“Oh no.”
“It’s just a question.”
“Nothing good ever starts when you say it like that.”
“You don’t talk about your family much. I’m curious.”
I cringe slightly, then shrug. “Not much to say. You don’t have to worry about meeting them.”
“I’d like to know about them. About you growing up. About everything in your life. It’s all-important to me.”
“God, how is it so easy for you to just say exactly what you think and want all the time?” I ask while rubbing her knuckles with my thumb.
She shrugs. “How else will I get the answers I want?”
“I have two brothers and my mom. My dad passed away in Iraq. I don’t talk to my family.”
“Any good memories with them?”
I think back, then nod. “Yeah. When I was seven, my older brothers convinced me to try to find our Christmas presents on Christmas eve. Dad was overseas, and Reese was convincing. Dan didn’t argue, so we searched the whole house while Mom was at work. When she got back, she saw us in her closet, playing with all the toys.”
“Oh no.” She giggles.
“I thought the same thing. I was ready to pee myself, but she just smiled and handed us another box from the top shelf, telling us that Christmas was still going to happen and all we’d get were two presents, but there was only one box.”
Sophie leans towards me.
“Well, when we woke up – since we slept right by the Christmas tree, there was Santa, holding the one present. We took the present, didn’t question Santa until Mom came out of the kitchen and kissed him. He took off his beard and wig, and it was Dad. It was the best Christmas we ever had. From the snow to the family to the fact that there wasn’t a single punch thrown.”
She smiles and bites her lip. “That’s beautiful, Gunner. It sounds amazing.”
“Do you want kids?” I ask as the food is set down in front of us.
The waitress gives Sophie a nervous look, but she doesn’t miss a beat as she cuts her pancakes. “I’ve thought about it. I think it might be nice, but I don’t know for sure. It’s a huge commitment, and I don’t know if I’d be willing to give up so much of myself to a kid or multiple kids.”
I nod.
She stares at me, and I realize that she’s waiting for me to answer. I’ve never thought about it. After my family seemed to implode on itself, I never thought about actually giving in and passing on my DNA.
But meeting Sophie, being with her, it’s changed everything. I’d love to see my own little boy chasing her heels. Love to see us all playing together, with the guys involved too. Going to soccer games, dance recitals, whatever my son would want.
“I don’t know. You kind of destroyed my planned future like a meteor.”
“Thanks for that.” She says around a mouthful of food.
I chuckle. “In the best way, Sophie. You’re making me rethink everything which … I think I needed.”
She smiles, her cheeks full of food, so she looks like a pleased little squirrel. I laugh and shake my head. “Alright, silly questions only.”
“And shameless flirting.” She points at me. “I have expectations when we get home.”
“Oh? A date now means sex?”
“Well, I’m buying dinner, so you have to put out.” She winks at me, then shrugs. “Or at least cuddle.”
“If you’re lucky, both.”
And she’ll always be lucky where I’m concerned.