A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
A POV
"I know we're both working tonight, but I was wondering if you might want to have an early dinner before our shift." Christian stops typing and glances up with a wide grin.
"Sure. Is there any place in particular you want to go?" I crinkle my nose and nod. "Where?"
"My parents'." I get to my feet and pad to the desk where he's been working on his book. "My mom and I talked on the phone last night, and I told her and I are dating. She already had an inkling though since she and Lisa had lunch yesterday during which Lisa mentioned that I had something very good happening in my life. I can't be upset with her hinting though because I do have something very good happening in my life." I place a trail of kisses down the side of his neck.
"Since you put it like that", he murmurs. "How can I say no? What time should we be there?"
"Five. I know it's a little early."
"Baby, five is fine. I'm going to warn you ahead that I'm going to be nervous. Since I've never really done relationships I've also never done the "meet the parents" thing. Naturally there's pressure especially when you're dating the one and only daughter."
"You'll do fine. Try not to sweat about it", I say assuringly.
"Sweating is what I might very well be doing."
"Someone else is going to be nervous tonight." He raises a brow. "Kate. She was tossing clothes all over the floor in an attempt to find the perfect outfit for her date with Elliot." Kate and Elliot met only yesterday, but Elliot wasted no time in asking Kate to dinner tonight.
"Then that makes three of us", Christian snickers. "Elliot texted me earlier. He's also nervous which he rarely gets."
"Here's hoping everyone has a great night."
"Ana, sweetheart." My mom hugs me and then turns to Christian who's still somewhat nervous despite me telling not to be. "And you must be Christian."
"Yes, ma'am", Christian answers.
"Please call me Carla and come on in." She steps to the side and waves us through the foyer and into the living room. "Ray had a meeting that ran over but should be home after dropping Michael off at home."
"Michael's my dad's best friend and right hand man at the office", I tell Christian as we sit down on the sofa.
"Michael's car is in the shop so your dad offered to pick him this morning and drop him off the evening. I wasn't sure what to cook for dinner so I went with pot roast. I hope that's ok."
"Pot roast is one of my favorites", Christian says in a less shaky voice. My mom sits down in one of the beige arm chairs.
"I'm sure you're going to love the one I prepared. I used the recipe given to me by Ray's mother Elizabeth." Christian looks at me and smiles. I've told him all about my Grandmother Elizabeth and how much she meant to me. He also knows how her death caused me to reevaluate my life and where it was going.
"I used to love helping her cook", I sigh. "I'd go to her house and watch in awe as she made the most delicious meals. I remember one day when I was about ten. My mom dropped me off at Grandmother's, and I went into the kitchen and found a dish of ravioli. It was covered in cheese and smelled so good. I told Grandmother that I wanted her to teach me how to make the ravioli."
"Did she?", Christian asks. My mom laughs in response.
"Sort of. She walked over to the trash can and picked out the cans from which the ravioli came. Chef Boyardee never tasted so good. That's just one of the many wonderful memories I have of her." Christian tightens his hold on my hand.
"I look forward to hearing more." I feel my mom watching until the phone rings.
"Ray's probably calling to let me know he's on his way", my mom says. She stands and hurries to answer the phone which is on the other side of the room.
"It's going great", I whisper to Christian.
"For now. I've still got to meet your dad." I place a hand on his left kneee which is bouncing. The sound of a car pulling into the driveway draws out attention. Moments later we hear the front door open and the sound of footsteps. My dad appears in the living room doorway, and Christian's knee bouncing increases.
C POV
Have you ever watched a movie and knew something suspenseful was about to happen? It feels like I'm in one of the movies at this exact moment. Ana's father is standing in the doorway, and I'm nervous as fuck. Ana's been trying her best to ease me, but I can't help it.
"Hi", he says. Carla stands and kisses him as Ana gets to her feet. I somehow manage to get my feet to cooperate.
"Dad", Ana smiles, hugging her father. The hug ends, and his eyes zone in on me. Dun dun dun!
"You're Christian?" I smile, nod, and shake his extended hand.
"Yes, sir. It's nice to meet you", I reply.
"It's nice to meet you. How about we have dinner so I can interrogate you." Panic floods me, and Ray starts chuckling. "I mean get to know you."
"Ray, don't chase the boy away before he has dinner", Carla jokes.
"Christian, your plate is almost empty. Would you like some more food?", Carla asks me over halfway through dinner which has gone well. All of the apprehension I was feeling earlier is gone, and I've enjoyed getting to know Ana's parents.
"I believe I'll have some more macaroni and cheese", I answer. Ana picks up the bowl and starts scooping out large spoonfuls. "Easy there. I don't think I can eat that much."
"You can try", Ana giggles.
"Christian, what do like to do outside of working at Delirium?", Ray asks.
"Write. I'm working on a book that's got a long ways to go, but I hope to have it published one day."
