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*Roman's POV*
Getting to the local diner, I looked at my watch and realized that Jimmy and Jey would be here at any minute with their wives. I couldn't wait to see them. Though we Skype whenever we can, this would be the first time since moving here to Texas that we'll get to hang out before they have to get back home.
"They'll be here, soon." Cassandra tells me as she looks up at me.
"I know. I can't wait, though." I tell her with a smile.
Showing that beautiful smile of hers, I take her in my arms. Cassandra wore a short blue dress that stopped a few inches above her knees and jean shorts underneath. Her long, brown hair was in a neat, French braid and her eyes had a clear hint of blue in them. We share a kiss before seeing a car show up in the parking lot.
"ROMAN!" Exclaimed Jimmy and Jey when they get out of the car after parking it.
"I knew you guys would make it!" I exclaimed, seeing them and their wives.
We all greet each other before I turn my attention back to Cassandra. I grabbed her hand and she stepped beside me with a bit of a shy smile.
"Guys, this is my girlfriend, Cassandra." I tell them. "Cassandra, this is Jimmy, Jey, Naomi and Julissa."
They all greet each other and happily took her in as if they've known her for a long time. As we made our way to the entrance of the diner, I walked behind with my cousins. After ordering, we spent some time talking about how our days were going and whatnot before they started wanting to get to know Cassandra better.
"You're a teacher, right?" Asks Jimmy.
"Yes. I teach high school English to juniors and seniors." She tells them. "I love what I do."
She snuggles up to me and I kiss her temple before wrapping my arm around her shoulder. "She's really good at what she does. You don't know how many of my guys talk about how much they like her."
"What made you want to go into teaching?" Asked Naomi.
"I was always shy growing up. Like, painfully shy." Cassandra replies. "As I got older and as my little sisters came along, I would always teach them things and when I started doing summer camp, I just loved the feeling even more that you get when you teach something. The feeling of accomplishment knowing that you were able to allow someone to gain knowledge. I don't know how to explain, I just love the feeling that comes with teaching. It did help me a bit with my shyness, though I still have my moments like Roman knows."
"Roman hasn't had the best of luck when it comes to relationships." Said Jey as our food comes along. We thank the waiter before he leaves and go back to our conversation. "From the time that we've spent talking and getting to know you better over the last few weeks before coming here, you seem like a really good woman and the fact that you're making him this happy, I'm glad that he's found you. How can we feel confident in knowing that you're good for him? I already know that you are, just by the conversations that we've had with you, but how can you set that in stone to the rest of us who haven't met you yet?"
"I can't promise that we won't have our arguments or that we won't have disagreements about some things because what couple doesn't? But what I can promise and assure you of is that I will try my best to make him the happiest that I can make him. I don't see just this Samoan badass with the long hair and the tattoo with the muscles and the abs. I look at Roman and I see a guy who deserves a woman who will give him her whole heart. A woman who will take care of his heart and him in general. A woman who is willing to give him her all and a woman who he can look at and see, not only just a girlfriend. But his best friend. His future. A woman that he can count on for anything."
"His future, huh?" Jey asked with a smile.
I look over at Cassandra and see her cheeks get some color to them. I smile, realizing why and I feel just pure joy filling my whole body.
"Roman, where'd you find her?" Naomi asked with a smile. "You should have came to Texas sooner."
"Right?" I asked and we all laughed a bit. Cassandra and I lock eyes and the rest of the world disappeared around us. "I should have."
I touch my nose with hers before I give her a kiss. It wasn't always that I didn't mind a little PDA. I've always been private about my relationships and while a part of me still is when it comes to my relationship with Cassandra, I also don't mind showing that she's mine.
That night...
"I remember you saying that you saw Megan here." Said Julissa. "How's that been?"
"You don't even know." I said, shaking my head. "I don't know if I mentioned it yet because it just recently happened. Cass and I were shopping for a few things that we needed and guess who we saw?"
Their eyes widened as I nodded. "Megan. We had literally walked into WalMart like about five minutes earlier and I heard someone calling my name. I looked and it was her. I didn't know she was going to be there."
"So Cassandra finally met her?" Asked Naomi. "How did that go?"
