They reached the restaurant he hadn’t been to in years, but he remembered it being good. It was kind of a surprise her family who owned their own Mexican restaurant would choose one to dine at. But then people came from all over for this restaurant’s famous tamales and Savannah had told him how her parents liked to stay up in the latest crazes when it came to Mexican cuisine.
As soon as Byron came around the car, he instinctively took her hand in his. They walked into the restaurant where her dad waved them down.
“My mom and other brother are in town too,” Savannah stated the obvious as Byron took in the large table they were seated at and all their curious faces.
Squeezing her hand, he did his best to be cool. “Wonderful.”
She laughed softly. “Mom, daddy,” she said as soon as they reached the table. “Let me formally introduce you to . . .” She paused for a moment pulling a strand of hair behind her ear and glancing away. “My friend Byron.” After introducing him to her parents she turned to her brothers who both seemed to be staring him down unimpressed. “Byron these are my little brothers,” she said with a giggle since even sitting down there was no missing how much bigger they both were than their older sisters. “Alex, but we all call him Taz, and the baby, Adam aka Gordo because he was such an adorable chubby when he was a baby.”
Both guys made no qualms about openly taking him in before lifting a chin at him, but he didn’t get much more than a “Sup?”
Despite the not-so-inviting greeting, Byron smiled. “How’s it going?”
Of course, her dad pointed at the open seats closest to him and her mother. Her dad sat at the head of the table; his wife next to him. Byron got stuck right next to her dad and directly across from her mother. Savanna took the seat next to Byron and Sienna next to her while her brothers sat across from their sisters now.
Byron casually but quickly took in the family physical aura. Her parent’s genes had been evenly split. Obviously, her brothers got their physiques from her dad who was a big muscular man. Savannah’s mother was sitting down but even then, Byron could tell as she leaned into her husband and whispered something with a raised brow, she looked as dainty as Savannah felt in his arms.
Even though what appeared to be a warning from his wife, her dad wasted no time as soon as they were situated to start firing away questions. “So, how long you been going out with my daughter?”
“Uh,” Byron glanced at her but clearly, she was going to let him take the question as she took a swig of her water. “Technically, it’s been about a week since we officially met and started talking daily. But uh, we’d seen each other around for a little over a month?”
He turned to Savannah for help. Byron knew the seeing each other around stuff didn’t count for shit but given the scene he’d made today, he didn’t want her family thinking him an outrageously premature entitled psycho like she’d made him feel a few times already.
Before Savannah could add her two cents her dad went on. “How’d you officially meet?”
The waitress dropped off their drinks. Sodas for the boys a beer for dad and a glass of wine for mom. Before either he or Savannah could answer he pointed at Byron. “You old enough to drink?”
“Yeah, but I’m driving.”
Her father nodded approvingly as the waitress proceeded to take the food and drink orders from the new arrivals at the table. “So, how’d you meet my daughter?” her dad asked again as he took a swig of his beer. Clearly this line of questioning would be aimed at him for the most part.
“At a party, daddy.”
Byron turned to Savannah who was likely and understandably so, fearing Byron might share last week’s fiasco at the frat party. Her big eyes widened ever so slightly as they met Byron’s sending a silent message then turned back to her dad. “We started talking then exchanged numbers.”
Glancing away from her, Byron met her dad’s probing eyes. “You said you’d seen each other around. Around school?”
Swallowing hard, Byron shook his head. “No, actually. I’m done with school. I first saw her at 5th Street, the gym.”
Stopping before taking another swig of his beer, her dad seemed to sit back in his chair. “Done with school? How old are you?”
“I’m twenty-five, sir.”
Her dad sat up straighter again as her mom touched his arm. “Twenty-five?”
“Beast is his brother,” Sienna suddenly piped up. “The Beast, daddy. The boxer. Isn’t that crazy? Him and Beast own their own auto repair and restoration shop. You know the one that’s been on that reality show you watch sometimes.”
Byron practically held his breath. As her parents exchanged looks, her mother once again raised a brow as her dad very obviously worked his jaw.
“You’re Beast’s brother?” Gordo suddenly asked sounding excited. “Did he really kill that guy? You never know what to believe on the internet anymore and that’s been so debated.”
Suddenly all eyes were on him. When he turned to Savannah hers were closed for a moment since they’d already discussed this, and she knew the whole story. “Yeah, uh,” he cleared his throat. “Fortunately, he’d been just in time to save his girlfriend from being sexually assaulted.” He had all of their undivided attention, but he turned to her dad to add the rest. “Some argued his beating the guy to death was excessive and well, my brother is notorious for his temper—”
“I’ve heard the story and seen the footage. I don’t know a single man who wouldn’t have had the same reaction.” Her dad took another swig of his beer as the waitress dropped off Byron, Savannah and Sienna’s drinks. “I’m glad he got off,” he added as soon as the waitress walked away. “So, you said you’re done with school. You mean college?
“Yes, sir. Graduated last year.”
“What did you major in?”
“I got my bachelor’s in business administration,” Byron answered glancing at a proudly smiling Savannah. “But I minored in digital marketing.”
“So, you’re part owner of Bad Boys?” Gordo asked. “I heard you guys might get your own reality show.”
“There’s been talk about it, but nothing’s come of it yet.”
“Has Vannah told you about our YouTube and TikTok Channels?” Sienna asked.
Byron turned to Sienna then back to Savannah in question. “No, she hasn’t.”
“Well, that doesn’t surprise me.” Sienna lifted her cup, bringing the straw to her lips before adding “She’s completely neglected it ever since she went away to school.”
“Nena, editing those videos is so time consuming,” Savannah explained sounding a bit guilty. “I’m constantly swamped with homework.”
“Oh, I know,” Sienna said smiling big. “Maybe you can interview Beast for the channel. How cool would that be? You can leave the editing to me.”
“I could talk to him,” Byron shrugged glad Sienna had taken over. This was far less nerve wracking than her dad’s grilling. “What kind of channel is it?”
“Fashion advice mostly.” She flipped her hair up with a big grin. “We’re influencers.”