Chapter 23 #2
“I can. I figured I don’t get to take you out much, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have unconventional dates.”
“I love that,” I whisper softly. “Somehow that seems more special than you taking me out for dinner.”
“Good, because night time games make it difficult.”
Covey removes a few containers from the bag and spreads them out on the coffee table. He hands me a fork and chopsticks before grabbing a set for himself.
“What’d you get?”
“Well, I know how much you love the sesame soy chicken from that sushi place, so I got you that and a few rolls for us to share.” He smiles shyly.
“How do you know that?” I shake my head, it’s unbelievable how much he seems to know about me.
“Cord made a comment one time about how he needed to stop on his way home from work and get you sesame soy chicken or you might murder him… There’s a benefit of being friends with your brother. I’ve picked up a lot of little bits of information about you.”
“That’s really sweet that you remembered after all this time.”
“I didn’t.” He winces. “I actually have a note in my phone. I started writing down everything I found out.”
“What? Why?” I chuckle.
“Because I knew if I ever had the chance to date you, I wanted to make sure I remembered everything. I wanted to be the best boyfriend you could ever dream of.”
“I think you might be,” I whisper as I kiss him again. “What rolls did you get?”
“Well, I know you don’t like raw sushi.” He grins, so proud of himself.
“That’s true. It makes me feel like I'm going to throw up.” I shiver at the thought.
“I got a spider roll, shrimp tempura, California, and Philadelphia.”
My excitement drops. I do like all of those rolls, but I love-
“And three dragon rolls since those are your absolute favorites.” He sinks his teeth into his bottom lip with a smug smile playing at the corners. “You thought I didn’t get it, huh?”
“I was quite sad.” I laugh, loving how fun he is when it’s just the two of us.
“Nah, I know my girl.” He kisses my forehead before unboxing the sushi and holding a piece out to me.
“What’s going on in here?” Uncle Parker moseys into my office with his hands tucked into his pockets. I groan when Uncle Luke comes in after him.
“It’s called a lunch date. You both have them all the time with your wives.” I roll my eyes.
“Because they work here.” Uncle Luke rolls his eyes back at me.
“And it’s in Logan’s contract. She’ll get fired if she doesn’t eat lunch with me.” Amusement fills Uncle Parker’s features. He actually did that. They hated each other in the beginning and he put it in her contract that she has to eat lunch with him every day.
“Hey, I'm Covey.” Covey stands and holds a hand out to Uncle Parker first, then Uncle Luke. “It’s nice to see you both again.”
“Have we met before?” Uncle Parker arches a brow.
“We did at a BBQ at Owen’s, but I'm sure you don’t remember it. I think it was right after I started with the Pit Bulls, so a few years ago.” He smiles, looking so adorable in his jeans and t-shirt stretched across his muscular chest.
“How long have the two of you been together?” Uncle Parker motions between us.
“You know exactly how long we’ve been together! Daddy called you like a middle school girl to gossip! Don’t even try to play coy.”
“Wow, he’s already bad mouthing me to everyone?” Covey arches a brow with amusement.
“Nah, he loves you.” Uncle Parker waves off his concern. “He flipped out like a little girl, but he knows you’re a good guy and he can trust you with his daughter. He would’ve fired you on the spot if he didn’t think you’d be everything she wants.”
“That’s… Wow. You really think that.” Covey grips the back of his neck uncomfortably.
“That he loves you or he’d fire you?” Uncle Luke asks, cocking his head to the side.
“It doesn’t matter, either way the answer is yes.” Uncle Parker rolls his eyes. “Do you really think he wouldn’t do anything and everything in his power to stop you from dating his daughter if he really didn’t want you to?”
“I’m pretty sure he’d do whatever he wanted to protect Cici,” Covey says softly.
“Exactly, so consider yourself lucky. He might’ve gotten upset in the beginning, but in the long run, he doesn’t mind.”
“Ok, thanks for the girl chat, can you leave so we can get back to our lunch date?” I smile sweetly, but if they don’t leave the bosshole might come out in me.
“C’mon, Park, they just want to be able to kiss without us watching.” Uncle Luke wiggles his eyebrows, grabbing Uncle Parker’s arm and leading him towards the door.
“This office door stays open, do you understand me?” He arches a brow, daring me to argue with him.
“Ok, Dad.” I roll my eyes and make a shooing motion, telling them to leave faster.
“I'm serious, Cici.”
“I said ok! Now, go!”
Uncle Luke pulls him away, chuckling as they go. I'm sure they’ll be hanging out in Uncle Luke’s office since that’s right next door to mine.
“I'm sorry. Sometimes I swear I have three dads between them and my dad.” I shake my head, plopping another bite of sushi in my mouth.
“You have a whole group of people who love you enough to butt into your life. That’s not always a bad thing.”
“You want to see something really funny?” I tiptoe over to the door and slam it shut before racing back to the couch and picking up my food. I casually bring a piece of sushi to my mouth as the door flies open hard enough to dent the drywall.
“Cici!” Uncle Parker growls, his eyes full of fury. “I said the door stays open!”
“I didn’t shut it, Uncle Parker,” I whisper as my eyes fill with fake tears. “It must’ve been the wind. I’ve been sitting here eating my lunch the entire time.”
“Wind? Your windows don’t open! We’re on the thirtieth floor!”
“Well, then it must be the crappy ventilation. Maybe the heat turned on and blasted it shut. I don’t know.” I swipe at a fake tear.
“Ok… Well… Just… Open.” He stumbles over his words, shaking his head as he turns to leave. As soon as he’s gone, Covey chuckles quietly.
“Man, I'll have to be careful with you. How often did you turn on the waterworks to get your way as a kid?” He tugs me into his arms and kisses me deeply.
“All. The. Time.”