Reid
I never felt nervous. But today, my sense of anxiety was so visceral that fear overwhelmed my every waking thought. I stared critically at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, fixing my shirt, and breathing to calm myself down.
I closed my eyes, speaking quietly to myself. "You'll be fine. You're good with meeting parents."
"They say that talking to yourself is the first sign of madness." I heard from somewhere near the doorway. I frowned, opening my eyes to my cousin.
Tony smirked, his eyes glinting with humor as he crossed his arms. I sighed irritably, turning back to my mirror. "Today has to work out, Tony. I'm not in the mood for your asinine jokes."
Tony looked sympathetic. "I get it. When I met Kennedy's parents, they weren't sure about me at first."
"I wonder how you made them agree to your marriage." I said skeptically.
Tony hit me over the head, scowling, and I yelped. "I was going to comfort you. If you're being good to their daughter, Mallory's parents won't have a problem with you."
"Thanks for the advice." I groaned, massaging my head. I squinted at my cousin. "You know Mallory's parents are rich? They live in the middle of New York, in some fancy apartment."
He shrugged. "You told me that ages ago. You and your goldfish memory."
I frowned. "Huh. It's a long drive, so can I borrow your car?"
Tony cleared his throat awkwardly. "About that."
At that moment, my two-year old niece Armin toddled into the doorway, looking up at her father and uncle with wide eyes. "Uncle Reid?"
I walked over to Armin, crouching so our faces were level. "Hi, sweetheart. Can I pick you up?"
Armin stretched out her tiny arms, and I braced her on my shoulder. I leaned in conspiratorially to talk with my niece. "Do you think I'm smarter than your dad?"
"No." Armin replied sweetly. "Dad is a doctor. Ma told me that doctors have to get a really long degree."
"I really feel the love, Armin." I muttered. Armin giggled, and I set her down so she could run freely.
"Don't take it personally, I'm her dad." Tony said, still chuckling as he watched Armin roll around on the floor.
"Well, I'm going now so if I get a hug from someone-" I drawled. I was unable to finish my sentence due to the whirlwind of pigtails and chubby cheeks flinging her short arms around my back. I quickly wrapped his arms around my niece in return, closing my eyes.
'Can I get a hug too?' Tony asked pathetically, holding out his hands to me.
I rolled my eyes, pushing my cousin's hands away. "You get hugs from Armin every day."
"Rude." Tony lowered his arms, opting to pick up Armin. He balanced his daughter against his hip, frowning at me. "I never gave you a wedding present, by the way."
"That's because giving presents was my job." I told him. "It was your wedding."
Tony grinned deviously. "Not the point. Follow me." he said, rummaging through his pockets. Finally, he showed me a brand-new car key, tossing it to me. I caught it easily, then examined the metal.
"You didn't." I said in shock.
"I did. Come outside." Tony said with a grin, walking out to the driveway. With a growing sense of trepidation, I walked out to see a gorgeous looking car.
I absorbed its beauty, looking awestruck. "I can't believe you did this for me."
Tony winked. "Happy 'meet the parents' day, cousin."
I smiled, looking over at my cousin in gratitude. "I was going to make a joke, but I'm in shock right now."
"Don't spoil the moment with words." Tony complained, then he beckoned for me to get in. "Here's your ride to New York. Enjoy the next few hours."
"That's your goodbye?" I asked.
"Would a kiss be better?" Tony said sarcastically, puckering his lips.
"Bye." I replied flatly, but I smiled to soften our parting. So I drove off in search of my girlfriend.
When I drove into Mallory's driveway three hours later, I was only beginning to realise the level of wealth she was born into. Her parents' skyrise apartment in New York was massive.
I stayed in my new car and messaged Mallory to let her know that I arrived. Flashes of Mallory's golden eyes fluttered into my heart. I took hold of the memory carefully, storing it away.
A minute later, a harassed looking girl rushed out of the double doors, looking drop dead gorgeous in a blue dress and silver heels, blonde hair caught in a soft breeze. She looked wildly around for a brief second before spotting my car. Her jaw dropped, hazel eyes widening.
I stepped out of the car and grinned at her. A bright smile appeared on Mallory's face and in less than a second, she was in his arms. Just where she belonged. "How was the ride?"
I smiled. "Pretty nice. I missed you."
Mallory's smile grew sad. "I definitely missed you more. My parents' house is nice, but very quiet. It's easy to get lonely."
"I'm sorry." I said softly. I kissed her forehead. "When I go back, we can call like always."
"I know. Come in." Mallory said, taking my hand as she led us inside her house.
For a brief moment, I was in bliss. I missed the comforting sensation of Mallory's smaller, warm hand wrapped around mine as she led me down corridors, talking with bright eyes and a cute little smile on her face. Everything seemed to become brighter when she was around me. I really missed her.
So Tony was right all along, I thought wryly. No matter what happened to Mallory and I, we never doubted each other. Nothing changed; no awkwardness, no fall-out. It was just us.
As they reached the front door, Mallory stepped up to ring the doorbell. I waited nervously beside her.
A moment later, Mallory's mother Lora answered the door. She smiled at her daughter, then looked at me. Her eyes widened, but she didn't hesitate in hugging me. "I've heard so much about you, Reid."
I laughed, hugging her back. "I'm sure Mallory has talked about me."
Lora rolled her eyes as she stepped back to hug her daughter. "You don't know the half of it. Not a day goes by without her saying something about you."
"Mom, you can't tell him everything." Mallory complained, and her mother smiled. Mallory looked just like her mother.
