True Nature (8 page)

Chapter 10 HER

My Dad is walking around looking at my windows, while Mom has disappeared into my bathroom. Probably snooping. "I don't like the idea of you being right on the street like this. Anyone could get in these windows." He's pointing to the front windows off the porch.

"The windows are safe, Dad. Besides my neighbor's dog would let me know if anyone was walking around here. Butch barks at everyone."

He doesn't look convinced. "At least there's a good lock on the door."

I've been nervous about bringing up Max, but this seems like a prime time. "Max put that on for me."

Behind me, Mom asks, "Who's Max, honey?"

"He's a guy I'm seeing..." She smiles bigger. Of course she's happy to finally hear about a guy in my life again! "Actually, I'm hoping you won't mind if he joins us for breakfast tomorrow?"

"Of course, not!" Her smile cannot get any bigger. "How long have you two been dating?"

I sidestep this question. "Only for a little while, but I think you'll like him."

"Does he have a job?" Subtle, Dad.

"He's a lawyer." So there.

"Hmm..." As close as he can get to approving.

"Well, if you like him, I'm sure we'll like him, honey." Mom hugs me. Yeah...like that's always been true. 

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"Hey."

"How was dinner?"

"Good. I took my parents to a pizza place near here. I think they liked it." I'm in bed already, with the lights off. His husky and deep voice sounds even better in the dark...I can imagine him lying next to me, with his mouth on my ear.

"Did you tell them about me?"

"Yes...I think you scored points with my Dad by adding that lock to my door. And I told them you are joining us for breakfast."

"Good. I can't wait to meet them!" He actually sounds excited about it. I've had to drag past boyfriends to family functions before.

"My brother might be there too...just so you're warned." Let's see how he really feels about meeting my family.

"Great!" Hmm...he may be too good to be true. "I'll pick you up and we can go together. What time?"

"10 o'clock. We're going to Eggceptional."

"OK...I'll be there at 9:30. Get some sleep, baby." Gee...my first nickname...he is too cute!

"Good night, Max." I choke on a nickname for him.

"...Lucy?" I pause before hanging up.

"Yeah?"

"Wear a skirt tomorrow."

I pause before answering, my brows going up and down in the dark, "...sure." My stomach reacts with that tightening, flipping feeling again...a charge pulsing down to my pussy.

"Good night." He hangs up before I can say anything more.

Chapter 10 HIM

"Are you sure you want to meet everyone?" She paused in front of the door, looking into the restaurant.

I can just see an older couple and a guy inside waiting for a table. "Yes." I open the door.

"Hey, kiddo!" The guy comes over and hugs Lucy, before turning to me for a handshake. "I'm Paul."

"Max. Nice to meet you." Shaking his hand, I can see the family resemblance, same curly hair and blue eyes. I turn to the older couple who are standing on either side of Lucy now. Her Mom is small like her, same eyes and hair. Her Dad is staring me down.

"Mom, Dad, this is Max." She looks so nervous. I want to plant a kiss on her right there, I only smile.

"Max Traeger, Sir." I shake his hand firmly.

"Paul and Elizabeth." Her Dad's shake is equally firm. Her Mom's hand is delicate in mine, just like Lucy's.

I turn towards the hostess stand, her Mom says behind me, "We put our name in, but they say for a larger group it'll be a twenty to thirty minutes wait."

I walk over to the stand and return with the hostess and menus. "Right this way." I direct her Mom to follow the hostess.  She raises her eyebrows and smiles at me.

"Bonus points with my Dad...he hates to wait for food." Lucy is poking my ribs as she follows behind her brother. I watch her ass sway just visible in her tight cotton skirt under a long matching tunic tank.

We're seated at an one end of an extra large round table on the second floor of the restaurant. Pastries, coffee, and juices are brought over before we've even settled into our seats.

"We didn't order these, dear," Her Mom is shooing the server away. He looks at me confused.

"It's all right, Elizabeth. I asked that they send over some starters for us. The cream puffs and muffins are the best here." Her Dad is already buttering a muffin.

"Oh...well...thank you, Max!" She looks much younger with a full smile.

"Do you know someone here?" Her brother is looking around the room.

"This restaurant is part of a group that I partner." He nods his head.

"I used to come here before we had kids. My wife and I lived around the block when we first got married." Paul Jr., is working on his second cream puff. "And these
are
the best! We would have to get here early to get a table though. Or wait in a long line and munch on these."

"Where are Cathy and the girls?" Lucy hasn't eaten anything, probably still too nervous. I squeeze her hand under the table.  "My neices are soooo cute!" She informs me.

"Well...I wanted to wait till we were all together." Paul puts down his puff and takes hold of his Mom's hand. "We're pregnant!"

"Oh, Son. That's great news!" Paul Sr., is grabbing his other hand across the table, while Elizabeth is hugging him. "The best news!"

"Congratulations, PJ!" Lucy gives him a hug and kiss too.

"Thanks! We're really excited...Cathy unfortunately is having alot of morning sickness this time, so she wasn't up to making a trip downtown. And the girls were acting up this morning, so she figured it would be best to leave them at home. Besides, I know you'll want to see them...Cathy's hoping you'll come back to the house and stay tonight at least."

"That sounds like a good plan." Paul Sr., says through a mouthful of muffin. "We can stay an extra day or two for our grandkids!"

Elizabeth is grinning even more and squeezes Paul's hand. "Ya know...I had alot of morning sickness with you, PJ...maybe it's a boy!" But she keeps looking at Lucy. Lucy avoids her stare, looking down at her plate instead.

"That's what Cathy said too, Mom. We'll know in a few weeks. Luce...you wanna come over too, the girls would love to see you! There's a train that'll get you back into the city not too late."

