Chapter 20 #2
“And you left him out in the car?” Olivia smacked his arm. “I taught you better manners than that.”
“You did. I’m sorry.” He glanced over at his dad. “You okay with that?”
Juan nodded.
Saint didn’t take his father’s quietness to heart. His dad has always been the more serious one of his parents. Once he’d had time to properly process everything and spend some time with Val, he’d open up.
Saint excused himself and went outside to his truck. He knocked on the passenger window, smiling when Val lowered it.
“Hey, so how do you feel about meeting my parents?”
Val’s eyes went huge. “Now?”
“Yep. I have to warn you, at some point, my mother will get your entire life story out of you.”
His stunned expression gave way to a huge smile, then a chuckle.
“I can live with that.” He rolled the window up, reached over, and turned the ignition off.
Grabbing the keys, he got out of the truck and set the alarm.
“Do I look okay?” he asked, smoothing the front of his navy button-down shirt.
The sleeved were rolled up to his elbow, and he had on black jeans.
“You’re lucky we’re at my parent’s house. That’s all I gotta say.”
Val chuckled. He followed Saint inside the house, closing the door behind them before heading into the kitchen.
“Mami, Dad, this is Val,” Saint said.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Val said, holding out his hand to Saint’s father. Juan took it and gave it a firm shake, then Val turned to Olivia. She put her hands together, her smile huge.
“Oh, you’re so handsome!” Olivia said as she opened her arms wide.
Val chuckled and walked into them. He had to bend over to hug her, but something told Saint he didn’t mind.
“Oof,” Val laughed.
Saint probably should have warned him that his mother might look small, but her hugs were bearlike.
The rest of the morning couldn’t have gone better if Saint had planned it.
His mother was besotted with Val, and Saint would bet anything she was dying to get on the phone so she could brag to the rest of the family and to her friends about the handsome former fire chief that her son was dating.
By the time they’d left, his mother had invited them to several parties and family gatherings.
She took a picture of them sitting together on the couch and smiling.
About an hour in, Saint’s dad opened up and started chatting with Val.
He was genuinely fascinated by Val’s career and also what it took to open a tavern.
By the time they got back in the truck, Saint was a little breathless.
“Holy shit.” He glanced at Val. “Be honest. Are you rethinking being my boyfriend? Because I know it can be a lot.”
Val leaned over and kissed him. “The only thing I’m thinking is about how good your mom’s scrambled eggs smelled. Tell me you know how to make them.”
“Oh, pft. Yeah. Easy.” Saint eyed him. “Really?”
“They were amazing, Sweetheart. You’re very lucky.”
Saint’s heart swelled. “Yeah.” He turned on the engine and got them moving.
As much as he would have loved to spend the rest of the day doing something far more exciting than shopping, he’d lost everything in his apartment fire, and as awesome as Val was, Saint needed his own underwear.
“You sure you want to go shopping?” Saint asked.
Val shrugged. “Why not? We can get what you need, then have some lunch. It’ll be good.”
“Okay.” Saint couldn’t help his dopey smile.
It was just running errands, but he couldn’t help it.
When they reached the store, Saint wasn’t prepared for the amount of ridiculous the two of them shopping would result in.
He loved that he could tease Val about his age, and Val would just tease him right back.
Saint put some more toiletries in his basket. He’d been scanning the shelf for his preferred deodorant when Val plucked it off the shelf and handed it to him. How…?
“I thought your generation just ordered everything online.”
Saint arched an eyebrow at him. He grabbed a bottle of Old Spice and held it up. “For the distinguished gentleman.”
“Fuck off. Also, your dad wears that.”
“Because he’s a man of a certain age.”
Val snorted. “I’m gonna stop this conversation right now before it gets weird.”
“Too late. Holy shit.” Saint gasped and grabbed a box off the shelf, showing it to Val. “I need to get these for Ace.”
“Are those…bath bombs shaped like grenades?”
“Yep, for when your bubble bath doesn’t feel manly enough.” He laughed and dropped the box in his basket.
“You think Ace needs manly bubble baths?”
“No, I think Ace needs grenade bath bombs for his Green Beret rubber ducks.”
Val stopped and turned. “I’m sorry, did you say Ace has Green Beret rubber ducks?”
Saint laughed. “He does. Gio had them specially made for him for Christmas one year. There’s a whole story behind it, though.
The military sometimes calls training rifles rubber ducks.
Ace had an incident with one back when he first started his Army training.
You’ll have to ask him to tell you the story, it’s hilarious.
Anyway, hence Green Beret rubber ducks.”
Val shook his head with a chuckle. “Why am I not surprised?”
They finished shopping, and Saint had to admit that was the most fun he’d had buying toiletries, underwear, and pajamas.
By the time they’d left the shopping center, Saint was past done with shopping.
He could only do it for so long, and he wasn’t about to replace his wardrobe in one day.
A few pairs of jeans, some T-shirts, socks, and a couple of dressier shirts were all he needed for now.
Inside the truck, he’d just turned the engine on when his phone rang. “It’s Fitz.” He answered with a smile. “Hey, Fitz.”
“Hey, sweetie. How are you and Val doing after last night’s insanity? Jack told me everything when he got home, and I couldn’t believe it. Actually, I could, which is the sad part.”
“We’re good. Actually, we went to visit my parents this morning.”
Silence.
“Fitz?”
“How did it go?” he asked, almost hesitantly.
“Great. My mother’s probably already planning the wedding.”
The squeal Fitz let out had Saint quickly moving his phone away. Next to him, Val laughed as he leaned in.
“Hey, Fitz.”
Saint chuckled and put the phone on speaker. “You’re on speaker.”
“I’m so happy for you two! That’s so amazing. Did I mention I knew you two were meant to be?”
“You might have,” Saint teased.
“Smarty-pants. Oh, I almost forgot the reason I called. Well, I called to check in on you, but I also called because Leo will be released from the hospital today, and we’re planning a little party for him at Colton’s tonight. Can I count you two in?”
“Like you have to ask,” Saint said with a snort. Val nodded his agreement. “We’ll be there. Want us to bring anything?”
“Everything’s covered. See you tonight at seven.”
“See you then.” Saint hung up. “I’m so glad Leo’s coming home, though I’m sure no one is as relieved as King. Do you think he told Leo about what happened with Adrian?”
“If he hasn’t already, I’m sure he will,” Val said, taking Saint’s hand and squeezing it. “So. What do you want to do until the party?”
Saint cast his boyfriend a wicked glance. “I have a few ideas, Chief.”