Mallory's mother was a sweetheart. She was as warm and giving as my own mother. As a result, we warmed to each other immediately. But Mallory's father, Leo? He looked like he wanted to take a shotgun to my head. Mallory hadn't been kidding when she said her father was protective.
Lora noticed my discreet glances and seemed to understand immediately. "Husband," Lora chided. Leo looked up at her immediately. "For goodness' sake, give the poor boy a chance."
"I've already given him a chance by letting him into the house." Leo grumbled as he chewed his cannoli.
"Dad, please." Mallory entreated quietly. He looked up at her, the annoyance in his eyes unrelenting. She set down her cutlery, standing from her seat. "Reid and I will go fill up your glasses."
I took her cue to stand up too, getting Lora's glass. Mallory took her father's, looking at him meaningfully as she left. When we were out of earshot, I leaned against the wall and sighed. "Your dad already hates me."
Mallory rolled her eyes. "He doesn't. You've done nothing wrong to make him hate you."
"My daughter is right." Lora said as she breezed into the kitchen. Mallory shot her mother a glare, which Lora gracefully discarded. "Leo takes time to warm up to people. Especially to his daughter's boyfriend." she commented, appraising me.
"How did you know to come here?" I asked Mallory's mother.
Lora smiled. "Mother's intuition. Also, the look that Mallory gave me before you left."
"Dad doesn't see that he's hurting me by doing this." Mallory said quietly. She moved to stand next to me, interlacing our hands. She looked tired. "I'll go back and ask him about it."
"You don't have to." I cautioned her, but Mallory was determined. She walked out of the kitchen, leaving Lora and I alone. I turned to her, hoping for answers. "Why are you okay with Mallory and I being together, but Leo isn't?"
Lora appraised him. "You look at my daughter like she's the only person in the room. That's enough for me. Like I said, my husband is harder to convince. He does not see anything in simple affection." Reid thought about this, and Lora's eyes sharpened. "Regardless of his rudeness, my husband is a discerning man. Leo has his faults, but all of them work for Mallory's benefit."
"I don't doubt that." Reid said quickly. "How can I win him over?"
Lora thought about it. "Tell him your convictions in the relationship. See what his objections are then."
Reid nodded. "Thanks."
Lora smiled warmly. "Don't worry about it. Hopefully, I'll meet you as a potential son-in-law next time."
She winked at him, then followed Mallory back into the dining room. Reid steeled himself and walked in their direction. Leo was still in his position at the head of the table, finishing the dregs of his whiskey.
As Reid approached, Mallory and Lora exchanged glances. "Dear, why don't you speak with Reid for a moment? Mallory and I will go upstairs." Lora said quickly to her husband. Leo frowned at her, but Lora was already steering Mallory out of the room.
With no alternative, Reid sat to the right of the Dern patriarch. Leo eyed him as he set his glass down. "So," Leo began, his voice low and clear, "What do you intend to do with my daughter?"
"We're hoping to buy a house soon." Reid began cautiously, but Leo interrupted.
"I mean in terms of your relationship. How long has it been?" he asked seriously.
A complicated question. Reid decided to go with the answer he believed was right. "Seven years, sir. We started dating in our senior year of high school."
Leo nodded. "I'm sorry that I couldn't see my daughter graduate high school. We estranged when she was sixteen, you see. She lived with her aunt afterwards."
"So what made you reconnect?" Reid asked curiously.
Leo glared at me. "You're overstepping."
"Sorry." Reid said hastily, but Leo smiled. For the first time during the dinner, Mallory's father smiled at him, and Reid felt like throwing a party.
"I was joking." Leo said, grinning. "She reached out to us. We had our differences, but her mother and I missed our only child dearly. Mallory is the most precious person to me, apart from Lora. You understand that I want to make sure she finds someone who fits perfectly with her."
Reid held his breath, wondering if Leo would appreciate candidness. "Do you think I could be that person?"
Leo looked Reid over with a blank expression, swilling his whiskey in its glass. "So far, you're a candidate."
Reid's heart sank. "Do you have other candidates in mind?"
"None yet." Leo said, and Reid's mood lifted. "But don't take this as my complete approval. It'll take more than this dinner to improve my perspective of you."
So they did. After that dinner, Reid spent days with Leo, doing activities that Leo enjoyed. Golf, snooker, painting, hot-air ballooning, charades. Until one day, when Leo stopped Reid before they got strapped in for a rollercoaster ride. "Why did you agree to everything I asked you to do, so far?" Leo asked Reid curiously.
Reid stretched, looking nervously at the rollercoaster. He decided to reply honestly. "Because I want to impress you."
Leo looked at him, expressionless. Reid waited, his heart stuttering in his chest before Leo burst into laughter. Peals of chuckles rang out in the air, and Reid's jaw dropped on seeing such a sight.
Leo wiped tears away, still laughing. "You know that I actually hate the stuff we've been doing together? I don't like paintballing or scuba-diving. I just wanted to see how far you'd go until you stopped coming. And you still haven't given up."
Reid relaxed. "Thank goodness, because I really didn't want to get on that thing." He stared up at the twenty-five foot tall ride, shuddering.
Leo nodded appreciatively. "You show resilience, kid. Sitting through a seven-hour painting trial, or an eight-hour balloon ride is no small accomplishment. I'm happy that Mallory found a boy like you."
"That's all I ever wanted, sir." Reid said politely, but inside, he was overjoyed. His girlfriend's father finally gave his blessings on their relationship.
Leo clapped him on the back, grinning. "How about we get something to meet? I asked Lora and Mallory to meet us by the hot dog stand."
Reid smiled back. "Sounds like a good plan."
They left the rollercoaster to run on its own.
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