Rachel's POV
"Let's get another round of shots", Olivia screams over the music.
"Liv we've had enough alcohol this past week and a half to last our entire lives. Shouldn't we ease up a bit?"
She tilts her head giving me a look. I struggle to keep a straight face and we all burst out in laughter.
"Another round coming up", Kennedy says walking over to the bar.
"You both are enablers", I laugh.
"That may be so, but it's not everyday our best friend graduates from law school. We'll celebrate this until we feel like it."
I wrap my arm around her neck pulling her close and planting a kiss on her cheek. "Have I ever told you you're my favorite person?"
"Judging from those diamonds around your neck I'd say you're lying", she smiles. "One of these days you're going to tell us who she is."
"What I miss?", Kennedy says sitting back down with a tray of shots.
"Just the usual, Rach brushing me off when I ask who she's dating."
"Fine I'll budge. I'm sorry you had to find out this way", I say grabbing Olivia's hand. "But I'm dating your mother."
Kennedy and I burst out laughing at Olivia's expression."Very funny, honestly I wouldn't put it past you though", she says shoving me.
"Your mom does look great for her age Liv", Kennedy says still laughing.
"Which means I will too when I get older. Hopefully I won't need any touch ups for a few more years", Olivia says feeling around her face.
"We're 24 Liv, I think you're fine", I say pulling her hands away.
"You know who looks really good for her age? Your boss."
Kennedy nods, "That's true."
"Vendetta aside you've had to notice how hot she is", Olivia says smiling.
"She's ok I guess."
"Ok? when she shook my hand I got lost in her stare. I hate politics, but if her and her husband become our first family I might be interested in listening. He's hot too, I'd do him."
"Disgusting, your taste in men just continues to go downhill, it's incredible really."
She laughs as I notice my phone vibrate.
"Heart emoji uh oh it must be the girlfriend", Kennedy says.
"Keeping you on a short leash is she? Tell her it's girls night", Olivia yells out as I get up to excuse myself.
I find a semi quiet place outside the bar to pick up. "Hey babe."
"Hi how are you?"
"I'm good I'm just out with the girls. How was your flight?"
"Longer than I would have liked, spending time with my counterparts is always draining. So much so that I'm going to leave the unpacking for tomorrow."
"Do you want alone time to unwind or should I head that way when I'm done here?"
"I've been cooped up in a hotel room by myself for a week, I think I could use the company."
"That's what I like to hear", I say smiling.
"Speaking of company. I know it's short notice but my evening is free tomorrow if you wanted to arrange for dinner with your family."
"Oh you still want to go through with that?"
"Rachel we don't have to do this if it's going to make you uncomfortable. That's the last thing I want."
"It's not that, in a perfect world I'd be able to introduce you as my girlfriend and have a nice dinner with my family, but-"
"I know, and that's why I suggested this dinner under other pretenses.It gives us all a chance to celebrate you, even if I am just your boss for the night."
"And I'm thankful for that, it's just my mom...She's a lot. It would just be my parents and us, my brother and sister are out of town."
"I'm in a relationship with her daughter, I'm pretty sure I know what I'm in for", she jokes. "When you come over tonight you can decide. Now don't let me keep you, go have fun with your friends."
"Ok I'll see you in a bit."
I hang up and walk back over to to Liv and Kennedy.
"Girlfriend summonsing you home?"
"Shut up", I say playfully shoving Liv. "Remember that dinner I told you guys about?"
"The one with Senator and your family?"
"Yeah I'm not all that keen about it."
"Why not? The Senator is going to take time out of her busy schedule to take you and your family to some fancy dinner. If I were you I'd get the steak and lobster", Kennedy says joking.
"She hates the woman that's why Ken."
"It's not that, my girlfriend wants to go and you know how my parents are. I'm scared they will say or do something that will make her run for the hills."
"No way they meet her before you do."
"Liv."
"I'm joking, well kind of. It's nice your girlfriend wants to meet your family. Your family loves you Rach, despite all that has happened. If you told them how much this means to you and to not say anything off the wall I think they will listen to that and be on their best behavior. Plus the Senator will be there so I'm sure they'll be fine. At the end of the day it really only matters what this girl thinks of you, and what we think of her of course.
"You guys are right, it will be fine. You know I tend over think stuff sometimes", I say picking up my drink from the table.
"You think?"
"Now that we're done with our daily counseling session let's toast to our sister here who is going to become some fancy schmancy attorney and inevitably bail us out of trouble", Kennedy says lifting her drink.
"To Rachel."
