7. Family Dinner

Gemma

"Mom, Dad, this is my boyfriend, Larry. Be nice, this is his first time meeting the parents." I decided to add it since he kept on teasing me earlier in his car.

Larry gazes at me with a smirk, but then politely holds out his hand to greet Dad and then Mom. It was like he was born to meet the parents. I have to resist my eye roll and let the guy rest his hand on the small of my back while making small talk with my parents. 

"Why don't you help me set the table while your Dad gets to know your boyfriend better?" Mom offers and I go with her, leaving Larry in the living room. 

"He's handsome, Gemma. I noticed he told us that his last name is Richardson, and he said that you met at work. Is he your boss?" Mom sounds scandalous and that makes me laugh. 

"Actually he is, it's really new. Like a couple of days new. I'm still surprised that he was willing to come to this dinner."

"Well, I think he likes you. Like a lot. Oh, Gemma, I'm so happy for you."

"Mmm... I guess I'm happy for both of you too." 

Okay, I really need to get it out. I have spent hours drinking and pouring my rambling thoughts on Larry and amidst all those talk I realized that I was so selfish to be mad at them. I need to at least hear their reasons for keeping me in the dark. 

"Oh...Gemma, that is all we want to hear from you. I have been nervous hiding this from you, for so long. Your Dad and I both do. It really broke my heart when you were upset earlier and it's not until Harland pointed out that having them there was probably not a good idea."

"Yeah, it was too much, too soon," I utter while helping her set the table as she's plating our dinner. 

"But now you and Dad love someone else. It's crazy news and I need time to digest, then Larry pointed out that you might be just doing so to protect me." Mom smiles so wide and I know that Larry has just won another brownie point with the parents.

"I know, honey, and I want you to take your time. We will always be there for you no matter what. You are family. Our daughter. The one and only."

I blush but then remember about their partners. "Um... so, do they have children? Will I have new siblings?"

Mom laughs and tells me no. 

"You're kidding me? I will have four parents now. more birthday gifts and additional trips on holidays?"

"Okay, I'm glad you're focusing on the good stuff. Because surely the gifts will be the best this year in line with our guilt about not filling you in with what was happening."

"Oh, hell yes...of course. I'm so going to milk it. I'll be sending you my list," I grin and start telling her about my new succulent babies to which she laughs and tells me that I might finally have survivors with my new pet project.

Mom tells me to get Dad and Larry for dinner and the men follow. Larry sits next to me, he is picture-perfect and I know Mom likes that I'm actually eating my dinner. Dad watches me with his big smile and I just smile back at him. The talk revolves around my childhood, and his, then our hobbies and more easy conversation. 

"So, Gemma told me that you're her boss.  Do you work in the same department?"

Wow, thank you for putting it out there, Mom. I gave her the deadly glare, only to have her struggling to hide her smile while Dad's eyes ping-ponged between me and Larry as if he was too eager to know who was going to spill the information first.

"Well, she's my PA. Have been for over a year, I think?"

I nodded, not wanting to count the days following that first year I was enchanted by his handsome features. Yeah, I am vain like that.

"Oh..." There's an understanding in Dad's eyes and Mom's giggling, nudging her elbow to Dad's. It's a disturbing view and I try to cough to break the tension. If only I could think of a smart diversion to derail them out of this trainwreck conversation.

"So, okay now I understand why you're so busy at work." Dad decides to push me under the bus and Mom looks pleased with his soon-to-be ex-husband.

"Ehm...yeah, but fear not, Gemma here is really good at her job." Okay, I know Larry means well, but my parents are grinning so wide that I sigh and just shake my head.

"Give it up boss, they're a lost cause." I rest my hand on top of Larry's and he takes it and kisses my knuckles. That...yeah, that got my parents all googly eyes.

"Aww...you two are the cutest." Mom praises.

"You have our blessing," Dad adds with almost teary eyes.

That...that makes me roll my eyes. They can be too much sometimes, though I feel all giddy on the insides.

Two hours later we were saying goodbye to my parents with another lunch date with Harland, Edwin, and Larry. They can't seem to get enough of my new boyfriend. Big surprise there.

"So dinner went well." 

"It did, thank you."

"Mm...actually, I rather enjoy myself. You have very easy-going parents."

"Really? Well, I guess they can be easygoing at times."

"But?" Larry asks further. It was like he was pushing the answer out of me. Yeah, he does that a lot, lately.

"I still hated the fact that they kept things from me. Though I'm okay now that you talked me over. I guess you're right." The man smugly tugged his lips and I huffed back to my seat.

"So, do you want to have coffee at mine before you head back to your place?" He asks once we're nearing his place.

"It's late and I have to go home," I tell him, though I do want to spend more time with him. And... I still need to process this boyfriend and girlfriend thing between us, since I barely have anyone to talk to nowadays I'm... "You know what, sure, I'll have a cup. I can water my succulents in the morning."

"Right, you don't want to water them too much or they'll die. You do know that they only need to be watered once a week right?"

"Ugh, I don't really read the instructions, maybe I should."

Larry chuckled when he parked the car in his space, next to mine. He waits for me before we walk to the elevator, and the man kisses me once we enter his place.

"I thought you were offering me coffee?"

"Well, I've been watching you throughout dinner and I just can't resist tasting your lips again. They're excellent by the way."

"You're such a sweet talker."

"I know, now...if only I can convince you to spend the night..."

"Oh..."

Oh...fuck, this is it. We dated, he's my boyfriend. He met my parents. So sex is the next logical thing, right? Then, why the hell why am I so nervous?

"You don't have to if you don't want to. I just think the day is so going well that we can spend more time together." His hands hold me close to him, and his lips trail to my neck, kissing just under my ear when I sigh in delight. Larry sure knows how to convince his partner because my self-preservation was crumbling and I really do want to stay and let him do naughty things with me.

"There's something you need to know." I sigh, resting closer in his embrace.

"Yeah? You can tell me anything." He responds, kissing my forehead, making me gooey on the inside.

"I'm a virgin."