Boyd
It was only on the trek back up to his apartment that he saw who the missed call was from: Queenie.
Fuck.
He was quick to return the call, her usual, bubbly voice instantly lifting his mood. “Hi, there.”
“Hi.”
“I was wondering if we had space in our agenda this weekend for one more thing.”
“Oh?”
“My mom asked me out for brunch on Sunday and I was hoping you’d like to join us? ”
“I would like that very much. It means a lot that you want me to meet your parents.”
Boyd could practically hear Queenie’s smile through the phone. “I’m excited, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.”
“Ah, I would be too if I was presenting such an old geezer to my parents.”
She giggled, and he suddenly forgot what he’d been so stressed about. “Can you please not mention anything about Luka?”
“I wouldn’t.”
“I mean, they know that you’re Luka’s dad and that Luka and I went to high school together, but they don’t know about the bullying and I’d rather keep it that way.”
“I can respect that.”
Queenie let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you.” He unlocked his front door, beelining for the bedroom and dropping on the bed with a long exhale. “What time are you coming over tomorrow?”
“I need to run a few errands… How does one sound?”
“Would you like to have lunch with me?”
“Only if we cook it together.”
“I would be honoured.”
“What a big softy you are.”
He chuckled, relieved to feel something other than white-hot frustration. “For you, yes.”
“I can’t wait to meet everyone.”
“Are you still watching Maggie tonight?”
“I just put her down and I’m getting comfy on the couch. Do you have any plans?”
“I just finished my workout so shower and dinner.”
“No work? ”
“Fuck, no.” He groaned and fell backwards on the mattress. “The week was awful. I’m just fed up right now.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Hearing your voice helps. Knowing that I’ll spend my weekend with you is even better.”
“Will you tell me what you’ve planned for tomorrow evening?”
“Ah, you’ll have to be patient for that,” he teased.
They chatted for a little while longer before Maggie woke up fussy, and Queenie ended the call.
As he plated up his dinner, the concierge rang to let him know he had a delivery.
Funny; Boyd hadn’t ordered anything. Imagine his surprise when a bouquet of red roses and a heart-shaped chocolate treat waited for him downstairs.
He couldn’t help but smile as he got into the elevator, pulling out the small card tucked inside the flowers.
I’m sorry you had such a bad week!
Hope this brings a smile to your handsome face.
Love,
Queenie.
He was in disbelief. He’d never had a woman give him flowers. And frankly, he loved her attention. Once he’d found a suitable vase and a spot to display them, he texted his woman.
Thank you for the roses. Love them!
You deserved them!
Boyd grinned like a fool through his entire dinner, unable to take his eyes off the bouquet. How did he even deserve her? The prospect of meeting her parents had him reaching for his phone and calling his own mother.
“Hi, honey.”
“How are you, Mom?”
“Wonderful. Just came back home from bingo night at church. You should join some time. There are some really sweet ladies here too,” she tried to persuade him.
“That’s actually what I called to talk to you about.”
His mother gasped. “You met someone?”
“I have and I’m currently staring at the bouquet of roses she sent me all because I had a bad week.”
“So she is treating you well.”
“She is.”
“Tell me about her.”
So he did. And with a heavy heart, he even told her about Luka and how he wasn’t sure how to approach the subject with him. As always, she listened, only speaking again once he’d talked his heart out.
“I know this might not be what you want to hear, but Luka’s not that boy anymore.
Your boy yes, but he has grown up. There is no need to punish him now.
You can tell him how you feel and you’ve clearly made up your mind that you won’t tolerate that kind of behaviour this time around.
I don’t think either of you should forgive and forget, but you can’t change the past.”
“I know.”
“Does he know you are seeing someone?”
“He does.”
“Find a good time to tell him who she is. Maybe tell him her name and see how he reacts and take it from there. Now the real question: when do I get to meet her?”
“Well, this weekend’s booked: I have brunch with her parents on Sunday and we’re meeting the guys in the evening. So maybe sometime in the next few weeks. It feels like a lot lately.”
“Of course, I’m just curious about the woman that has my baby boy wrapped around her pinkie.”
“And I can’t even deny it.” He smiled to himself, pulling the roses closer. “She’s so sweet.”
She let out a soft laugh. “And here I was afraid my only son would only ever have eyes for his career.”
“Not anymore.”
“Well, make sure to keep her long enough for me to meet her.”
“If I have my way she’ll be around much longer than that.”
“I’ll let you rest now. It seems like you have a busy few days ahead of you.”
“Love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, honey.”
The next morning, Boyd paced by his apartment door until he heard the tone for the garage. By the time he made it to visitor parking, Queenie was pulling her overnight bag from the trunk.
