| |
Bradley
It’s Sam’s first Saturday off since she started her job at Reynaldo’s. My plans were to take Sam somewhere nice, just the two of us, but my mom has something planned this evening and asked me to attend. She insisted that I bring my girlfriend along so they can officially meet her, whatever that means. When mom asks me to do something, it’s hard to say no. The upside is I won’t have to dress up, and it’s the beginning of May. The weather is just beginning to warm up. Maybe I can finally take a swim in the indoor pool mom put in a couple of years ago.
My sister, Gin, is home for a visit too. It’ll be good to see her after her being gone for a couple of years. She and Jeremy are still a thing. They’ve made it past the two-year mark. I guess that means I won’t have to hunt him down and kill him.
Now I just have to convince Sam to come with me. It’s been over a month since she froze at the idea of meeting my family. I wonder if she still feels the same. She seems comfortable whenever I mention them. I haven’t told her everything about them; just little things here and there. I didn’t want to overwhelm her with too much information all at once.
I’ve told her about the kind of work that my parents do. She knows that I have two sisters, their names and that she and Gin have something in common. They both studied the art of cuisine. That should give them something to talk about if she decides to come with me.
I brush her hair back behind her ear as she lays across my thighs on the couch, staring at the television in front of us. She’s engrossed in one of her favorite movies, The Age of Adeline. I really hope she doesn’t question me about this one because I have no idea what happened. I remember bits and pieces, but for the most part, I’ve been trying to figure out how to bring up my mom’s invite this whole time. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about asking Sam to marry me one day, and meeting my family is a big step in that direction.
Sam wipes at her eyes and sits up as the credits begin to roll. I smile at her sensitive nature. Each time we watch one of her favorites, it reminds me of the first time I took her to Watcher’s theater. I recall how, even then, she wasn’t ashamed to cry in front of a practical stranger, how she took a leap and wrapped her hand in mine. The moment I felt her begin to trust me, even if she didn’t know it yet.
She lets out a deep breath and offers me a sad smile. I brace myself for the questions, but they don’t come. This one must have struck a nerve inside of her. Her gaze is different, and I can tell she doesn’t want to talk about it.
I don’t ask if she’s okay, because her answer is always yes. Instead, I ask, “Do you want something to drink?”
“Not yet.” She snuggles into my side, laying her head on my shoulder with one arm wrapped around my waist. “Can we stay like this for a little while.”
It’s hard to say no to Sam too. I’ve come to realize that I would do anything to please her if she asked me to. “Sure baby.” I kiss her forehead, then lean my head back onto the couch.
“I just... I just... Do you know how much I love you?” she speaks softly.
I tighten my grip around her, wondering what brought on that question. “Of course, I do.”
“Promise me that you’ll never forget.”
“I promise,” I say in response. Maybe I should’ve paid more attention to the movie so that I’d have some clue as to what’s wrong with her.
“Good. Now please, tell me something to bring me back to reality.”
I rub my thumb along her upper arm. I decide that now is the best time to bring up the event. “Reality is that I love you.”
She nestles in closer. “Tell me more.” She whispers against my chest.
“Reality is you have made me happier than I’ve ever been before.” I pull her arm from around my waist and intertwine our hands. “Reality is I want you in my life for a long time, and I want my two worlds to combine. I want you to meet my family Sam.” I pause to see if she reacts to my statement, but she doesn’t. So, I continue. “Reality is my mom has something planned today, and she invited us to come.”
She lifts her head from my shoulder to look into my eyes.
“If you’re not comfortable, I’ll understand.”
Her eyes show no signs of deflection. She holds my gaze. “I think that would be okay.” She says.
I ask again to confirm. “Is that a yes?”
“It’s a yes. It’s time that I meet them. I can’t avoid them for the rest of our lives.”
“I’m glad you said that because I’ve already told my mom that I would be there, and I don’t particularly want to go without you.”
“I just have one question.”
“What’s that?” I ask cautiously.
“Will I have to dress up, and what time does it start?” She rattles off, her face squinching curiously.
I chuckle softly at her expression. “That’s two questions,” I say playfully. “I’m guessing that, since she invited us and my dad’s birthday is coming up, it may have something to do with him. She wants us there by six-thirty, and she’s a stickler for being on time.”
Sam gives me a genuine smile. The fear that was evident in her eyes the first time isn’t there anymore. She looks ready and confident that this is what she wants. “Should I be worried?”
I pull her onto my thighs so that she straddles me. Her hands wrap around the back of my neck. Her elbows hang loosely between us. My hands instinctively cup her round bottom and slide her closer to me. She lets out a tiny squeak.
“There’s nothing to worry about. You’re in good hands.” My grasp on her tightens and loosens, emphasizing my meaning. “I promise I won’t throw you to the hounds. I’ll make sure everyone’s on their best behavior.”
