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It worked out well to have the holiday like this. Trey had to work tonight so Whitney was having dinner around one. Rick’s sister eating around two. They got the meeting of the families over with in one day and got to see everyone too. Neither side was having that many people that she was aware of. She hadn’t asked.
“I should have asked you before. Who is going to be at Robin’s? It’s only my brother and Whitney and my parents today. Whitney’s parents are going to her brother’s house, as his in-laws flew in too.”
She was pretty sure that Wendy and Matthew Butler made that decision after Whitney said Gillian was bringing her boyfriend to meet the family for the first time.
“There will be more there. I thought it was just going to be my parents and sister, but Brian’s sister and his parents are going to be there too. Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be sorry. I’m good with people. As you said, it’s only dessert.”
“Let me lock up George. I’m trying not to let his sad eyes bother me.”
She looked down at the puppy that was starting to grow into his legs. He was sitting on the floor, his mouth open, his tongue hanging out, his big brown eyes making her feel guilty that he wasn’t invited too.
Ryan often brought his French Bulldogs to Whitney’s for parties if it was a really long day so they weren’t crated long, but it wasn’t often. Sometimes having dogs under feet, especially at someone else’s house, wasn’t a good thing.
“I think he’ll be sleeping and won’t even know you’re gone,” she said.
“No. He likes his crate. The other day I couldn’t find him. I’d gone upstairs to put laundry away and came back down and he was nowhere to be found. I had a panic moment and went into his room and he was lying in the crate napping away.”
“That’s great,” she said.
“Robin told me her dogs do it too. It’s no different than humans wanting a comfortable place to relax if they are anxious.”
“Maybe he thought you left him and was nervous.”
“No clue, but it’s better than him destroying something. I’ve been lucky there so far, but I think it’s because he’s never really alone. Come on, boy, time for a nap.”
Rick grabbed a few treats and started to walk to George’s room, the puppy following along, and then she heard the crate closed.
He went to the fridge and grabbed two bottles of wine. “What’s that?”
“I had to bring something,” he said. “I’m not sure if anyone drinks it. I was going to get beer too, but I know I have certain kinds I drink. That most men do and I forgot to ask about your father and Trey.”
“Whitney will have that there. Wine is great,” she said. “I like both of them.”
“I know,” he said.
He’d had them here before for her. They’d cooked with some and drank the rest. She didn’t want him to think she was a prude and didn’t have fun. She’d seen Rick drinking a beer now and again too, but not often. At least that told her she wasn’t getting with someone else that couldn’t bend the rules some.
She’d never thought she was that strict. Not like Mike was. So the last thing she was looking for was a guy like that again.
And she had to stop letting her ex pop into her head two years later.
They left Rick’s house and walked the block to Whitney’s. Her parents’ car was there, so they were walking right into everyone.
She was pretty sure the one she had to worry the most about was her mother, but she could be wrong.
“Hi, everyone,” she said. They’d walked in the front door and hung their jackets up, then made their way to the back. “This is Rick Masters. Rick, my brother, Trey, his wife, Whitney, my mother, Leslie, and father, Todd.”
Rick stepped forward and started to shake everyone’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you all,” Rick said.
“Wow,” her mother said. “Gillian didn’t tell us you were tall and good looking. Totally not the type she has dated before.”
“Mom!” she said, feeling mortified.
Trey snorted. “My mother often says things she shouldn’t. Gillian tends to date people more her size and let’s say, a little on the nerdy end. Maybe it’s time for a change for her. A good one, right, Mom?”
“Sorry about my wife,” her father said. “It’s as Trey said. But we are a little protective of her.”
