Page 58 of Aydin

“I need to tell you something.”

“What’s wrong?”

He pulled up to the red light.

“My work with the company has inspired me to try to do something on my own.”

His brows hiked in confusion.

“What does that mean?”

“When I quit—”

“What do you mean quit? You’ve been there less than six months.”

“I understand, and I love my job, but I want to have my own business.”

“What type of business?”

“The same thing but on a bigger scale.”

He pulled in front of the liquor store, shut the car off, and sighed.

“You just now decided to tell me this.”

“Aydin.”

“We have your parents’ dinner. This can wait.” He climbed out of the car, shut the door, and headed in with Nicco behind him. Reggie stood next to the car to keep me company.

The door opened, and my parents stood together. I stepped in close to give them a hug first and introduced Aydin. I offered for Nicco and Reggie to have dinner with us, but they declined to stay on alert. It was awkward after the conversation in the car.

“Aydin, these are my parents Cassandra and Conrad.” Dad stuck his hand out, and Aydin came up behind me and extended his hand.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards.”

“You too, Aydin. Come in and have a seat,” Mom responded.

“Our daughter told us you work together.” Dad shut the door, and we sat on the couch.

Aydin handed the bottle of wine to my mom.

“I hired her as my operations manager of my security firm.”

“Security.” Dad paused.

“Navy.”

“I remember my time in the army.” Dad recalled his younger years.

My dad talked with me only a little about his time when he was overseas, but once he was finished in the army, he went to college and married my mom. Then I came along.

“Amelia, come with me in the kitchen. The food is almost ready.”

I followed her and took the small bowls out of her hands.

“He’s cute.”

“Mom.”