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“I’m such a big fan,” he admitted, holding up a Sharpie. “Do you mind signing my books?”
I looked down to see several of my newer titles, all sexy and violent and filled to the brim with foul language. The fact that Mia’s brother had read them all, and read them enough that he recognized me? Holy shit!
“Uh, sure,” I said, trying to quickly scribble my fake name in the books.
I’d always thought my pen name was hilarious, and kind of a fuck-it-to-the-man kind of thing, but now I kind of felt ashamed, knowing Mia’s conservative parents would associate that kind of childish humor to the man who wanted to marry their daughter.
“I’m happy to talk to you about all this,” I told him, handing them all back. “But not tonight, ok? But thanks, for being an awesome fan.”
Patrick grinned at me, then nodded.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. I think you should be far more concerned that they know you took her virginity than writing some books they’ll never read.”
Oh God…
“Mia, honey, c’mon over here,” Gran Gran said. “The football game is about to start, and we’ve got some things to chat about. You too, Maria!”
The ladies, minus my mother who was trying to ignore everyone around her, hustled into the kitchen while Patrick Sr. turned on their thirty-five inch TV and flicked the channel to the Thanksgiving day game. I knew there would be questions galore, but I was prepared for it. So, there I went, pretending to like football while being interrogated by my girlfriend’s dad. Excellent.
Chapter 26
-Mia-
I was grateful that Owen’s mom didn’t join us in the kitchen.
Maria was giddy and excited to gossip, but Mom and Gran Gran only had ears for Owen. And they wanted to know everything.
They both grabbed my arms and sat me down at the dining room table before Mom plopped a bowl of sweet potatoes and a peeler in front of me. Gran Gran sat down with some bread dough that she immediately started to knead.
“He’s handsome,” Mom said, sliding the ingredients for some green bean casserole over to Maria before sitting down to grate some cheese for our mac and cheese.
“He is,” I agreed, blushing. “But more than that, he’s such a wonderful man.”
“I’m sure your father will get all kinds of information from him. But I’m sure your Gran has questions for you. I know I do.”
Gran looked at me over her reading glasses perched on the end of her nose.
“I hear you’ve entered a relationship with a much older man,” she said with disapproval all over her wrinkled face.
Of all the questions she could have asked, this was the one I’d hoped she wouldn’t.
“He’s a writer,” I blurted. “Very successful, too!”
“And he’s your professor,” Gran Gran added.
“Only for a few more weeks,” I countered. “After that I’ll graduate and he’ll continue teaching.”
“Now, how in the world did a man teaching a class form a relationship with a young thing like you?” she demanded.
“Well, I help TA his classes, so we spent a lot of time together while we graded papers and things.”
Gran Gran let out a, “Mhmm,” and moved her attention back to the bread as she started to sort out little dough balls for rolls.
“What does he write?” Mom asked, trying to help move the subject to something less sensitive.
“He writes fiction. Space and fantasy and other sorts of adventures,” I said. “I’ve read a couple of them and he’s so talented.”
“That’s great honey.” Mom smiled, though it was strained.