“And how are you supposed to do that?” Her face is inches away from mine. She glances at my lips. Desire clouds her eyes.
“I don’t know yet, but if things don’t go my way, we can always leave.” I lean forward and kiss the base of her neck. “Come back here.” I kiss the sweet spot behind her ear, and she lets out a soft moan. “And I can make you forget we were ever there in the first place.” I kiss her lips, my tongue teasing the entrance to her mouth, asking for entry.
Her mouth opens for me, and her tongue slips out to meet mine. My hand tangles in the loose curls of her hair as I try to dive deeper into her mouth. She grinds her hips against me. I can feel the heat rolling off of her. I want to be closer. I need to be closer, but if we continue on this course, we’ll never leave this apartment.
I slow our kiss and reluctantly pull away, placing my forehead against hers. I silently curse myself for stopping. I pull back to look at her. Her eyes are closed. She takes deep breaths as if she’s trying to calm herself.
I cup her cheek in my hand with thoughts of kissing her again, flowing steadily through my mind. Her hair is tangled by my hand. I watch the slowing rise and fall of her chest. Her nipples strained against her shirt. I lick my lips at the sight of her swollen lips and flushed skin. My heart beats proudly knowing I made them that way. I did this to her. I smirk inwardly. My hardened length twitches beneath her. Her eyes ease open and land on mine. She’s beautiful.
“Do you want that drink now?” I ask her. I could sure use a cold drink. And maybe a cold shower too.
She looks at me, dazed for a moment before she answers. “Yeah. That’s probably a good idea.” Even as she says the words, everything else about her disagrees.
***
WE MAKE IT TO MY PARENTS’ home in record time with ten minutes to spare. Cars line the driveway and spill out onto the street. I pull up behind the last car and switch off the ignition. I study Sam’s reaction, wondering if she’s changed her mind about this, but her expression is relaxed.
“Are you ready?” She says, surprising me.
I’m supposed to be asking her that question. She never ceases to amaze me. “Are you ready?” I reply.
“I am,” she says.
I nod and exit the car. Sam doesn’t move until I come around to open the door for her. She knows me. She’s gotten used to my mannerisms. She doesn’t object to me doing nice things for her anymore, because she knows that’s one argument she won’t win.
“Ever the gentleman,” she says in her best British impression. She steps out, and I close the door behind her. “You know that’s never going to get old, right?”
“That’s the plan,” I answer with a smirk. She blushes when I wink my eye at her. “And this is never going to get old,” I tell her, reaching up to rub my thumb across her cheek.
She clears her throat. I take her hand in mine, and we walk the small distance to the house. As we get closer, the sound of unclear voices floats to us. There’s a light hum of music in the air coming from the backyard.
This reminds me of my birthday party years ago when Val showed up here with me. I remember how everyone was so sure that the two of us would be together for a long time. I recall how much I didn’t believe in true love, and how I wanted nothing to do with it.
I glance at Sam walking beside me. Everyone was so wrong, even me. I didn’t think that I’d ever find what I have with Sam, because I was so hell-bent on pushing everyone away. Keeping my distance. Sticking to my plan.
I squeeze Sam’s hand reassuringly before I open the door for us to go inside. The house looks different from the last time I was here. Mom must have redecorated again. The voices that I heard earlier are floating in from the back of the house. I guess everyone is outside enjoying the semi-warm air. The only noise I hear inside is water running in the kitchen before it suddenly shuts off.
I usher Sam in that direction to see who it is. Mom’s face appears at the entrance. Her hands are full with a cloth wrapped around a hand full of utensils. We all stop abruptly.
“Bradley, you’re here,” mom says cheerfully. “And I see you’ve brought Samantha along.” She places the utensils down on the end table, and her eyes slide over to Sam. Sam’s brows pinch together in thought for a moment before she straightens. Mom steps closer to Sam and pulls her in for a tight hug. “Thank you for coming, Samantha. We were all dying to meet you.” Mom says into Sam’s ear.
Sam returns her hug. I chuckle at the exchange and Sam’s shocked expression. I should’ve warned her that mom was big on hugs. I thought that I would have to pull mom off of her, but she finally lets her go.
“Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. ...”
Mom waves Sam’s comment away. “No need for thanks. And please, call me Laura.”
“Oh, okay,” Sam says, still not sure what to make of mom.
“Son.” Mom turns to face me, opening her arms wide for me to step into, just like she always does.
I tower over her five-foot-five frame now. I wrap my arms around her shoulders, and her arms wrap around my midsection. When she steps away from me, her hand swats me lightly across my arm.
“Ouch.” I feign hurt, grabbing the spot where she hit me.