I scratch my head. "They didn't fight. They didn't argue. They didn't make a scene. All they did was just say a few words to each other which I'm glad that it's all that happened. You know how Megan can be. I don't want to put Cassandra through that."
"Hey, there's people out there man, who don't respect other people's relationships." Jimmy said. "Be careful with Megan. If she's really here for the long haul, make sure she doesn't do some crazy stuff."
"I don't want to spend my whole relationship with Cassandra having to worry about another person trying to ruin it." I said. "Megan's out her mind if she thinks that she'll ruin it for me. I don't know if I'll see her again, but until that day comes, I'm just thinking about meeting Cassandra's family this weekend."
"It was bound to happen." Jey said. "Are you excited or nervous?"
I think for a moment. "Both, but I'm more nervous though. Especially when it comes to her dad."
"You'll do good." Naomi said as she gives me a look before looking at everyone else.
"What?" I ask.
She shrugs. "Do y'all see what I see when I look at Roman?"
"Absolutely. He's got it bad for Ms. Cassandra." Says Jimmy with a big smile.
"Oh, come on." I say, not being to hide the smile on my face. It wasn't long before I admit that I do. "Okay, yes I do have it bad for her. I didn't know I could be this happy. The way just one look at her could make my stress and my bad mood just disappear. The way her laugh, her smile, the way it just brightens my day. She's the first person I think about in the mornings. The last one I think about at night. I really lo...I really look forward to what's to come with her."
Over the next few days, we spent at the beach or the pool and even going to the amusement park today. Cassandra came with us for two of those days and even got to spend some girl time with Naomi and Julissa.
Tonight was no different as we were at Cassandra's apartment for dinner with Dean being able to make it. I set up the table while Cassandra set everyone's plate and before I picked up the first plate, I hugged her from behind and lightly kissed her shoulder.
"You okay, baby?" I asked her, feeling her lean against me. "You've been quiet all day."
"I'm okay. Just in one of those moods." She replies.
I rested my chin on her shoulder. "What mood is that?"
"It's nothing." Cassandra softly says. "I just want to curl up in bed and cuddle."
"We can do a lot cuddling tonight." I whisper in her ear and kissing her neck.
She turns around to face me as she softly laughs and wraps her arms around my neck. "Good. I'll be looking forward to that."
We share a kiss before we let everyone know that dinner was ready. We managed to fit a few more chairs around the dining table to accommodate everyone. Before I knew it, we were telling stories about family vacations and get together.
"Have you seen Roman's pictures of when he was a kid?" Asked Jimmy.
"No, I haven't." Cassandra said with a smile. "You have some?"
He took out his phone and looked through it before giving it to her. "You seriously have a picture of me as a kid?"
"Hey, it's our favorite picture." He tells me as he laughs a bit. "It's the three of us after a football game."
"Aww, you look so cute." She says with a smile as she looks at the picture.
I lean over and see that it was me with Jimmy and Jey after playing a football game. Instantly remembering that day, I realized that it really was a favorite picture of mine as well.
"We won that day, I think, didn't we?" I asked.
"Yup." Said Jey. "I don't remember the score but I know we kicked some serious ass."
We laugh before Jimmy got his phone back after Dean saw the picture. I'm glad he was here because he had become my best friend since I got here and with me wanting to spend as much time with my cousins and their wives as I possibly could before they went back home, I didn't get to see him much like I usually did.
As the night went on, the conversation and the laughter didn't stop. I would occasionally steal glances at Cassandra who was enjoying the stories as she listened in to them. Then I remembered how I almost let it slip the first night that they got here, the L word. I don't know if I was ready just yet, to say it, but I was getting there.
After desert, I had left with Dean, my cousins and their wives. Though Dean had gone in his own car, I had bought everyone else back to my apartment. After going upstairs, I grab an overnight bag and put in my toothbrush and some clothes for tonight and tomorrow.
"We're going to head back to the hotel." Said someone from behind. Looking back, I see that it's Jimmy who was standing by the door. "You need anything before we leave?"
"No, I think I'll be alright." I tell him.
"Okay. So we'll see you tomorrow?" He asked. I nod and follow him out to the living room to make sure they were okay before they left.
