“Brad’s got the day off, so I thought I’d spend it with him.”
Ian glanced at the open office door to make his point. “Where is he then?” Ian really liked Brad, he’d given a confidence to his friend that Ian hadn’t noticed was missing until he’d found his mate.
Lionel’s issues with his pride kicking him out had brought his mom home, and it seemed to have allayed some past misconceptions. Ian wasn’t sure what they all were, but Lionel had never looked happier.
Would Rick give him a confidence boost with his family?
“The apartment block next door, he’s got a crew working there, and needed to drop something off, so I thought I’d come pester you and find out why you haven’t rung me about Rick.”
“Sorry.” He went and hugged Lionel. “I’ll be eternally grateful to you for buying me the ticket,” he said earnestly.
Lionel sniffed and gave him a hard squeeze. “How did your family take it?” He didn’t give Ian a chance to reply as he continued on, flooring Ian with his next words. “At least now you’ll have a valid reason to stop being their ‘go to’ freebie babysitter or the guy who has to drop everything to meet their needs.”
“Why do you say that?” he blustered, unsure of his footing right then. How could one of his best friends notice what he hadn’t? Well, not to the same degree.
Lionel’s expression became wary. “Listen, sorry to be so blunt, but come on, Ian, the ghost tour is just one of the many times you’ve canceled plans with me and Hector because your family ‘needed something’.”
He was right, and he’d had a message from his brother about him canceling Friday evening. He hadn’t been impressed. The reply was abrupt, and Ian had read between the lines that he’d pissed his brother off. “They are going to have to get used to me saying no because Rick is my priority, as he should be.”
Lionel held up his hands in defense. “Hey, you get no arguments from me. Your family is great, but they do take the piss out of you.”
“We’re having a family lunch on Sunday I’ve organized and they’re gonna find out that they won’t be doing that any longer.”Please let that be the case.
“You can hope,” Lionel muttered under his breath, but Ian heard him before he said, “So when do we all officially get to meet him? Want me to organize something at my place, we can use the grill, interested?”
He picked up his cell phone eagerly. “Yep, let me see what works for Rick.”At least this was easy!
Chapter Thirteen
Rick
It was clear that Ian’s mother was definitely the head of Ian’s family. Rick had been to the Italian restaurant before—usually with Ernest in pre-Toby days. It was a very relaxed place, had plenty of light, and big wooden tables designed for large family and friend groups. So Rick didn’t have any issues with where they were going. Except Ian’s mother ruffled the fur on the back of his neck from the first few seconds of meeting.This is going to be fun… not.
The family was ten minutes late, and Ian’s nerves were growing by the second. When they arrived, Rick got the impression it was Mom with a capital M, and an entourage. Technically, he wasn’t wrong. Ian’s mom was accompanied by her husband, Maisie, and her husband Rupert, as well as the two brothers, William and Winston, and their mates Bianca and Jane. No kids, Rick noticed, except baby Alfie.
Ian’s dad seemed to be a quiet enough and genuinely nice guy who at once shook Rick’s hand and welcomed him to the family. Ian’s mother was a different kettle of fish entirely. She eyed Rick up and down and sort of wrinkled her nose, although she did give Ian a bighug. “It’s so wonderful tofinallysee you,” she gushed, as though it had been months since they’d last met, instead of a couple of weeks.
Rick wasn’t impressed with Maisie, who immediately dropped the baby from her arms to Ian’s before she sat down. “He misses his favorite uncle so much. He was devastated when you couldn’t spend time with him the other night. Devastated.”The drama queen.
Considering Alfie was no more than three months old, Rick highly doubted the “misses you” aspect, although he kept his mouth shut and his thoughts to himself. Ian’s mom was nodding as if she agreed.
Apparently, that was all the encouragement Maisie needed because she carried on, “It was such a shame, too, because you know my Rupert’s not very romantic most days, but he had such a wonderful dinner date planned for us, and we couldn’t go. It was impossible to get another sitter at such short notice.”
Then you should have perhaps thought about that before you asked Ian,but Rick kept that thought to himself as well. He could see that it was going to be a running theme.
Winston appeared to have a similar problem. “Yeah, Ian, come on, like what’s going on with this babysitting mandate, bro? So, you’ve got yourself a mate. That’s great. Happy for you, genuinely. But you totally stuffed up my Friday night plans. You knew Bianca was away, and I hadn’t seen my friends in weeks. It wouldn’t have killed you to have taken the girls overnight. It’s not like you haven’t done it before. It’s what our family does for each other.”
Ian, who was still holding Alfie, stammered, clearly not knowing what to say. His cheeks were bright red, and Rick could feel how upset he was through their bond, although nobody would ever know, looking at Ian’s expression. Focusing on their bond, Rick sent through,your brother’s a bit of a moppet. Out of the whole family, I’m so glad I got you as my wonderful mate.
Ian sat up a little straighter. “It would be really nice if we could order food before you start tearing into me for my apparent selfishness.” He said quietly. “Rick and I have both worked up an appetite this morning, and I for one am looking forward to a large bowl of carbonara.”
Rick was watching Ian’s mom, leaning back in her chair, her face shuttered as if she wasn’t used to Ian speaking up for himself. Which was interesting when she had no problems with Maisie picking on Ian from the moment she arrived.
“You have to understand we’re a very close family.” Rick realized Ian’s mom was talking to him. “Ian is loved by all his nieces and nephews, and has been for many years. It would unthinkable that anything, or anyone would interfere with such an important part of our family dynamic.”
You mean a built-in babysitter.Rick was good at keeping the thoughts off his face as well.
“Clearly, as you’re not able to have children of your own…”
