Page 67 of Angelic Acts
“My mom called. She’s invited you to family dinner tomorrow. I told her I need to check with you before giving her an answer. It’s up to you.”
Her shock quickly morphs into horror. “You didn’t give her an answer! I’d love to come. Please don’t leave her on the line. I’d love to join y’all.” Her little southern slang has me biting back a smirk. She doesn’t have a twang when she speaks, but there are still traces of her childhood.
“Yes, ma’am,” I tease her. She sticks out her tongue at me as I return to my phone.
Unmuting it, I bring it up to my ear. “We’re in for tomorrow. Let me know if there’s anything I can bring.”
“Sweet boy, just bring your lady. We look forward to meeting her.” With that closing, she ends the call.
And I stare at my beautiful girlfriend, hoping she knows she just agreed to meet her future in-laws. Because, when she’s ready, we’re going to get married. I know it to be true as much as I know Newton’s third law to be true.
Chapter 36
Lizzy
Bash’s hand grips mine from over the console of his car. He gently rubs his thumb over mine. His calm demeanor about this has mollified me. If he’s not worried about introducing me to his family, then I have no reason to be. Plus, I’ve already met one brother and his wife, and they were incredibly welcoming.
When we pull through black gates, I’m reminded of who his family is. What they do. But it doesn’t bother me. Maybe it should, but I know my Bash. He’s a good man. He wouldn’t be a part of something cruel or wicked.
We park behind a minivan, which surprises me. I didn’t expect such a mundane vehicle from this family. Bash rolls his eyes at the cars parked ahead of us. He mutters something under his breath that I can’t quite make out.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
He sighs then shakes his head. “I purposely came early so you could meet my parents before the chaos that is my brothers and their families show up. However, that minivan belongs to Roman.” He points ahead then moves his finger slightly. “The convertible is Katerina’s, and the G-Wagon in front of theconvertible is Matthias’s. Looks like they were excited to meet you too.”
“That’s not a bad thing, right?” I grab his hand as I ask. A smile appears on his face as he meets my gaze.
“It’s not. They’re just loud and crazy. And they’re going to give me hell after all I’ve given them over the years. Mom and Dad were going to be the calm before the storm, but the storm beat us here.” He leans across the console and presses a hard kiss to my lips. “It’s fine. It’s just my family.”
He opens his car door and steps out. Mindlessly, I do the same. He huffs at me, clearly peeved that I didn’t wait for him to do the gentlemanly thing.
“Do you want me to get back in so you can open my door?” I jokingly ask.
He pauses for a moment, reflecting on my question. Only to shake his head. “Don’t be ridiculous, that’d be asinine.”
“You considered it.” I squeeze his side teasingly, but he just pulls me in close. Pressing a kiss into my hair, I snuggle into his arms.
We must be making more noise than we realize walking up the steps to the front door because it swings open before we can even knock. A woman who can only be Bash’s mother steps out with a warm smile on her face. She’s absolutely gorgeous as she approaches, arms spread wide.
She pulls me into a tight hug, then pulls back to look me over. “Aren’t you just gorgeous! I have no idea why Bash has been keeping you from us.”
“Evelyn, give the girl some room to breathe,” the older man next to her says. He pulls his wife back and turns to us. “I’m Damien, Bash’s father. This is my wife, Evelyn. We’re grateful you’re able to join us. Come inside. We’d love to hear more about you. Everyone’s already here.”
“Of course they are,” Bash mumbles under his breath, causing my elbow to meet his stomach slyly. He readjusts us so my arm is trapped between us.
The four of us walk inside and make our way to their den. It’s overflowing with people. I should’ve expected this with how big Bash’s family is, but it still takes me off guard.
A little girl in a pink princess dress, one of his nieces, approaches with a sly smile on her face. “Are you Uncle Bash’s girlfriend?” Before I can answer, she turns to Bash. “Why does she have hair in her face? It’s weird.”
I let out a laugh as a beautiful, very pregnant woman waddles over. “¡Sofia, pídele perdón ahora mismo!” she hisses at the girl in a tone only a mother is capable of. Then she turns to me. “I’m so sorry. She’s our firecracker.”
“Lo siento,” Sofia murmurs, looking scolded. “I’m sorry,” she repeats in English.
“It’s okay, Sofia. I’ll let you in on a secret.” She perks up as I lean down to whisper in her ear. “I have hair in my face, bangs, because I’m hiding my big forehead. Don’t tell anyone.”
I lean back but pause in time to hook my pinky around hers. “I pinky promise,” she says. Then she turns on her heels, tracking down her sisters to tell them about my bangs.
“You were so good with her,” her mother tells me. “I’m Cecilia, by the way. Roman’s wife.”