"By the way," Jey said. "We really like Cassandra. She's a sweetheart and she treats you right. Make sure you hold on to her. It's rare to find a woman like that these days, no matter where you are. We approve."
"I will." I said. "I'm lucky and thank you guys for taking the time out to come here and meet with her and Dean as well. I'm glad you guys like both of them."
"Roman and Cassandra, sittin' in a tree..." Jimmy and Jey started singing. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then comes marriage..."
"Okay, okay. Goodnight." I said, ushering them out the door as I shake my head with a smile.
Letting out a sigh when I close the door and lock it, I take a shower before I finished getting ready to go back to Cassandra's house. Dressing in just a wife beater and basketball shorts, I make my way up to her apartment and I knock on the door. Moments later, she answers wearing shorts and a tank top with her hair in a braid.
"A certain someone said she wanted to curl up and cuddle." I said as I walked in. "I was wondering if I could be the one she cuddles with."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." She says, wrapping her arms around my neck.
She squeals when I pick her up and her long legs wrap around my waist. I take her to the living room and see that she had blankets and pillows laid out on the floor with the television on. Putting her down, I quickly put my bag in her room and take off my shoes before going back to her and laying next to her. I didn't waste any time letting her cuddle up to me when I take her into my arms. I shower her with kisses before we put our attention to the television. I wouldn't mind spending a night like this with her.
"I know I said I wanted to cuddle in bed, but I wanted to watch television first." Cassandra says. "When we're finished here, we can go to bed, if you'd like."
"I'd like that." I say with a smile. She gives me a kiss and curls up against my body to cuddle again. Definitely a good night.
That weekend...
I drove into a gated community as I listened to Cassandra's directions on how to get to her dad's house. We passed by houses with lawns that were neatly cut and well kept. I had my few choices on which houses I really liked, based on their outside appearance, though it was nothing compared the house that we stopped at. Pulling into the driveway and parking in an empty spot, I turn the car off and looked in awe at the house before me.
"Damn, this looks like a mansion." I mumble as I take off my seat belt. The house had two floors and it was made of bricks and concrete and the lights were on inside. I got out of the car and stepped unto neat, and clean, pavement that was lined with small lights up from the entrance of the driveway to the garage door that was a bit further ahead. Another part of the house, was a small balcony with four long pillars on the first floor for a room that was there and a balcony for what looked like a bedroom, upstairs. A little further beyond that
"You okay?" Cassandra asks when she walks up beside me.
Looking into her eyes, I felt at peace, though it couldn't take away all of the nervousness that I had inside. Feeling her arms around my waist, I leaned down and kissed her lips. "I'm okay. Do I look presentable?"
"You look very handsome." She tells me with a smile. I look down at my white, button down shirt with dark blue jeans and black dress shoes. I had my hair neatly put back into a bun and I had shaven.
"You look so beautiful tonight, baby." I tell her. Looking at her, I see the beige dress that she's wearing. It reaches slightly above her knees, but still long enough to cover enough. It's made of lace and waves in and out. The top part of the dress had a design of hearts and stars with more lace material in it, and with a few beads, stopping by the sweetheart neckline. She wore a necklace with a heart on it and her sandles were of a darker shade of beige with beads making out a design. Her long, brown hair in curls that cascaded down her back.
Cassandra gives me that beautiful smile of hers before I lean down to give her another kiss. She wipes off some of her lip gloss left behind on my lips from hers before we hold hands and intertwine our fingers. Walking beside a few cars, we get on a little path that goes from the driveway to the front door that was also lined up with small lights.
When we did get to the entrance, on each side, there was a light on the pillars that were made of concrete and a small bush in front of the windows that were on each side. It was neatly trimmed and well kept. Going further in until we reached the door, I saw that it was two large doors with a large window on each one. Cassandra rang the doorbell and we waited a few moments before someone finally answered the door.
"Hi, Gunner." Cassandra said when a tall guy opened the door. He was wearing a plain red shirt with jeans and sneakers and looked a bit similar to her.
"Hey, sis. It's nice to see you." The guy said as he gave her a hug and when they pulled away, he looked over at me. "Is this the lucky guy you've been talking about?"
