Page 31 of Only In the Dark

I roll my eyes in annoyance.

“Here you go, my love,” she passes a bag of take-out boxes to him. And he drops a one-hundred-dollar bill in the tip jar.

“Thanks, Ma.”

She kisses both his cheeks and hugs him. Then she turns to hug me too.

“Bye mom.”

“Bye, hon.”

Once we get back in the car, my phone pings.

“Hey mom.”

“Hi sweetie. Your dad and my anniversary is next week, and we wanted to know if you and your boyfriend wanted to come over for dinner? If you’re not busy.”

I had mom on speakerphone, and Dom told me to mute it.

“Hold on, mom.”

“Have them over at my place. She shouldn’t have to cook on their anniversary.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to put you out.”

“I’m sure.”

“I have a better option for you, mom.”

“What’s that?”

“Dom said you shouldn’t have to cook on your anniversary and that he wanted to host you both at his house.”

“That is awfully generous of him. Let me ask your father, and I’ll text you.”

“Perfect. Bye. Love you.”

“Love you.”

We arrive back at Dom’s place, and we immediately start eating dinner.

“Good?”

“Real Good. I see now why you’ve never had ramen noodles.”

We both laugh.

“I do appreciate you offering to host my parents.”

“She called me your boyfriend. Am I?”

I smirk. “Do you want to be?”

“I’d love to be able to call you mine.”

“Then I’m yours. But you have to figure out what you can about your step dad. Especially if we plan on this becoming something serious.”

“Yes. I have a private investigator on it. I hired him the second you told me. He’s very discreet and does great work.”

---