**********
I lean in the doorway as I wait for Jenn to open the door. When she does a smile spreads across my face.
"Hey", I say planting a kiss on her lips. She tilt her head back and licks her lips, "I hope you didn't drive here, you taste like jungle juice minus the juice."
I laugh, "No I had a Uber drop me a few houses down."
"Good. I see the partying hasn't died down any", she says brushing my hair out of my face.
"And not going to if I leave it up to my friends. They think you're hot by the way."
She raises her eyebrow.
"Calm down, we were on the topic of older women and your name was mentioned."
"You make it sound like I'm nearing a retirement home."
"You know that's not what they meant. You aren't old. You're the sexiest woman I've ever seen, besides Megan Fox and myself."
She gives me a look and cracks a smile.
"Olivia also thinks Greg is sexy."
She rolls her eyes, "Tell her she can have him. She's definitely his type."
"I'd never wish him on my worst enemy let alone best friend."
"How noble of you", she says putting her arms around my shoulders."It's late let's get to bed."
We make it to her room and I fall back on her bed with my eyes closed. "Rach you need to change."
"Fine", I say getting up. I struggle to take off my boots and socks and I notice Jenn's stare. "What?"
"Nothing", she says with a smile. I finally get my jeans down and I look at Jenn, "Done."
"You're going to wear a jean jacket, your blouse, and panties to bed?"
"Is that a problem?"
"For anyone other than Mick Jagger yes. Let me help you", she takes my jacket off and makes me lift my arms taking my blouse off. "Here", she says handing me one of her shirts. I slip it on and bring the collar up to my nose. "Mmm it smells like you."
"You're cute when you're drunk", Jenn says getting into bed.
I lay beside her, "So are you. Remember that time you got drunk at my apartment?"
She runs her fingers through her hair, "Not one of my proudest moments. I try to forget that happened. I do remember you we're really sweet about it and took care of me though."
I smile,"You didn't make any plans for tomorrow evening yet right?"
"No."
"Cool because I want to take you up on your dinner offer."
"Is this the liquor talking?"
"No", I laugh.
"Rachel I don't want to force you to do something you aren't comfortable with."
"You're not forcing me" I say booping her nose. "I changed my mind because I know you are just trying to make me happy. You always do."
**********
Jennifer's POV
"I'm meeting with David to discuss the campaign. Afterwards I'll swing by home to get ready, our reservations are at 7."
"Ok I'll see you then", Rachel says looking nervous but excited.
I give her a kiss on her forehead,"It will be ok. We just need to play it cool like we always do."
"So we can't play footies under the dinner table?", she jokes.
I give her a glance as we walk our separate ways.
"Hi David."
"Senator, you're going to want to sit for this."
I put down my purse and remain standing, "What is it?"
"Sorry this is good news for us", he says assuring me. I take a deep breath, "Please lead with that next time."
"Copy that, two candidates are dropping out ahead of the next debate. That only leaves five of you in the running."
"What? Who? Why?"
"Funding and they know they don't stand a chance in hell. Things are looking promising for us", he smiles. "You really just need to bring it at the next debate."
**********
Rachel's POV
"How do I look?"
"Beautiful honey. You're growing up right before my eyes. I remember it was just a few years ago I was helping you tie your shoes. Now your this woman who wears heels, make up, and doesn't need my help anymore."
"You're not totally dispensable yet dad, I still need you to check my car when those little orange lights come on. Like last week one popped on and it said check."
"The check engine light? Honey that is your cars lifeline, as soon as that thing turns on you-."
I laugh.
"What?"
"I'm just kidding. It's not on and yes I know that. It's just so entertaining seeing you in dad mode", I say adjusting his tie.
"What are you two laughing about?", my mother says walking down the stairs in a beautiful dress.
"Nothing just giving him a hard time."
He kisses her on the cheek and tells her how beautiful she looks.
"Ok", I say grabbing both of their attention. "I need you both to promise me something tonight. Don't say anything out of line or embarrassing ok? She's my boss and I think we're finally on good ground I don't want to mess that up."
"We're lit and with the times, we ain't trying to cramp your style", my dad smiles.
I drop my head in embarrassment, "Please don't say anything like that ever again."
"Why honey? my kids at school say I'm turnt to the fullest. I'm assuming that's a good thing."
"In theory yes, but they are probably just making fun of you and your corny jokes."
"I thought you like my jokes?",He laughs.
"When I was 8 maybe."
"Come on you two, we need to leave now if we want to make it in time.
