Page 50 of Resurrecting the Enemy
I almost scoffed but I didn’t want to dismiss her opinions about me. My looks weren’t anything I could be credited with, though. I’d had nothing to do with how my parents looked, therefore, how I looked. Besides, listening to the tone in her voice, I wasn’t sure Lake was necessarily paying me a compliment. She sounded disappointed over it, in fact.
So, instead of remarking on her comment, I asked, “Are you hungry?”
She blinked, and it was almost as if she were snapping herself out of a trance. “Uh, yeah,” she mumbled. “I…I could eat.”
Holding her hand, I pulled her behind me as we made our way down the stairs and towards the kitchen. And I knew the second she knew she’d been set up because her hand yanked back as soon as she heard the voices coming from the kitchen.
I tightened my hold on her as my head turned back. “It’s just my parents,” I told her.
Her blue eyes threatened to pop out of her head. “Are you crazy?” she whisper-yelled. “I’m not meeting your fucking parents!” And she must have been really rattled if she was cussing. Lake didn’t throw f-bombs on the regular like I did.
I yanked on her hand until she toppled against me. “Yes, you are,” I said, correcting her. “Why wouldn’t you?”
“Do I need to remind you that I didn’t even want to meetyou,”she hissed. “Your parents are…”
I cocked my head. I knew exactly what she was trying to get to, but I wanted to hear her say it. “My parents are what, Lake?”
She shook her head. “I’m leaving,” she claimed. “I amnotmeeting your parents.”
I slid my hand up the back of her neck and held her firm. “Here’s how this is going to go, Lake,” I told her. “You can walk in there or I can drag you, kicking and screaming, it’s entirely up to you.”
“Rams-” I bent down to reach for her thighs and felt an immediate slap on my back. “Okay, okay,” she snapped. “I’ll walk.” I straightened, grabbed her hand again, and led her to the kitchen.
It wasn’t that I blamed her, but she was going to have to get over it sooner or later, so why not now? I knew my parents had brutal reputations, but that didn’t change the fact that they were still my parents. I loved them, and they sure as fuck loved me and Maddox, of that I had no doubt. The world didn’t get to peek through the curtains of our house. They didn’t get to see Emerson and Ramsey Reed, the parents. The world had no clue who my parents really were, and that included Lake.
There was also the fact that, while she didn’t know it, I’ve never brought a girl home before. And not just to meet them, but to our house period. Mad neither. That was also a part of Dad’s lecture to save bits and pieces for the girl we’d one day love. Other than Lennon, D.J., and Maggie, no other girls have ever seen the inside of our house, apart from our aunts.
Pulling averyreluctant Lake behind me, we walked into the kitchen, and the second Mom and Dad registered that I had Lake with me, silence screamed in the room.
I pulled out one of the barstools for Lake, and as she sat down, I asked, “Do you guys need any help with lunch?” The counter was already littered with burger sliders, macaroni salad, chips, and even some fruit, but I asked anyway.
“No. Everything’s ready,” Dad replied, his voice a little cold. He knew who Lake was, but he was probably wondering if she was here of her own accord, or if this was a feeding-the-prisoner situation.
With Mom just staring and Dad sounding less than welcoming, I decided I’d better introduce her quickly. “Dad, Mom, I’d like you to meet Lake. Lake Warren.” When Dad’s eyes slid from her face to mine, I added. “My girlfriend.”
Dad smiled, and I could see him visibly relax. “It’s nice to meet you, Lake,” he said, reaching across the counter to shake her hand.
Lake took his hand, and her voice was barely a whisper when she replied, “Mr. Reed.” His gaze shot my way when he noticed how she hadn’t said it was nice to meet him. However, the second Dad released her hand, they were back in her lap, her eyes downcast.
There was a long heartbeat of uncomfortable silence before Dad said, “Babe?”
Mom looked over at him, and I watched as her grey eyes widened in realization. “Oh, God,” she rushed out. “Oh, uhm, forgive me.” She smiled, shock gone, and said, “It’s very nice to meet you, Lake.”
Lake looked up but gave her the same treatment she had given Dad. “Mrs. Reed.”
I could see guilt clouding up in Mom’s eyes. “Oh, Lake, honey, I’m sorry,” she said. “I…” Mom glanced over at Dad, and he looked like he wanted to hug her, however, he didn’t. She looked back at Lake. “Please, forgive me…Ram has never brought home a girl before, Lake. I was…just shocked.”
Lake’s head turned, and she looked up at me. I winked and that just pissed her off more. I’d blindsided all of them, and I was pretty sure they weren’t appreciating it at the moment.
“I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, or you feel unwelcomed,” Mom went on.
Lake turned back to face her. “It’s okay,” she lied before glancing back down at her lap.
“I’m going to kill you, Ram,” Mom threatened, and I winked at her, too.
But then Lake’s head snapped up. “So, it’s not just me who feels that way around him?”
Dad’s fake cough did nothing to hide his laugh, while Mom’s eyes narrowed at me. “I assure you, Lake, he brings that urge out in almost everyone he meets.” Then she looked over at Dad. “The talent reminds me of someone else I know.”