"Maybe I'll have your book on my bookshelf. Reading is one of my favorite things to do."
"It's one of the things my mom, dad, and I all have in common", Ana adds. "My dad and I like to fish, but my mom not so much."
"Only because I've never had any luck", Carla sighs.
"That sounds like me", I tell her as I start working on my second helping of of macaroni and cheese. "My dad and brother always used to reel in gigantic fish while mine were the size of Goldfish." Before I know it my plate is once again near empty. "I can't believe I've eaten so much. I'm going to be miserable at work."
"You might find this hard to believe, but I've never been to Delirium during business hours. I've visited several times before closing, just never when it's been open."
"You and Dad aren't exactly the clubbing kind of couple", Ana replies, earning a raised brow from her mom. "I don't mean that as a bad thing."
"Maybe your mom and I should change that", Ray shrugs before taking a sip of his water. "Delirium has music and dancing, right?"
"Right", I answer. Jack's an asshole, but he is a good DJ. Of course I'd never tell him to his face.
"Ray, I just had the best idea!", Carla exclaims, clapping her hands. "After we've cleaned up from dinner we should change and go to Delirium." Ana's jaw drops. "I'm not sure what to wear, but I'm sure I'll find something club suitable."
"Just wait until everyone sees my dance moves", Ray smiles. "My Running Man and Chicken Dance are pretty good." Ana takes a long drink of her water as she starts looking nervous like I was earlier. "Ana, what do you think?"
"Um...sure", she stammers. "Go and have a nice time." Carla and Ray look at each other and burst into laughter.
"We're kidding. You were right when you said your mom and I aren't the clubbing kind of couple. However, she and I will have our own fun later." My eyes widen.
"Just when you think the conversation can't get any more awkward", Ana says. She turns to her dad and then her mom. "I see what you're doing. You're still kidding. Christian, they're messing with us again."
"Oh", I nod.
"Maybe. Maybe not", Carla says.
A POV
"How did the dinner with Ana's parents go?", Rocco asks me.
"It went great, much better than I thought." I refill one of the salt shakers as a commotion erupts at the back of the club. I set the shaker down and see Ana being grabbed by a burly, dark haired guy who's seated at one of the tables. She's trying to get away from him, but it only seems to be making him angrier. "What the fuck is going on?" I leap over the bar and hurry to Ana. I see Jack grabbing the guy by the collar just as Todd, one of the bouncers, arrives to help.
"Let me go!", the guy shouts.
"So you can go after her?", Jack sneers. "I don't think so! Todd, get this loser out of here!" Todd grabs the guy and pushes him to the door before I have to a chance to take a shot. Ana's rubbing her left wrist.
"Baby, are you ok?" We might be at work, but I'm being both a co-worker and a boyfriend.
"Yeah. I'm fine. He asked for my number and started getting pissed when I said no."
"I saw the guy when he first got here", Jack says. "He walked in like he thought he was some hotshot. I saw him grab Ana and instantly ran to get him away."
"And I appreciate you helping. Thank you."
"Yeah. Thanks", I say. "I'm glad you were there."
"You're welcome", Jack replies. He and I aren't going to start being buds, yet I'm grateful for him getting the guy off Ana. "I've got to get back to the booth." He heads back to the DJ booth while I place my arm around Ana and lead us to the back.
"I can't believe I let that guy get the upper hand on me. I took a self defense class and should've been able to get away from him", she murmurs. "That sort of thing was one of the reasons my dad was against me working here." She sits down and sighs.
"Let me see your wrist." I bend down and see a small bruise already on the wrist. "It's been slow so I don't think Rocco will have a problem covering the bar while I take you to get this checked out."
"I'm not going to the hospital. It's just a bruise. I'll be fine." The back door opens and in walks Lisa. She sees my hand still resting on Ana's wrist. "Um...hi."
"Hi. I was going to take the night off but decided to come in and do some paperwork. It seems I made a good decision." I move my hand and stand.
"This isn't foreplay. I was checking on her wrist", I say.
"Her wrist? Ana, what happened to your wrist?"
"One of the customers got a little aggressive, but I'm fine." Lisa blows out a breath and examines Ana's wrist. "It's just sore. The guy got thrown out."
"I'm sorry that happened. Our customers are normally well behaved, but there can be times were things get out of hand. If you'd like you can cut out of here early and head home."
"No", Ana sighs. "I'm going to finish my shift."
"I can hear in your voice your mind is made up so I won't pressure you. I'll be in my office if you need anything."
"Are you sure you don't want to go home?", I ask Ana once Lisa's gone into the office.
"I'm sure. What I want to do is to try and forget what happened."
"What I want to do is find that guy and knock the shit out of him", I mumble.
"But you're not going to." Ana stands and gently brushes her hand along my cheek.
"Only because you don't want me to."