Page 100 of Shadowed Hearts: Frost
Miguel sits across from us, flanked by two aunties I've already memorized.
"So, Asher," one aunty begins, passing a bowl of something called sinigang, "what exactly are your intentions with our Nessa?"
Vanessa chokes on her water. "Tita! We just—"
"I intend to keep her," I say simply, accepting the bowl and serving myself.
"Keep her?" Mr. Reyes raises an eyebrow from the head of the table.
"Yes, sir. Permanently."
The table erupts with excited chatter. Vanessa's hand finds mine under the table, squeezing with what I read as panic. I place my palm on her thigh instead, applying gentle pressure.I can handle this.
"Do you want children?" Lola Esperanza asks, skipping all politeness.
"Lola!" Vanessa protests, her face flushing.
"I do," I answer, maintaining eye contact with the elderly woman while accepting a plate of crispy pata passed from the right. "We will when the time is right."
"When will you marry?" another auntie chimes in.
"When she's ready." I take a deliberate bite of the crispy pork knuckle, analyzing its flavor with the same way I used to take apart my gun in the dark.
"Mom, please tell them to stop interrogating him," Vanessa pleads, switching partly to Tagalog.
Mrs. Reyes passes me a plate of purple yam dessert. "He doesn't mind, anak. Look, he's trying everything we made."
"At least he eats," Kaela gives Vanessa a pointed look. "Remember your last boyfriend? The vegan programmer who picked at his food?"
Vanessa stiffens beside me. "Jason wasn't that bad."
"He made Mom feel terrible about her cooking," Kaela counters, her voice sweet but her eyes sharp. "At least Asher appreciates the effort."
"Speaking of appreciation," Miguel cuts in smoothly, "how did you two meet? Nessa's been vague on the details."
Before Vanessa can answer, I respond, "Coffee shop. She was giving the barista detailed instructions about the perfect espresso pull, then decided that my order was boring and gave me Ethiopian."
This draws laughter from around the table, easing the tension Kaela created. Vanessa shoots me a grateful glance.
"And what do you do for work, Asher?" Mrs. Reyes asks, carefully rearranging food on Vanessa's plate despite her protests.
"Security consulting," I reply, watching Kaela's perfectly manicured eyebrow rise slightly.
"What kind of security?" she asks. "Corporate? Personal?"
"Both. My team specializes in high-risk situations."
"Dangerous work?" Mr. Reyes asks from the head of the table, his eyes sharp.
"Can be," I admit. "But we're well-trained."
"Like right now," Vanessa jumps in with a nervous laugh. "He's calculating escape routes while eating lumpia."
Rather than the awkward silence I expect, this draws appreciative chuckles from the table.
"Smart man," Mr. Reyes nods. "Always know your exits."
Mrs. Reyes says something to her sister in rapid Tagalog, her eyes darting between Vanessa and me.