“It’s about time you came to visit us. I shouldn’t have to extend an invitation to my own son.” Mom scolds me playfully.
Sam grins next to us, seemingly enjoying the playfulness between my mother and me.
“Where’s Hale and dad?”
“They’re both out back with the rest of the family.”
“And Gin?” I ask mom.
“She and Jeremy are on their way. They went to pick up your grandparents from the airport.”
I look at mom, surprised. I haven’t seen my dad’s parents since I graduated from high school. Which only confirms that this must be about dad. They rarely ever hop on a plan to just visit due to the distance between here and where they live. I’m excited to see them.
Samantha
Laura escorts us outside to where the party is. She introduces me to her parents and a few of Brad’s aunts, uncles, and cousins. We find his sister Hailey chatting with her friend Amy beside the garage.
Apparently, Hailey and Amy have been best friends forever. They plan to attend the same college after graduation. And by the looks of things, Amy has a huge crush on my man. I think it’s adorable the way she looks at him. The way she says his name with that dreamy look in her eyes. Brad doesn’t seem to notice, or he does, and he doesn’t want to give her false hope by acknowledging her behavior.
We find Brad’s dad sitting at one of the picnic tables with another one of Brad’s uncles.
“The man of the hour,” Laura says as she walks over to him and places a peck on his lips. “Cliff, look who finally decided to come home, and he brought a guest.” She says, motioning to Brad and me.
I look closely at the two of them together, trying to figure out why they look so familiar. I smile sweetly at them, but inside my mind is rehashing every encounter I’ve had since I moved here.
Cliff stands and extends his hand to me. I place my hand in his, and he covers it with his other hand. “Samantha. It’s nice to see you again.”
Brad and I both give him confused looks. They both chuckle back at us.
“What do you mean again?” Brad asks.
His mom jumps in. “It was all innocent, really. We’d had reservations at Reynaldo’s for weeks before we even knew she worked there. We weren’t expecting to see Samantha that night. You told us that she was a chef and didn’t interact with the customers at all. But as fate would have it, this sweet young lady showed up at our table and introduced herself, explaining that she was filling in for someone else.” She looks at me. Her smile never falters.
“That was you?” I ask in disbelief.
“Yes.” She says. “We didn’t want to frighten you away by having you think we were stalkers, and we knew there must be a reason Brad kept you away. So, we kept quiet.”
“And you didn’t tell me about it?” Brad asks.
“There was nothing to tell son,” his father says. We weren’t even sure if it was the right girl.
Brad nods his head in acceptance. He turns his focus to me. A look I know all too well flashes in his eyes. “I’m still trying to picture you as a waitress.”
“BP!”
His eyes are torn away from me by an approaching shout. I turn to find a girl running straight for him. Brad opens his arms, and she jumps into them.
“Gin!” He says excitedly.
I gather this must be the infamous Ginger that he described to me. She’s a slender girl, but it’s evident that she works out in some way. Her blue jeans and a thin black sweater fit nicely on her frame. Her hair is pulled back into a ponytail.
I smile at their exchange. It’s calming watching Brad with his family. It’s a side of him that I’ve never seen before. The family man. My heart flip-flops in my chest.
They pull apart, and Brad reaches next to her to shake the new guy’s hand. “Jeremy. Glad to see you’re still hanging in there.” Brad greets.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Jeremy responds. He glances at Ginger with nothing but love in his eyes.
“Well, who do we have here?” Ginger focuses her attention on me, and my body stills.
Brad didn’t say much about anyone else, but he did warn me about Ginger. He said she could be a real piece of work, but she’s also the best person to have on your side in a crisis.
“Gin. Behave, please. I’d like to keep her around for a long time. You have a tendency to say all of the wrong things.” Brad admonishes.
“Who me?” She feigns innocence.
“Yes, you.” Both Brad and Jeremy respond in unison.
“Alright, alright. I’ll behave. For now.” She steps in front of me and moves in for a hug. “Welcome to the family, sis.”
I hug her back, stunned by her comment. I don’t really know what to say to that. How could they all be so receiving of someone they barely know? I don’t want to be rude, so I say, “Thank you.”
Brad introduces me to his grandparents next. They are the definition of sweetness. They remind me of my dad’s parents, still in love after all of these years.
A loud clap reverberates through the air, followed by an announcement. I turn to find Ginger standing in a chair, trying to get everyone’s attention.
“Okay, family. Now that I’m here and the awkward greetings are out of the way, can we start this party or what?”
I stare at her in wonder. She has so much spunk. There’s an air of confidence about her. She and Brad are alike in some ways, but in others the complete opposite. Maybe that’s a good thing and the reason why they get along so well. Maybe that’s why I think I’m going to like her because she’s nothing like me either, but we do have one very common interest.
