisher." Belly smiles politely
"Oh, come on. We're all adults here. Belly, no more Mr. Fisher, all right? Call me Adam."
"I'll try, Adam." Belly chuckles
"So, why don't you two ever leave California, Fisher?" Steven asks
Conrad shrugs, "Well, we're here now, aren't we?"
"Well, yeah, I mean, for the first time in, what, like two years?"
"Something like that."
Liz shrugs, "It just seems like there's always something coming up. If it's not one thing, it's another."
Jeremiah chuckles as Conrad sips from his drink, "Oh, Conrad's getting wasted. Now it's a party."
Conrad smiles playfully as Laurel smiles, "Well, before everyone gets sloppy... Adam, Megan, and I wanted to make a little toast."
"Yes." Adam says cutting her off, "Let me kick it off by saying thank you, Laurel, for that gorgeous event. I know parties was more Suz's forte than yours, but that was a beautiful day to celebrate a beautiful woman."
"Thanks." Laurel mutters
"And thank you all for coming. I'm glad we could honor Susannah together. To Suz."
"To Beck." Megan and Laurel say raising their glasses
"To Mom."
"To Mom."
"To Susannah." Liz and Belly say
Dakota and Steven follow, "To Susannah."
"And we wanted to say a little something to each of you." Laurel says before turning to Steven, "Steven, honey, you had quite the scare recently."
"Oh, my God, woman, I am fine." He says as the teens laugh
"I know, but it was a reminder that, despite your many impressive achievements... and thank you for saving me that last semester of tuition at Princeton... you will always be my baby. To Steven."
"That was so sweet." Dakota jokes raising his glass
"Shut up, bro." Steven says
"And for Dakota." Megan starts
"Oh, no." He whines making the others laugh
"You are an amazing kid. You're a hard worker and are so smart. So much smarter than you give yourself credit for." She says, "You deserve all the success you've gotten with your job and I love you so much. To Dakota."
"To Dakota." Steven exaggerates raising his glass earning an elbow from Dakota. Ben raises his glass from beside Megan.
"Okay, okay. Steven's not the only impressive one, Laurel." Adam says, "To Connie, the soon-to-be doctor. Smart and selfless, hell of a combo."
Conrad raises his brows as the man smiled. Liz grabs his hand on his lap under the table as Laurel turns to Belly, "And Belly, my sweet girl. I remember the first time I traveled abroad, how big with possibilities the world suddenly felt. To your bright future."
"To your future." Steven says as Belly smiles
"And Lizzie. Though you're thousands of miles away and breaking my little heart." She jokes making Liz and Conrad smile, "You will always be my little girl and I am so proud of the woman you have become. I love you."
"And let's not forget Jeremiah, our super senior." Adam says before Liz can speak, "Fingers crossed, only one more semester till the diploma. And then I guess we'll see."
Adam chuckles along with Ben as the others become tense. Jeremiah sighs, "Thanks, Dad."
"Jere actually has really big plans for his future, too."
"Belly, you don't have to." He mutters
"He and I, I should say, uh..." She says grabbing his hand. She looks around the table, "We're getting married. In August."
Liz and Dakota make eye contact from across the table as Laurel chuckles, "What? I'm sorry, what?"
"What?" Belly says
"Belly, are you serious?" Liz chuckles
"Yes." She smiles before it falls as she turns to her mom
"Is this a joke?" Laurel asks
"No."
"No."
"No?" Laurel says again
"No."
"Jesus Christ." Adam says, "That's what I'm talking about with responsibility. What did you drag her into?"
"What? Wh-What are you talking about? I'm not dragging her into anything." Jeremiah says
"Wait, wait, wait. Are you guys being serious right now?" Dakota asks
"Yes." Jeremiah and Belly nod
"You guys are not ready for this." Laurel says
"No." Adam agrees
"This is very irresponsible."
"What do you mean...?" Jeremiah asks
"Honey, this is a big step." Megan explains
"You are not mature enough for this, you are not ready." Laurel says, "Why? Why would you do this?"
"What do you mean?" Belly says
Adam leans over to Laurel, "Obviously, she's pregnant."
"Are you pregnant?" Laurel and Megan ask simultaneously. Liz's grip on Conrad's hand tightens. Laurel continues, "How many times did we discuss contraception?"