Cassandra grinned. "Yes. This is Roman and Roman, this is my brother, Gunner."
"Nice to meet you." I said as we shook hands.
"Nice to meet you, as well." He said with a smile. "Come inside."
When we did, I couldn't help but look around at the foyer when we did. The floor was white and marble and the walls were white and there was what seemed to be a closet nearby with a small bench beside it. There was a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling that was on and sparkled with the light. Walking in a little further, there was a huge staircase that curved to the second floor. The staircase had black railings all the way up and wooden steps. The smell of food filled the air and noises of chatter and laughter filled the air.
"Hi, mom." Cassandra said with a smile, when the same blonde woman with a long, sun dress and her long, blonde hair out like her daughter.
"Hey, sweetheart." She said, giving her daughter a hug. I saw the similarities in the way they looked and smiled at their interaction. "It's nice seeing you, again. I'm glad you could make it tonight."
"Thank you for inviting me." I said, shaking her hand. We walked to the living room where everyone else was. The room was huge as there was a large, flat screen television propped up on the wall with speakers, one on each side. Suede sofas that were a cream color with white marble floors. There was a smaller chandelier in there with a table in the middle that had a vase full of flowers and a few magazines. I saw pictures on the wall and smiled when I saw one with what looked like Cassandra when she was a little girl. She was in her gymnastics uniform and holding a gold medal and a huge smile on her face.
"Cass!" Exclaimed three little girls as they came running up to her. Her little sisters. I thought, remembering them from that one time that I had seem them with her.
After being introduced to everyone, I knew there was one person missing. I looked around a bit until I heard a deep voice filling the room. Turning around, I saw a large man with a grey shirt, jeans and boots with a bandanna on his head. His tattoos still on his arms and after years of seeing him on television, I was finally seeing the legend himself, who was simple known to Cassandra as 'dad'.
"Hi, daddy!" She happily exclaimed, before quickly going into his arms. He gave her a big smile as he hugged her and kissed her head. When she pulled away, she looked up at him and gave him a big smile after he had said something to her. I couldn't help but smile as I saw how much love she had for her father. Seeing him turn his attention to me, I felt the nervousness shift into high gear. "Dad, this is Roman. My boyfriend."
"Nice to meet you, sir." I said, extending my hand out as I hear everyone quiet down a bit.
"Nice to finally meet you." He replied, taking my hand and keeping a firm grip on it before we let go. Cassandra pokes her head from behind her father and looks from him to me. The talking resumes after his wife asks if everyone's ready for dinner. I take a look back at Cassandra who gives me that smile of hers that calms my nerves a bit.
Going into the kitchen after placing my hand on the small of her back, my mind just keeps getting blown away at how amazing this place looks. The kitchen, in itself is almost bigger than my whole apartment. Granite counters with stainless steel sink, refrigerator, stove and two ovens that were next to the stove with another one connected to the actual thing. There was an island in the middle of the kitchen with a granite counter and black chairs. A large dining room was next to the kitchen with a mahogany table and chairs of the same material around the table. Everything was clean and spotless and Cassandra was right about this place. It had a family feel to it that helped make it warm and inviting.
Grabbing a plate, I look at all of the food that's in front of me. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, baked mac and cheese with rice and BBQ style beans. As each person got their plate, little by little, the dining room filled up. I pulled out Cassandra's chair for her and took a seat next to her when she took hers.
"So, Roman. I hear that you're a football coach at Houston High and that you got the team to end the season on an undefeated streak." Mr. Calaway said a few minutes into our dinner. "What made you get into coaching football?"
"I've played football since I was seven years old." I tell them. "So I loved the sport every since I was little. I got a scholarship to Georgia Tech for football and so I played all throughout college, starting for three years, but when going pro didn't work out for me after I graduated, I took up coaching. I thought it was a way for me to still be somewhat involved in something I love."
"What if coaching didn't work out for you?" Asked his wife, Michelle. "What were you going to do then?"
I took a sip of my soda and looked over at her. "I majored in Business Management and graduated with a degree in that. So if the whole coaching thing was to not work out either, I would have stuck with that." I tell her. "I made sure that I had something to fall back on in case that didn't work out for me."