“You should know better than that, Queenie,” he tsked.
He grabbed her bag, and Queenie used her free arms to wrap him in a tight hug. “Are you feeling better today?”
“I do. Those roses really did something to me.”
“I saw an article once that said most men only get their first flowers at their funeral, and it really stuck with me.”
“I’m a very blessed man to have received them beforehand.”
He swung Queenie’s bag over his shoulder, taking her hand in his. When they stepped into the apartment, he took her bag to his room and returned to find her admiring the roses with a bright smile.
They’d decided on something light for lunch: spicy seasoned chicken breasts with garlic bread. As Queenie tossed a salad, Boyd reheated the pre-cooked chicken.
“Now that we’re meeting the parents, I have a few questions,” Queenie asked, uncharacteristically bashful.
He looked over, pulling her lip free from her teeth. “So we can make sure we’re on the same page?”
“I’d like to at least be reading the same book.”
“Ask away,” he encouraged.
“We both know where we stand on having kids, but what’s your ultimate goal for this relationship?” Their eyes met for a split second. “I like spending time with you and if we both feel like we are a good match—which I do feel—we can…” Queenie trailed off, struggling to find her words.
“Are you trying to ask me if marriage is on the table?”
Queenie frowned. “Saying it out loud sounds so serious so early. We just started seeing each other, but yes. I guess that’s what I am asking.”
“As you said, it’s good to make sure we’re reading the same book. I’m sure if we got years down the line and our ideals weren’t matching up, you’d be upset to have wasted your precious time with such a fool.”
Queenie laughed, and the worried lines across her forehead relaxed, so he continued.
“Sharing my life with the right person has always been something I wanted to achieve. It just never came to that point because I’m a very career focused man. Between my projects and real estate, I’m hardly ever home.”
“If I’m okay with that, could you see us living together at some point?”
“I can. Hopefully one day you’ll grant me that wish.”
Queenie grinned, casting a look at him through her lashes before returning to her salad prep.
“You might be a busy man, but you’ve never failed to return my calls.
I feel like that’s worth so much these days.
I don’t need your attention twenty-four-seven.
That would be too much to ask, but you’ve never failed to make me feel like a priority. ”
“There might be times where that differs. When that phone rings, I have to answer it.” He wanted to be honest with her. Yes, he did and would prioritise her, but he also had a company to lead.
“I understand that.” Sensing that the conversation was far from over, he began to set the table to give Queenie time to think.
“I know you’re more traditional than I might be used to and I can see that you take pride in taking care of me.
It makes me feel special having someone who knows the sidewalk rule and opens my doors even though he knows I’m perfectly capable of doing so myself.
I want you to know that I’m not using you for financial gain.
And if you ever feel like I am, I want you to tell me. ”
“I do take great pride in being respectful. And I promise to tell you if you’re draining me dry.”
Queenie visibly relaxed, the tension leaving her shoulders. “Thank you.”
“My mom has asked to meet you,” he confessed as they sat down to eat. “Maybe we can have dinner together soon. She loves to cook as much as I do, so I thought she could join us sometime.”
“I would love that. ”
As if the universe was listening, his phone rang the moment they finished their meal. “Didn’t we just talk about that…” he muttered to himself. Pulling her closer, he gently squeezed her and kissed her hair. “Don’t start on the dishes, I’ll do them once I’m done here.”
He retreated to his office, hammering out more details of his latest headache with Alex. Giving Alex his best and final counter, he hung up and found Queenie on the couch, flicking through streaming services.
“You didn’t listen,” he teased. “Those counters are spotless, and we didn’t even use them.”
“You know what my love language is? Acts of service.”
“So, this is your way of telling me you care about me?” he asked, sitting down next to her and pulling her feet into his lap.
“It is.”
Kneading his thumbs into her heels, he watched as she chose some high drama reality show. Unsurprisingly, Queenie quickly dozed off. He took it as a compliment; it only meant that she was comfortable around him. Reaching for the blanket, he covered her and switched to the sports channel.
His mood only lightened more once Alex texted to tell him that their deal had been accepted.
When Queenie opened her eyes again, he suggested an ice cream date with a walk around Discovery Green.
With her arm hooked into his, they strolled through the park, finding a shady bench to enjoy their late-day treat.
It was the perfect afternoon, trading comforting laughs and stolen kisses.
He loved her light and fluffy personality, and how much joy his presence seemed to bring her.
The more time he spent with her, the more he knew for a fact that he didn’t want to miss out on a life with her.
The thought of returning home to her after a long day buckled his knees and awoke the butterflies in his stomach.
She was all he’d ever dreamed of, and he would do anything to protect the small flower that had their relationship blooming.