"I'm not pregnant!"
"Laur, I swear that is not the case." Jeremiah says
"Well, what about Paris?"
"I'm still going!" Belly explains
"Isabel, I can't... This is-"
"Wild." Steven says
"Insane. Delusional."
"Why is it okay for Liz and Conrad, but not for me and Jere?" Belly spits
Liz's face falls as everyone turns to her. Ben sits up, "You're engaged?"
"Um.."
"No, Belly. You don't get to throw that in her face." Conrad says
"That's so fucked up." Dakota says
"Okay, wait." Steven says holding his hands up, "What the hell is happening now?"
Jeremiah speaks up, "Laur, w-we love each other. We want to be together."
"You are together. If you want to take the next step, move in together... foster a cat. Why rush to get married?"
"Because I-I love him and because he's my family and-and... I mean, that's what Susannah always said, right? Family is the most important thing?"
"I hope you don't think you're getting your mother's ring." Adam says
"No, Dad, I didn't expect that from you." Jeremiah snaps
"We don't need Susannah's ring. Jere got me my own." Belly says digging through her bag
Adam scoffs, "With what money?"
"With mine." Jeremiah says as Belly slides the ring on and shows it to her mother
"No. No." Laurel says, "I cannot believe this is happening right now."
"Holy shit." Steven says as his face falls
"Can you shut up?" Belly snaps
"No, this is crazy."
"Shut up."
"This is crazy."
"What is your problem?"
"Steven." Jeremiah tries
Steven turns to Conrad and Dakota, "Did you guys know about this?"
"No." Conrad says
"Hell, no." Dakota says
The waiter steps in, "The seafood tower."
"Actually, there has been a change in plans." Laurel says, "Cancel everything, I'll take the check."
"Are you serious?" Belly says
"Yes, I am very serious."
"Fine. Let's go, Jere." Belly says standing and grabbing her bag. Jeremiah follows her out. As everyone begins to get up, Liz looks over to her dad. Ben glares at her from beside Megan.
Conrad leans over next to her noticing the man's look, "Come on."
She grabs her bag and lets Conrad take her hand. The two follow Steven and Dakota out. Steven scoffs at Belly and Jeremiah, "Oh, read the room. All right? Less making out, more groveling."
"Belly, get in the car, we're going home." Laurel says
"Home? We're all going back to the house, aren't we?" Belly says
"No, we're not."
"Well, I'm staying here for the summer with Jeremiah, remember?"
"Well, the plan has changed. You're coming with us."
"What? You can't do that."
"Oh, yes, I can."
"Hey, Belly, you should go with her." Jeremiah says
"What?"
"Yes, let things calm down, and I'll work on my dad."
"Belly, come on." Laurel says grabbing her hand
"I'm coming." She says before turning to Jeremiah, "I love you."
"I love you more."
Belly follows Laurel and Steven to the car. Jeremiah follows behind Belly to his own car. Adam pulls off as Megan and Ben approach the twins and Conrad.
Ben stands next to Liz, "Are you serious?"
"Dad-"
"No. How long has it been?"
"Dad, relax." Dakota says
"No! How long has it been?"
"It's only been a few months-" Conrad tries
"A few months. You guys know nothing about adulthood and you're sure as hell not ready to get married."
"Dad, you can't control my life." Liz says, "You barely have any idea what's happened."
"Oh, don't give me that. I'm your father. You should've come to me before even thinking about proposing." He says, "I can't believe this."
"Ben." Megan calls out as the man storms off. She turns to Liz, "I'm so sorry, honey."
Liz shakes her head as she looks down. Megan hugs her tightly before pulling away, "I will talk some sense into him. I'll see you guys soon, okay?"
Conrad nods before the woman walks over to her car. Dakota huffs, "I'm so sorry, Lizzie."
"It's fine." She says, "It's what I expected anyway."
He looks down before looking back up at Conrad, "I'll see you guys, soon. Call me if you need anything, okay?"
"Thanks, man."
Dakota nods pursing his lips before walking over to his mom's car. Liz watches her parents' cars pull off before the tears begin to fall. Conrad immediately pulls her in, letting her cry into his chest.
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