Pushed

Chapter 32

Even though Iwanted to pick AJ up to bring her to dinner, real date-like. She said it was silly of me to drive all the way over there to get her when I was already here. Completely missing the point that I wanted to be with her, at least a little bit, without my family around, and also be able to walk her to her door at the end of the night. But I didn’t tell her any of that, so she insisted that she drive herself.

This shouldn’t be a big deal. Just an ordinary dinner with my family. But I’d never brought a date to a family dinner before, and even though our engagement was a ruse, I wanted it to be real. I wanted AJ to fit right in with my family and never want to leave.

“Jasper, will you set the table for me?” Mom asked.

Grateful for something to do other than watch out the window and pace with Junior on my heels every step, I grabbed the stack of plates and placed them around the table.

One by one, my siblings filtered in. They all gushed over Junior and showered him with attention, and he took to them like they were slathered in bacon.

Junie was the first to pick him up and cuddle him. “He’s got to be the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen. Aren’t you Junior?”

Skye took one look at him and forgot the rest of us even existed. “Look at that face. If he were mine, he’d be so spoiled. I wouldn’t be able to say no to that cute face. And if he gives me the sad eyes, I’m done.”

Raven, Nash and Munch arrived next. Munch was a German Shepherd mix, and even though he was big, he was a loverboy. Junior didn’t know that yet and tucked his head in Junie’s armpit to hide from the other dog.

“I hope he doesn’t pee on me in fear.” Junie cringed but continued to cuddle the little guy close to her.

“How about we take them both outside and they can get to know each other in neutral territory?”

“Good idea. Come on, Junior.” I took him from Junie and carried him out to the backyard. He and Munch sniffed each other and then began chasing each other around the yard. My tiny little pup looked hysterical chasing the sixty pound Munch.

“Looks like they’re best buds now.”

“Yeah. I’m relieved. Munch could have eaten Junior in one bite if he wanted to.”

“Munchy is too much of a wimp for that. He just wants to play and be loved by everyone. Everything is a game to him. He’s really just a puppy at heart.”

“I have a feeling they’re both gonna sleep well tonight.”

A car pulled into the driveway. My fiancée was here. With Raven and Nash watching the dogs, I greeted AJ as she got out of her car. I leaned in to kiss her, but she shoved a box to my chest. “Can you help me carry this inside?”

“Sure. But what’s all this?”

“I didn’t want to come empty-handed. It’s just a little something I brought to add to the meal.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll just have to wait and see.” She flashed me a cheeky smile. “How was your night with Junior?”

“Fine. Except he cried in the box even with a pillow and blanket in there for him.”

“Oh no. Did he keep you up all night?”

“No. Once I brought him into bed with me, he slept like a baby. With his head on my pillow, I might add.”

She chuckled. “Got you wrapped around his little paw already, huh?”

“Pretty much.” I looked around at all my family members watching the dogs play. “Along with the rest of my family. I might have a hard time getting him away from Junie, since she lives here too. He definitely doesn’t lack for attention here.”

“I’m so glad he’s doing well. He’d have probably been whining all day in my apartment.” She took the box from me and jerked her head toward the house. “Can you show me to the kitchen so I can heat this up?”

“Only if you tell me what it is.”

“Uh-uh. If you won’t help me, I’ll just ask someone else. Hey, Raven. Can you show me to the kitchen?”

“Sure. Follow me.” Raven took AJ by the arm and guided her into the house, leaving me behind without so much as a glance.

Nash came over and nudged me with his shoulder. “Looks like you misplayed that one, slick.”

“Not the first time, and I’m sure it won”t be the last.”

Storm sped into the driveway in a cloud of dust. Everyone was here, except for Rowan and Elle, who were in New York. “Hey, I hear it’s a big night. Your fiancée meeting the fam.”

“Most of them already met her at the hospital. It’s really not a big deal.”

“Then why are you sweating like you’re it’s your first case in front of a jury, and you forgot your pants?”

“If I forgot my pants, I wouldn’t be sweating, Storm, I’d be cold. Humiliated, but cold.”

“Whatever. You know what I mean.” He bumped his shoulder into mine. “You’ve never brought anyone home to meet the fam before. I’ve been thinking of embarrassing stories my whole way here. Like that time you got up to speak at the school assembly and wet your pants.”

“I did not, you—” I grabbed Storm by the arms and pulled him to the ground in a wrestling move. “Don’t you dare try to humiliate me in front of AJ tonight.”

“Why does it matter? She’s just your fake fiancée.” Storm’s brows lifted mockingly. “Or is she?”

“Doesn’t matter what label you put on her. She’s still my date and we still want to make a good impression.” I moved off Storm, leaving him sitting on the ground. “If you brought a date home, wouldn’t you want that?”

“Yes, which is why I’ll never bring anyone home to meet you guys.”

“You have to go on dates to be able to bring someone home, Stormy,” Skye chided.

The dinner bell sounded behind us. Mom always used that to call us in. The bell rang so loudly, we could hear it no matter where we were on the farm. One of the many sounds of home.

I walked in the door and heard AJ laughing with my sisters. That was a sound I wanted in my home playlist.

Mom placed her fingers in her mouth and whistled for attention. The room went silent. “Everyone, take your places at the table.” Once we were seated, she reached over and squeezed AJ’s hand on the table. “AJ, welcome. I’m sorry it has taken us so long to bring you into the fold, but we’re so glad you’re here. Welcome to the family.” To the rest of us, she announced, “AJ has a special appetizer she’d like us to start with.”