"Yeah...I'd love to see everyone too." Something in Lucy's response sounds sad though.

The waitress comes over for our orders and Lucy looks to me. I stop myself from kissing her right then. Does she already understand that I'll order for her, no matter who's around? Before she opens her mouth, I order pancakes and bacon for us both. "And I would like the fresh berries on top for the pancakes, not the pre-mixed in kind. Thanks."

"That sounds delicious. I'll have the same." Elizabeth closes her menu. Lucy smiles at me. She looks more relaxed now. No one noticed that she didn't even open her menu. My good girl.

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Standing outside the restaurant, Lucy in my arms. I give her a small kiss, knowing she's uncomfortable with her parents and brother standing not too far away.

"Call me when you get home tonight, baby."

"Will do." She kisses my cheek on more time. I walk her over to her family.

"It was nice meeting you, Max!" Elizabeth and Paul Sr., shake my hand again. "Hopefully, we'll see you again..." Her Mom looks pointedly at Lucy, who rolls her eyes in response.

"You definitely will," I hug Lucy to my side a little.

"And thanks for the extra cream puffs...Cathy is going to love these!" Paul Jr., holds up the cake box in his hands.

"No problem." I kiss the top of Lucy's head as a final goodbye.

As I walk away I can hear her Mom saying, "He's such a gentleman! You should hold onto him..."

Chapter 11 HER

This morning has been a nightmare. I over slept, my boss has been Hell on Heels, and this damn report keeps failing to save with my updates. There is not enough coffee in the world to help right now.

"Hey, stranger." I pull my hands away from my face and turn around. Tracy is standing in the doorway.

"Hey..." I know she's probably pissed at me for not calling her back this weekend. "Sorry I didn't call you....the weekend got
suprisingly
busy." I smile despite the bad day I'm having.

"I figured...are you going to spill the details or do I have to torture them out of you?!" She doesn't hold a grudge...one of the things I love most about her.

"How bout over lunch? I'm swamped and Cruela is riding her broom today."

"OK. Meet downstairs at noon...I'll tell Laura." She gives me her coffee. "You look like you need this more than me today."

"You are a Goddess!"

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"So...how
was
your date with Billy?" Tracy is wasting no time. We only just ordered our sandwiches.

"Um...well...actually...I didn't make my date with Billy." I crinkle my nose and smile guiltily. She and Laura give me matching blank stares. 

"What the fuck were you doing all weekend then?" Tracy slaps my shoulder. "Or should I say who the fuck?"

I just blush and press my lips together for a second before answering, "Max."

"Oh my God..." Laura is laughing.

"So wait...You spent the whole weekend with Max? What happened to Billy?" Tracy is wide-eyed and laughing too.

"Max came over early on Saturday, before Billy called...so I just cancelled. And one thing led to another..."

"You whore!" Tracy is loud and a few people look at our table.

"Shhh..." I'm laughing though. I've been dying to tell them about Max. "I didn't spend the whole weekend with him. Remember, my folks were in town. But he did have breakfast with them yesterday."

"Wow...that's major. You introduced him to your parents?" Laura is leaning in, waiting for more details.

"And my brother. He actually suggested it." I still can't believe how easy it was to have him there with my family. They couldn't stop talking later about what a great guy he was. Cathy was disappointed she didn't get to meet him.

"Why would he want to meet your family?" Tracy is looking sceptical.

"Well...because they don't live around here...so he....just wanted to...to be friendly I think." I can't explain it to her...she hasn't even introduced Josh to her family and they live thirty minutes away.

"Well I think it's sweet!" I can alway count on Laura to be the romantic.

"I think it's weird." Tracy is devouring her sandwich and mumbles this around a biteful. "Did you have sex at least?"

"Tracy!" Laura is slapping her now.

"Yes..." I'm shy about saying more.

"Thank God...at least you know it still works...hasn't closed shut on you!" Tracy's laughing again.

"Oh...it works...just fine thankyouverymuch!" We're all laughing loudly now.

"So when are you going out with Billy the Bullet? Maybe you can make this a streak..." Tracy raises her eyebrows obnoxiously. 

"Um...I don't think I'm going to go out with him..." I don't want to say why.

"Why not?" This time it's Laura's turn to grill me. "He's cute!"

"Um...well...I want to see where this goes with Max..."

"So...there ain't no ring on your finger!" Tracy is flipping me off with her ring finger. "And you don't have to get serious with the first guy you re-pop your cherry with!"

"I know that!" I'm feeling defensive now.

"Do you like Max that much already?" Laura is watching me closely.

"Yes...I do." I want to put an end to this conversation. "And he likes me that much too. He even said so."

"Wow...a guy in touch with his feelings...sure he's not gay?" Tracy is trying for a joke again, backing off.

"Definitely not gay!" We're laughing more. "I think I'm still sore..." I whisper this knowing Tracy would get a kick out of it.

"Ok...now I need more details! And we should have drinks! Let's go for happy hour tonight." Tracy is her usual loud self.

"OK...but I'm meeting Max at 7:00." They exchange a look as we're getting up from the table, but don't say anything until we're outside.

"Tell him to join us," Tracy pushes my shoulder.

"We'd like to get to know him, too," Laura adds.

"Um...well, we have plans...but I can see if he can join us for Wednesday?"

"I think Billy might be there...Josh already invited him and Tad." Tracy's smile is more a grimace.

"Oh. Well." I feel a queasiness in my stomach at the thought of Max meeting Billy. "Then maybe you can meet him Friday instead."

"Friday is the Fourth party." Laura reminds me. "But we can get to know him at that."

Hmm...not sure how I feel about introducing Max to a party full of people.