“Have I told you today that you look absolutely perfect?”
She giggles and smiles with her cheeks heating pink. “You have actually. A few times to be exact, but I won't stop you from saying it again and again. And you. Just wow.” She presses up on her toes to kiss my cheek then tugs on my hand. “Come on, lunch should be almost ready.”
“They didn’t have to cook on my account.”
“Maria wanted to. She loves to host any and every time she can, and this is important to her, to all of them really, and especially to me.” She presses a chaste kiss to my cheek and turns to open the door.
“Petal? Wait a moment.” I squeeze her hand to stop her from opening the door.
“What’s wrong?”
“The more I think about this, the more I don’t want to lie to them about us.”
“Tristan, I’m worried about what could happen if we don’t.”
“I refuse to look at us as something that needs to be hidden any longer. We are two consenting adults who thoroughly enjoy each other.” I love watching the blush rise to her cheeks as those words register in her conscious mind. “You are not someone’s dirty little secret. I won’t treat you as such. You’re beautiful, kind, intelligent, and you deserve to be shone with pride. I’m proud to be on your arm, and proud to meet your family today.”
“I wish I was able to bottle up how you make me feel and keep it with me forever and ever. I’ve never experienced anything like it.” She slides her hands into my jacket and wraps her arms around my body. “Thank you for this.”
“Neither have I, Petal.” I lean down and connect our lips in a short kiss before pulling away with a smile. “Shall we?”
It’s nearly as if Mrs. Chase was waiting for us and watching out the window. The front door opens with her smiling in the middle. She’s not at all what I’d pictured in my mind. She’s a very petite woman with shoulder-length dark hair. Because of Lucas, I’d assumed she’d be a taller blonde. She brings Nora into her arms, cupping the back of her head. Nora clings to her in turn.
“It’s good to see you, honey. You don’t come over often enough.”
“I know, Maria. I’m sorry. I’ll do better after this term is over. Maria, I’d like you to meet Tristan Sloane. Tristan, this is my bonus mom, Maria Chase.”
I extend my hand toward her in greeting. “Mrs. Chase, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She smiles kindly and shakes my hand. “Tristan, it’s so lovely to meet you as well, and please call me Maria. Nora hasn’t told us much about you, so I’m excited to sit for a meal and get to know all about you.” She tucks her dark hair behind her ear and ushers us inside. “Come on in. Lunch is ready, so I hope you came with empty stomachs.”
“I’m always ready and willing to eat when it smells this delightful,” I say when we step inside, noting the immediate scent of a home-cooked meal.
“Martin? We have guests. Can you and Lucas tear yourselves from the game now?”
“You bet. Hey, Pixie, get over here and hug me.”
Pixie? I wonder how and when she acquired that term for herself. It’s strange this woman I know as this innately sexual, sensuous creature is also this nearly all-American girl with a stable family. After all she’s been through, I’d expect something different. They are so warm and affectionate with her. She truly belongs to them.
“Hi, Martin.” He envelops her completely. His sandy brown beard grazes against her cheek. During this embrace, Lucas and I lock eyes.
I expect him to say something to me, given his very stern, somewhat brash glare, but instead, he turns his attention to my Petal and pulls her into a bear hug.
“Come here, you,” he says, lifting her off the ground causing her to giggle.
“Whoa there,” Nora says. “Don’t act like I don’t see you every single day.”
“You’re hardly ever at our apartment anymore. I do miss you, ya know?”
Our apartment? Interesting. My confusion only lasts for a moment before the wires connect and it hits me. The roommate she often speaks of is young Lucas Chase here. I can feel a subtle volcano start to build inside me. I disliked this boy before today. Now with the way his paws are on my Petal, great bodily harm is very close to the front of my mind, even in his parents’ lounge room.
“Stop being dramatic.” She playfully swats his chest then turns to me and reaches her hand out. “Tristan, I’d like you to come meet my father, for all intents and purposes. Martin, I’d like you to meet Tristan Slone. Tristan, this is Martin.”
“Hello, Tristan. A pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine. May I call you Martin?”
“Of course. Formality around here usually goes by the wayside. You’ll have to excuse us for not being at the door. Hyde’s basketball team is playing Vanderbilt today. It’s a big game, as you can imagine. We’re die-hard fans.”
“Ah, understood, though I’m more of a football fan myself… soccer, rather. Manchester United. I never really dove into the excitement of American sports.”
“Strike one,” Lucas says. “I’m not sure we should even continue this conversation.”
He laughs like he’s kidding, but I know that if he had his way, I would walk to the door and never look back.
“Maybe you can convert him, Pixie,” Martin says, hugging Nora into his side once again.
“I can certainly try,” she replies.
“Lucas, can you show Tristan to the table? Martin, will you help me bring in the serving dishes, please?”
“Sure, Mom.” The young buck with a death wish, leans in and whispers to me, “This way, Professor.”
Nora smacks him on the arm in a no longer playful manner. “Don’t fucking do this. Quit being an asshole. Remember what I said?”
“Yeah. I got it.”
“Tristan, you can sit on the same side with Nora, if you like.”
“Thank you kindly for a formal dinner. It’s been quite a while since I’ve had one that didn’t involve a work function.”
“Yes, I know that issue all too well,” Martin adds in. “Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy a delicious meal with family, without a looming work issue mounting.”
I watch where Nora decides to sit and move quickly around the table so that I’m able to pull her chair out for her.
“Thank you,” she says, sinking down to sit in the sturdy, clearly very expensive, high-backed dining room chair, and I make myself comfortable beside her.
When I look directly across the table, I’m met with Lucas sitting in that chair, trying his best to not notice that I’m sitting here, but his anger and awkwardness is thick in the air.
I’d do anything I needed to make that go away for Nora’s sake.
“Everything looks wonderful, Maria. You’ve made lunch look like Sunday dinner,” Martin adds.
“It’s not often that Nora invites a guest. I guess I went overboard.”
“I appreciate the trouble you went to on my behalf.” I raise my water glass. “To the host and hostess, thank you for your kind hospitality. Yes, and you too, Lucas. Thank you for the warm welcome.”