“I’ll be right back with that.” AJ disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a steaming plate. She set it in front of me with a wide Cheshire Cat grin.

The tantalizing smell was at odds with what I knew to be on that plate. It looked like something you’d see at a fancy restaurant, but I knew all too well what those breaded blobs were—no matter how she dressed them up. I stared at them, and they seemed to pulse on the plate. My stomach churned until I thought my late lunch might make a surprise reappearance. I clamped my lips together, swallowed down the bile, shook my head and pushed the plate away. “No way. I’m not touching that.”

“But you don’t even know what it is. I’ve been working on perfecting this new recipe for weeks. You’ve got to try it.” She smiled sweetly, but I could tell I was being played. “I made it just for you, Jasper dear.”

She was sure laying it on thick. But there was no way I was eating that, especially not in front of my family.

“Come on, Jas.” Storm goaded me on. “You can’t insult your fiancée like that, not on her first Rhodes family dinner.”

“Remember your manners, Jasper,” Dad reminded me in a stern voice. “I taught you better than that.”

Everyone added their two cents to the mix.

“If we’re talking manners, then everyone at the table needs to try it. Cut it into nine pieces and we can all do it together.”

AJ agreed but added a concession. “I understand your mother doesn’t ever eat meat, so I’ll excuse her.”

“I’m a vegetarian also.” Skye added. “I’m morally opposed to eating animals.”

AJ looked at Mom for confirmation, then nodded. “Alright. I’ll excuse Skye as well. Everyone else needs to try it.”

“Nah, that’s okay. I’m not all that hungry and don’t want to ruin my appetite for the main course.” Storm held his hand over his plate.

Raven slid her chair away from the table. “I’ve never really liked meat. I think Mom and Skye had it right all along. Put me down for vegetarian.”

“You heard Dad. Don’t be rude to our guest,” I added to even the score.

AJ cut up the pieces, drizzled a zig-zag of sauce across them, and passed them around for everyone but Mom and Skye. “This is a Spanish dish called Criadillas del Toro. It is my gourmet version of Rocky Mountain Oysters, and with my proprietary blend of spices and sauce. Thank you, Jasper, for procuring the meat for us. In honor of that, you should take the first bite.” She pushed the plate closer to me, and I swear the thing was mocking me. “Go ahead, sweetie pie. We’re all waiting for you.”

My gut turned over, and bile rose in my throat. As much as I wanted to honor the deal I’d made with AJ, I didn’t know if I could do it without tossing my cookies.

“Come on, Jasper. Just one bite,” she goaded.

“Alright, Princess. One bite.” I had one hand on my water glass, as the other held my fork poised to stab the intended bite.

“Just don’t think of the back end of the bull when you’re eating it. That’ll make it worse,” Storm advised, evoking a special finger gesture from me.

Raven added her equally unwanted advice. “And don’t think about how you harvested them with Farmer Floyd. No, you definitely don’t want to think about that.”

“And keep the family jewels protected. Right, guys?” Skye smiled and winked at Storm.

“I really hate you all.” I stared down each of my siblings. “What did I ever do to you?”

Raven tilted her head and raised one brow. “Do you really want us to answer that? We don’t have all night. Stop stalling. Your bull nuggets are getting cold.”

Junie looked at me with concern. “Want me to get you a barf bag, Jas? You look like you’re gonna hurl.”

“Not a bad idea.” I brought a fist to my mouth to hold everything back.

“You won’t hurl,” AJ said confidently with the wave of her hand. “This is going to be one of the best things you’ve ever eaten.”

“And if it’s not? What will you do if I hurl?” I asked, sincerely hoping I wouldn’t have to find out.

“If you honestly throw it up right here at the table, I will never cook this for you again.”

“Not good enough. I need more incentive than that.” I paused for a moment. “If I do this—whether it stays down or not—you have to do something I want you to do. And you can’t say no.”

She paled, “But?—”

“Careful there, Jas—” Storm warned, always the lawyer.

“Nothing like that. Get your minds out of the gutter. I promise it will be much more pleasant than what you’re making me do.”

“If I may remind you, this was all your idea. You added this to the menu, not me,” AJ said with her hands on her hips. “But I’ll humor you and do something you want me to do. Though I retain the right to refuse or pass if it makes me uncomfortable.”

“Okay. It’s a deal.” I picked up my fork and brought it to my mouth. I stared at the bite, which seemed to be taunting me, dancing on the end of my fork, daring me to eat it.

I taunted back. You won’t get the best of me. Not this time. And then I popped it into my mouth.

The explosion of flavor in that single bite caught me off guard. It was actually really good. If you didn’t know what it was. “Alright. Everyone else has to try it now. Don’t offend our guest.”

“He’s right. Our guest made this special for us. We owe it to her to try it.” Dad stabbed his fork into the delicacy. “On your forks, get set, go.”

As apprehensive as everyone was, they all took the bite.

“Wow.” Junie’s eyes went wide as she swallowed her bite. “This really is amazing. It practically melts in your mouth, and the seasoning…OMG! If I thought people would be able to overlook what it was, I’d say you should add it to your menu, for real.”

AJ took her place in the chair beside me. I leaned over to her and whispered, “Well done, Princess. You really are a magician in the kitchen.”

The smile on her face when everyone complimented her cooking illuminated the room—something I wanted to see every single day of my life. I’d do anything to be the one to put it there, even eat criadillas. But I’d never tell her that.