After a drive up the coast to Malibu we pull up to a beautiful oceanside restaurant. The valet opens our car doors and escorts us to the hostess. "Last name please."
"Taff."
"Oh yes of course, right this way to the private dinning area."
"Wow", we all say at the same time looking at the beautiful room we will occupy for the night.
**********
Jennifer's POV
"Hi, Taff family I'm so sorry I'm running late. I was talking campaign stuff with my advisor and lost track of time."
"That's quite ok, we know how busy you must be", Rachel's mother says. I smile and give each of her parents and hug, and when I get to Rachel we both awkwardly lean in the same direction almost grazing lips. She hurries to sit down to not bring attention to the almost hiccup.
It's a four person seating arrangement and her parents are at one side of the table, which leaves an empty seat right next to Rachel. "These are for you", I say sitting down."Congratulations on a magnificent accomplishment."
She looks at the Carnation flowers and gives me a look. She knows I'm using her game against her. The flowers symbolize love, admiration, and good fortune.
"Senator thank you, but this is too much. You've already gone out your way with this dinner."
"Nonsense it's the least I can do."
"That is very nice of you", her father says.
"Well your daughter has left quite the impression on myself and my staff. She's been a great addition to the team."
"I'm glad to here that, you know when she first told us she was taking an internship with your office we were a little worried.She's known to be stubborn and get stuck in her ways", her m mother says making Rachel roll her eyes.
"I quickly learned that", I say in a joking manner. "We had a bit of a rough patch when she first started, but Rachel proved herself with her work and she opened her mind. Since then I can say she's become one of my brightest employees."
"Wow that's high praise coming from you", her father says.
"Are you surprised? We all know how awesome I am", Rachel says finally loosening up.
"I'm sure you two always have your hands full with her."
Her mother nods, "Between her and our other two children it's hardly a dull moment."
I smile.
"We're just so proud of her.I get to see all my hard work pay off. I'm the one that introduced her to law."
I look over at Rachel as she tries her best to hold her tongue. Thankfully the waiter comes just in time to stop her from an outburst.
"Can I get you ladies and gentleman any drink sto start off?"
"We'll take a bottle of your finest red wine." I glance over at Rachel, "And a bottle of your white wine. I hope that ok with everyone."
Everyone nods as the waiter drifts away.
Her father takes a sip of water and notices the silence in the room, "Senator we're happy to see you doing so well in the race."
"Oh thank you. It's really all due to the great team around me."
"No need to be modest, you already have their votes", Rachel playfully says.
I chuckle.
"We all need to work together to get that man out of office before he further wrecks this country. It can't be easy hearing the terrible things he says about you in the media."
The waiter comes with two chilled bottles and pours us each a glass of wine. "Thank you", I say in response.
I swirl my glass around, "I've developed thick skin over the years. Being a lawyer I'm sure you can attest to that."
"I surely can. What are your opinions on the local election. I see your old spot as DA is up for grabs."
"Come on mom, I'm sure she doesn't want to talk work all night", Rachel interjects.
"It's fine I don't mind. I think that in a critical time like this that role is more important than ever. I think whichever candidate wins needs to have an open mind and a strong fist. It's not an easy job and when they sense you are weak you will be taken advantage of."
Her mother nods her head, just as she's about to speak again we here clapping coming from outside of all dining area. It's a couple celebrating their engagement.
"What a beautiful couple", Rachel says looking at the pair.
Her mother takes a sip of wine and leans over to whisper to her father.
"What was that mom?"
I slyly place my hand on her thigh letting her know it's ok. It's obvious that Rachel's mother is a little uncomfortable with the lesbian couple that just got engaged in the next room. This rightfully so angers Rachel who has expressed her growing relationship with her mother to me. Her mother says she wants to learn and grown to accept Rachel's sexuality, but the whispers and look on her face say otherwise.
"Nothing dear", her mother says making light of the situation. She looks at me and smiles.
Her father tries to break the tension,"Is that a new necklace you have on? I've never seen it before. It's beautiful."
Rachel touches the necklace and lightly traces it side to side, "Yes it was a graduation present.'
"From?", her mother questions.
"A friend."
"A friend? Do we know this friend?"
"No I don't think so."
"This friend have a name? That looks like a pretty sentimental and pricy gift."
"SHE has a name", Rachel says putting an emphasis on she. "I'm just not willing to share it."
Silence once again lingers around the room.
"So honey are you going to take the bar soon? You have two great references right here in your mom and the Senator."
"Yes I take it at the end of the month."
"Should I clear one of the offices to make room?"
"I've told you several times already, what don't you get? I think hell would have to freeze over before that happens."
