“I didn’t deny it either. Now I’m wondering if I was supposed to deny it.” She cut into the lasagna and put a large piece on his plate. Raven served herself next, and instead of sitting, she put the lasagna back on the stove top, and came back with a large bowl. “You’ve got to eat salad.”
Instead of arguing, he took the salad and placed some besides his lasagna. He never usually had the fancy shit like salads and green stuff. There was a time and place for that, and it wasn’t on his plate.
“You don’t have to deny anything. I meant what I said, and I wasn’t trying to embarrass you.”
“Don’t worry. Compared to my parents, you’re nothing. They know how to embarrass me without even trying. They like doing it, I’m sure of it.”
He chuckled.
“So, did you know about my father being the town bad boy or something?”
“I knew that he had a reputation with the ladies. My dad did as well when he was younger. They were both charmers.”
“I never knew that.”
“I believe your dad earned the top charmer award as he went around calling out the women he’d screwed or something like that. He humiliated and embarrassed them so that no one would talk shit about your mom.”
Raven smiled. “It’s kind of romantic. Don’t you think?”
“My mom used to think so as well. My father also. He liked Clark.”
“My mom is going to visit yours, tell her about us.”
“It’s what I expected, to be honest. I was going to head over to the care home tomorrow, but she’s got some bridge game, and asked if I went to see her in the week. She takes her bridge very seriously,” Drew said.
She cleared her throat, and he watched as she swallowed her beer.
“Actually, there’s something I want to ask you about tomorrow. You can say no. Of course you can say no.”
“What is it?” he asked.
“Mom invited you to dinner tomorrow. It’s pork roast, and she’s one hell of a cook. She’d have probably done what I did, gone traveling if it wasn’t for my father. You know, her falling in love, and all that.”
“I’d love to go.”
“Are you sure? My dad’s going to be there, and he’s promised that he’s going to be a huge pain in the ass. You can turn it down.”
“Raven, do you want me to go or not?”
“I want you to do what you feel comfortable.”
He took a bite of his lasagna, and he closed his eyes as the pleasure from one bite was so damn good. She was the best cook, ever. He was so damn lucky she belonged to him.
“My father told me that loving a woman meant you had to love her family. If you weren’t willing to butt heads with the father or the mother, then you didn’t love her enough.”
“Wow, do you think we’re related?” she asked.
“Not a chance. I think we both come from really good families. Hard working, loyal, and loving families. My father believed that if you wanted something enough, you’d be willing to stand and fight for it, even if you got beat down.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Really. You want something enough that you’re going to hurt, then you stay, and keep it.”
“You’re going to fight my father?” she asked.
“Not in a battle of fists. I’ll take whatever he’s got to say. I’m not going to back down with this, Raven. I want you. I wasn’t joking around, or pretending when I claimed you.”
He watched as she took a deep breath.