"Where you from?" Asked Gunner, Cassandra's older brother.
"Born and raised in Pensacola, Florida." I replied.
"What made you come all the way out here?" Asked their father, who eagerly awaited my answer as we ate our food. "It's a long way from Florida."
I nod. "It is. But I was going through a lot, mentally and emotionally in the time leading up to me coming out here. I was bummed out that I wasn't able to go pro, and then having to go back home from Georgia and feeling like I went from having all this freedom, to feeling like I was stuck again. Then you add in a failed relationship that did more harm than good. My dad and I always on opposite sides of the page when it came to everything. Things were just building up and I so after I got myself together and things calmed down, I just packed up and left."
"Without a game plan on what you would do or where you'd go once you got here?" He asked.
"Yes, sir." I said, in hesitation, not knowing how much of my past Cassandra has told any of them, if at all. She looks over at me and holds my hand under the table. I intertwine our fingers and squeeze them gently. "If it wasn't for Dean, who's my best friend and my brother, I don't know how well things would have gone for me. Doesn't mean that I didn't struggle though, because I did."
"Interesting." He simply says, before taking another bite of his food. The man wasn't showing much emotion towards me, and I understood in a way. I'm dating his daughter and they're still very close, from the looks of it.
"Ambrose?" Asked her mom. "He's a nice guy. A bit on the wild side, but nice. I like him."
Others agreed. I clear my throat and finished eating my food, before helping myself to seconds, as did a few others. After that, it was cheesecake for desert, which added the final touches to a good dinner. I felt like I couldn't move for a moment there, from so much food that I had eaten. I had offered to help clean up, though they convinced me to go spend some time with Cassandra in the living room. Going in, I see her sitting on one of the plush sofas with her little sisters as well as her niece and nephew, whom are her brothers kids. They sit there and look through a photo album.
"Look, it's Roman." Says one of the little girls as they all turn their attention to me.
"Hey, everyone." I say with a smile. "Do you mind if I look at the pictures, too?"
I smiled when they all said it was okay and so I made my way over to them. I kiss Cassandra on her cheek when I manage to get a seat next to her. Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, she snuggles closer to me and shows me the page that they're on.
"This is you?" I asked. It was a girl who couldn't have been older than 14, with Mr. Calaway. There was happiness in her eyes and her smile was genuine and big as she had her father's large arms hugging her.
"Yes. It was backstage at one of his shows." She tells me before pointing to one with her holding a little baby. "And this one was with Ms. Gracie."
The blonde little girl, giggled as she looked up at her older sister. Kaia, her youngest sister, climbed up to the sofa and crawled to her lap. "Look it, baby."
"Yeah, that was Gracie when she was a baby." Cassandra tells her. "You were that little, too when you were born."
Our eyes lock and our gazes linger on each other when she looks up at me with the most beautiful smile. She leans over slightly and touches my nose with hers.
"Is your dad always that serious?" I ask her.
"No." She replies with a smile. "It'll get better. You just have to get through tonight."
"I'm trying." I say.
"I know, baby, and thank you. I know it's probably a lot, with all of them here, but it means a lot that you're trying." Cassandra tells me before kissing my cheek.
Everyone comes back into the living room and takes their seats, everywhere else that's available. Mr. Calaway remains standing and looks around and smiling. I continue to see some of the pictures before he calls my name. I quickly look up and see that he signals for me to go over to where he was.
"Where you going?" Cassandra asks, watching as I get up.
She looks up at her father and gives him a little pout as he walks over and kisses her forehead. "Don't worry, darlin'. We're just going to talk. We'll be back soon."
"Okay." She softly says.
"It's fine." I tell her, kissing her cheek.
I followed Mr. Calaway and wondered what our conversation would be about and how serious it was, that he seemed to want it done in private.
A/N: How do you think their time went with Jimmy, Jey and their wives when they came into Texas? Do they seem to genuinely like Cassandra? Are you glad they approve of her and their relationship? How do you think Roman's handling dinner with Cassandra's family? Do you think her dad likes him yet, or is it too early to tell? What could her dad want to talk to him about in private?