"Come on you two this is not the night for this", her father says trying to restore order.
"I have other jobs offers that interest me way more than being judge and criticized by you every second of the day."
"Like?"
"My professor offered me a job at her firm. Associate position where I can earn my way up the ladder."
"That doesn't sound anything to be thrilled about."
Rachel shakes her head in annoyance.
Her father glances at me as he struggles to keep tempers down,"What's the other offer honey?"
"The Senator here wants to promote me."
"That's great dear."
"James stop pumping her head. Your daughter would rather do things out of her realm just to spite me. And when she fails or becomes unhappy at either of these jobs she will come crawling back to the firm with her lip poked out."
"I have full faith in Rachel that she will succeed at whatever she decides to do. Isn't the important thing that she's happy", I say refusing to bite my tongue any longer.
"Senator Abner with all due respect."
"Call me Jennifer."
"Well Jennifer with all do respect do you have any children of your own?"
"I do not."
"Then you couldn't possibly know how it feels to have a life set up for your child and they do everything to do the opposite of that."
Rachel takes a deep breath and I can tell she's ready to get up and leave, but I move my leg in her direction signaling for her to sit.
"With all due respect to you Mrs. Taff I'm not a mother, but from experience I can say that we can't pigeon hold others to our standards and wishes. Everyone has their own path and I think if Rachel wants to work with her professor she should, but it would be awful to lose her around the office", I say with a smile.
Rachel smiles back at me, "Thank you Senator."
"You're welcome."
Rachel's mother glares at me like she wants to throw daggers across the table. Thankfully the rest of the dinner goes by smoothly and I pay for the tab as the valet brings our cars around.
Once finished I join the Taff family as we wait.
"Thank you so much for tonight Senator dinner was lovely", Rachel's father says.
"Yes, thank you Senator."
Her mother still pissed off from my interjection doesn't say anything.
My car pulls up and I give Rachel a hug whispering in her ear to meet me at my place. As I move in to bid goodbye to her parents her mother extends her hand out instead of going for a hug. Her husband does the same to keep things kosher. "Have a goodnight everyone. Please get home safe", I tell them as I get into my car.
**********
Rachel's POV
"Well that was a fucking disaster."
"It wasn't that bad."
"I'm pretty sure my mother hates you now for telling her how to parent and my dad has an even bigger crush on you."
She sits down besides me and grabs my hand, "It's ok. We tried it and things didn't go how we planned so we don't have to revisit it."
"You mean how you planned because I knew this would happen. My mother is completely unreasonable. You see how undermining and judgy she is. She doesn't care about me unless I'm serving her purpose."
"Rachel I can tell your mother loves you, but she in way is similar to my father and I've told you how we get along. It's like oil and water whenever we're in the same room. I know it's draining but we're their children and they think they know what's best for us. Tonight I realized I'm a little guilty of that too. The way your mother spoke to you disregarding what you want is exactly what I've been doing to you. I know I can be a bit of a control freak at times, but when it comes to you I don't want to do that. Professor Cook doesn't know what's best for you, your mother doesn't know what's best for you, and I don't know what's best for you. We may think we do because of years of experience and because we all care about you in different ways but Rachel you are the only one that truly knows what's best. So if practicing law right away is what you want do I think you should that. And if it's with Tanya you want to do that with I will support you in that because I love you and I know how smart you are. You'll do what's best for you and that's all I can hope for. Our relationship is not conventional, but I'm trying my best to make things normal for you. Whatever normal means."
"I appreciate you valuing what I want when no one else has. I love you too and that's why I've already decided to take you up on your offer. Tonight made me realize more than ever that there's no one I rather work with than you. The way you had my back, they way you went out of your comfort zone to make me happy. Plus the reason why I started working here is to make a change. What more change can I do than working on a presidential campaign? I mean it also doesn't hurt that I respect and have faith in a certain candidate."
"Are you sure this what you want to do? I don't want you to hold any resentment later on about this decision."
"100% and I could never resent you. I told you I'm in this for the long haul."
Jenn smiles, "Did you have your mind already made up before I said this speech?"
"Yep", I say smiling. "I was just waiting on the right moment to tell you."
"Oh I am going to get you for that."
"Seeing you sweat was a little funny for me."
"Rachel I seriously meant every word of what I said. I'll always support you."
"Always?"
"Always and forever."
I smile, "You know I don't mind you being a control freak sometimes, it's kind of hot. Especially when we're in the bedroom."
"Oh is that right? Tell me more", she says chuckling.