Page 51 of Reaching Gavin

“You’re getting broad-minded,” Gavin said, studying his friend as if he hadn’t seen him before.

“You’ve never brought a woman here,” Thomas retorted, “I don’t want to scare her away by nearly killing her if she has a shellfish allergy.”

“You’ve never asked me if I have a shellfish allergy,” Gavin said in a mock-accusatory tone.

“I would kill you if you did,” Thomas said. “Put you out of your misery.”

“That’s very sweet. There’s nothing to worry about,” I reassured him. “I’m easy.”

What I said took a second to register and when it did I closed my eyes in embarrassment.

Thomas only guffawed as the matter was settled and that was that. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all night.”

“Her lack of shellfish allergy is the best news?” Gavin said, as if seeking clarification.

“Sure,” his friend said, his eyes twinkling a bit as he clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s probably the best news for you, too.”

“I should tell you now that I have foot-in-mouth disease,” I said to Gavin when Thomas was safely back in the kitchen. “I’m always saying the wrong thing without meaning to.”

“I know. Why do you think I find you so fascinating?”

“I assumed it was my ass,” I said dryly.

“Believe me, that caught my eye. What caught my attention though was when you unleashed more curses than I had ever heard come out of a human’s mouth in the elevator that day—and I watched The Wolf of Wall Street.”

“I’ve got to work on that.” I’d gotten better or at least that’s what my best friends had told me. Maybe they’d developed a filter, too.

Gavin shrugged and took a sip of his water. “Why? They are just words.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying!” It was clear he understood me.

“I do have to wonder: do you talk like that around your parents?” he asked with interest.

So, he had brought up my parents. No guy had ever brought up my parents. On one hand, it only seemed fair given that I met his sister and that we were staying in his family home. But I couldn’t remember the last time a boyfriend had just casually inquired about my family. “The only time my filter works at 100% capacity is around my parents. I think my mom might have a heart attack if she heard me say crap.”

“I can’t wait to see you around them.” Gavin brushed his thumb over the back of my hand before taking it in his again.

“Oh yeah?” I tried to sound nonchalant as though the idea that Gavin had just suggested he meet my parents wasn’t a big deal. Inside, half of me was twerking with joy and the other half of me was shaken. No boyfriend since high school had met my parents. That guy—the one who had taken me to prom—was met at the door by my father, shotgun in hand. I couldn’t picture what it would be like to bring a serious, adult boyfriend home. This time the gun might be loaded.

“Yeah,” he confirmed. “Actually, that’s something I need to talk to you about.”

That sounded serious, so it was a good thing that the waiter showed up with our bottle of wine. I took it from him, skipping the unnecessary tasting ritual and poured myself a large glass. Once booze was safely in my hands, I addressed the previous topic. “Talk about what?”

“Imogen told my parents I was seeing you. I know.” He held up a hand before I could protest that we had not technically been together at that point. “We weren’t really seeing each other at the time, but she’s a bit of a psychic when it comes to these things. Anyway, they have been shamelessly calling, emailing, and texting—something I didn’t know my mother even knew how to do—and asking when they can meet you.” He ran his hand through his hair, that adorable, nervous tic he had. “Suffice it to say, I haven’t gotten involved with anyone in a long time. They’re chomping at the bit.”

Gavinwas worried about me meeting his parents, but it seemed like he wanted me to. It was awfully early for something like that. Yet, it also seemed perfectly natural. The war between my head and my heart rearing its ugly head. Rationally, I realized we hadn’t been dating that long. We’d spent some time together and we’d tried to ignore our attraction to one another. We’d known each other a couple of weeks. I might have expected to wait longer to meet most people’s parents. Given that I had never met any of my boyfriends’ parents either, I didn’t really have a typical timetable for these things. My best friends’ own experiences weren’t helpful. Jillian’s mother tended to show up like a hurricane, unannounced and intent on destruction. That’s how she had met Liam. Jess’s mother hadn’t even met Roman until after they were married. I supposed that what Gavin was asking was something safely in the middle. But even as I overthought it, my heart settled on the idea.

“It’s cool. If they’re anything like you, I’m sure I’ll love them.” It slipped so easily from my mouth: theL-bomb. Foot in mouth activated. Had I said that out loud? Because the implication of it was pretty clear. If they’re anything like you, I’ll love them? So, I’d been feeling a lot like I was in love earlier. Saying it was a whole other thing. One I wasn’t sure how he would handle. It was like I had a relationship destruct button.

But Gavin only smiled and leaned over to kiss me. “I know they’re going to love you, too.”

Well, that didn’t help. It soothed my nerves a little regarding my faux pas, but I didn’t know how to take what he said. Did he mean if I loved them, they would love me? Or did he mean that they would love me like he loved me? I took another long swig of wine, hoping I’d find the answer at the bottom of it.

Things were moving pretty fast. In my experience, I was usually the one behind the wheel, pressing the gas. I’d sworn not to be that way in any future relationship I might risk. But it didn’t feel like I was the one in the driver’s seat here. It wasn’t just Gavin speeding along either though. Was it possible that we were both moving at the same rate?

“You look a little pensive,” he noted. “I knew I shouldn’t have brought up my parents. Forget it.”

“No, I want to meet them,” I said quickly.