November Prompt:

"Ready for another year of awkward conversation and unmet familial expectations?"

"No, but I brought tequila so I will be there soon."

Carlos POV:

It had been a couple months since Steph and I had gone on our date and subsequently been arrested. Currently, she was trying to find clothes to wear to her family's Thanksgiving dinner.

She finally pulled on a navy-blue turtleneck and a cute black mini skirt. I watched as she slipped on a pair of high heeled leather boots. My eyes followed her to the bathroom as she curled her hair and did her makeup.

I sat on the bed, waiting for her to finish up. She walked out and looked at me. "Damn you're hot!" she said.

I chuckled. "Thanks, Babe."

She laughed softly, pulling me up from where I was sitting. I wore a pair of charcoal slacks, black shiny leather Italian loafers, and a white button up shirt. I left two buttons open, and I rolled the sleeves up. Steph's eyes roamed over me again.

"Babe, if you don't stop, we're not going to make it to your parents' house." She pouted but sighed.

"Come on, we better get going," she said. At the door, I helped her slip on her winter coat and a scarf.

I stepped out the door and she stopped as I put on my jacket. "I forgot my bag," she said, walking back into the apartment.

She walked back out and wrapped an arm around my waist, leaning up and kissing me on the cheek. We took the elevator down to the garage and I opened the door of the Turbo for her. She pulled her skirt down and slid in.

I walked around and got in, starting the car and turning on the warmer. She smiled softly at me.

"Babe," I smiled as she ran her nails over my leg.

She smiled up at me. "It's your fault for looking so good!" she told me. I chuckled.

We parked in front of the Plum residence, and I heard her groan. I took her hand and kissed the back of it.

"Ready for another year of awkward conversation and unmet familial expectations?" I joked.

She sighed. "No, but I brought tequila so I will be there soon."

"Babe!"

"What?" she asked. "You've met my family. Do you think my mom is sober during these things?"

"Are you sharing?" I asked.

She grinned. "Of course. Just let me know if I need to call someone to drive us home."

"You forget my tolerance is higher than yours," I said kissing the tip of her nose before sliding out. She rolled her eyes as I walked around to open her door. She took my hand as we walked to the house.

As we stepped onto the porch the door opened. Grandma Mazur stood just inside the door, with a big, appraising smile on her face as she looked me over. Steph giggled as I pulled her slightly in front of me.

She still managed to grab my ass as we walked through. I jumped, sending her a look as Steph steered me into the living room. She pushed me down on the couch. "If you stay sitting, she can't grab your ass," she told me as she eased into my lap.

"Hmmm," I grunted, wrapping my arm around her waist.

The door opened again, revealing her sister and her brood. Albert made his way into the living room and stared at me and Steph. She rolled her eyes as her sister paused to look too. "Albert, sit, we don't bite." Steph joked.

Then her mother yelled for her to come into the kitchen. She gave me an apologetic look. Valarie followed her, leaving Me, Albert, Frank and the kids in the living room. The girls smiled at me and greeted me before sitting on the floors to play. Twenty minutes later, Steph came out of the kitchen with her purse. She motioned for me to join her, and we discreetly made our way to the garage. Steph sat on the hood of big blue and opened the bottle, taking a swig.

She coughed and passed it to me. I chuckled as I took a sip for myself. The door opened and Steph snatched the bottle from me to hide it. Her father stepped through the door and shook his head.

"Figured you two would be in here; glad I didn't walk in on anything more than drinking," he said. Shutting the door, he walked over to a stack of two boxes. He slid them out of the way, revealing a hidden hatch. He pulled up the board and lifted out a box of cigars and a bottle of whiskey.

I shook my head; this whole family had a stash hidden somewhere. Steph pulled the bottle of tequila out from behind her and smiled at her father. "Getting crazy in there yet?"

"I love your sister and her kids, but her husband drives me nuts."

I chuckled, shaking my head. He handed me a cigar as Steph took another sip. "You better slow down Pumpkin. You won't be sitting up at dinner if you keep going."

"What did you tell mom to get out of there?" Steph asked.

"That I wanted Carlos's opinion on what was wrong with Big Blue, and I needed you to see if you were the one who caused it," he said bluntly.

Steph and I laughed, "Well I bet she believed that one." She grinned. I glanced at Steph and her eyes were a little bloodshot, and she swayed a bit. I slipped the bottle of tequila from her hand, and she frowned at me.

"Carlos." She whined.

"Nope, I need you to defend me from your grandma," I told her. She giggled and walked slightly off kilter to me. She leaned into me and smiled. I wrapped my arm around her to steady her.

Her father shook his head, "Her mother is a lightweight, too. Dinner is going to be a disaster."

I chuckled. "Better get her back inside," I said. He took the cigar back and put it back in the case as I helped Steph inside.

Just as we walked inside, her mother called everyone for dinner. I sighed; this is going to be fun.

XXXXXX

Steph POV:

I woke up with a groan and a headache. Carlos sat back against the headboard next to me, a tablet in his hands. He smiled softly at me, set the tablet down in his lap, and picked up some Tylenol and a water bottle off the table next to him.

He helped me sit up and take them as I rubbed my temples. "You're such a lightweight," Carlos told me.

I rolled my eyes, and instantly regretted it. "Did I do anything stupid last night?"

"What are we qualifying as stupid?" he asked me. I flopped back down against the bed.

"What did I do?"

"Well, you started a food fight, flung peas at your nieces and a huge spoon of potatoes at your mother. She was drunk, too, and thought it was hilarious."

"She's going to kill me!" I groaned.

He chuckled. "Your grandmother videoed it." He grinned. "Do you want to see it?"

I growled at him, "I'm going to kill you and her when I can open my eyes without the men behind my eyes stop pounding against my skull!"

Thank you Peri for doing these challenges every month!