Page 127 of Love Unforgettable
Chapter 43
Lexie
I can see the table from across the room as we return from the restrooms. They all seem to be involved in a lively conversation. Of course, they are. Because they all know who the others are and that they would be here. I can’t decide how furious I am with Cole over this. And Kat and Remi too, since they both knew his parents were coming and didn’t tell me either.
Who does that?
Who introduces someone to their parents as a surprise?
We are barely even involved. One date and dinner at his house. We haven’t even had sex. It’s not like this is super serious or anything.
You did come on his lap.
Okay, except for that.
“Just relax,” Remi murmurs to me.
“I’m relaxed.”
Trevor made you come too. So, it’s truly nothing serious.
Because clearly, you’re a slut.
We get to the table, everyone seems to be talking at once. Then I hear Cole say, “Why is everyone so hung up on me proposin’ tonight?” My stomach sinks.
Propose? Like marriage? Is he crazy?
“You’re going to propose tonight?” I ask. Not believing that question is coming from my mouth.
He turns toward me, eyes wide, face red, mouth agape. “Uh . . . no,” he says at the same time everyone else says, “Yes.”
“Are you all insane?” I ask looking between him and everyone else at the table.
“Why don’t we sit down?” Remi suggests. “Oh look, they’re serving dinner.”
We sit down at the table and everyone begins their salad course. Mavis and Babs make small talk with Cole’s parents, who I still haven’t officially met. Remi and Kat exchange odd glances between bites, Cole shovels food in his mouth as fast as he can, and I sit there moving the lettuce around on the plate.
What’s the big deal if he was proposing? Is that so bad?
You barely know him.
I knew Trevor over seven years and didn’t know a thing.
I take a few bites of my salad and continue to ponder the events of the evening thus far. He cares about me, that I know. I like him, a lot. He says I’m his lightning bolt. I feel safe when I’m with him. And comfortable, like I do know him well. It’s been that way from the start. Dinner at his house. When he holds my hand. When he kisses me. There is no reason why I can’t do this. I can see myself spending time with him in that backyard, watching him barbecue, cooking in the kitchen, arguing over which music to listen to.
Little Coles running around the winery, playing with the huskies, hiding in the trees, riding horses. Training the horses and the huskies to get along.
The servers remove the salad course and bring out the entrees. I eat about half of mine and decide it’s time to get some of the awkwardness over with. I’ve had water, coffee, and food. I’m about as normal as I’m going to get.
I look to Cole parents. “I know we weren’t properly introduced earlier. I’m Lexie Harrison,” I say across the table to them. “I’d get up to shake your hand, but we’re eating. I just didn’t want to continue the evening without at least doing that.”
Cole wipes his mouth with his napkin and turns to face me. “Sweetness, I apologize. This was so rude of me. I should have introduced you. I should have told you they were attending. It was . . . I . . . Well, anyway, these are my parents, William and Savannah Mason.”
“Oh, honey, you can call me Savvy, and him Bill,” Savannah says smiling big and gesturing to the man next to her with her thumb. “We’re not big on formalities, so don’t worry about the hand shakin’. I’ll probably want to give you a big hug later though.”
“It’s a deal.” I smile.
“May I say what a pleasure it is to meet you, Lexie. Thank you for putting up with us all on your big night,” his dad says as he winks at me. I can see where Cole gets his looks from. Bill is crazy good-looking. And his charm. It’s also something in the way that these men look at a woman. Like they are precious cargo, to be treasured and revered. The Mason men would throw their coat over a muddy rain puddle so their woman could walk over it and remain dirt free.
