If I Was Your Best Friend

Chapter 28 Nyree

This whole situation had me giddy as fuck.

I couldn’t believe I proposed in the first place, and then she said yes.

Was I dreaming?

I looked at Asia sitting beside me on her couch, the ring glittering on her finger, and my chest swelled with a happiness I'd never experienced before. This was real. She was real. We were real.

"You know what's crazy?" I said, letting out a laugh that bubbled up from somewhere deep inside me. "We did this shit all backwards, baby. I gotta introduce you to my mom."

Asia giggled, and seeing the same giddiness sweep through her made my heart soar even higher. "I guess we did skip a few steps, huh?"

"Let's go," I said suddenly, the idea taking hold of me.

Her eyes widened. "Right now?"

I nodded, chuckling at her surprise. "Right now."

"Nyree, I'm not even dressed!" She gestured at her tank top and leggings, laughing again.

"Shit, I'll wait." I leaned back and made myself comfortable on her couch, grabbing the TV remote. "Take your time. We got forever now."

Asia stared at me like she wasn't quite sure what to do with me, then shook her head with a smile and headed toward her bedroom. "You're something else, you know that?"

"That's why you said yes," I called after her, feeling like I could conquer the world right now.

While Asia showered and got ready, I flipped through channels, barely paying attention to what was on.

My mind was racing with plans and possibilities.

We'd need to figure out living arrangements—her place or mine, or maybe somewhere new altogether.

We would need to set a date, though I meant what I said about being willing to have a long engagement if that was what she wanted.

But mostly, I needed Ma to meet her, to see what I saw in her.

My mom was going to be shocked for sure. I hadn't even told her I was seeing anyone seriously, and now I was showing up with a fiancée. But she would understand once she met Asia.

About forty-five minutes later, Asia emerged from the bedroom wearing a simple floral sundress, her hair styled in loose waves, minimal makeup highlighting her natural beauty.

"How do I look?" she asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"Like my wife," I said with a broad grin.

She swatted my arm. "Be serious."

I stood up and pulled her close, looking into her eyes. "I am serious. But for real, you look beautiful. My mom is gonna love you."

She took a deep breath. "I hope so. I've never done the whole 'meet the parents' thing on the same day as getting engaged before."

"Me neither," I teased. "First time for everything."

I took her hand, lacing our fingers together, and felt the unfamiliar but perfect presence of the ring against my skin. We headed out to my car, and as I opened the door for her, the reality of what we were doing hit me again. I was taking my fiancée to meet my mother.

On the drive to my mom's house, we talked easily about everything and nothing—her work schedule for the next week, a new lens I was thinking about buying, a movie we both wanted to see. But as we got closer, nervousness crept in.

"You okay?" Asia asked, picking up on my sudden quietness.

"Yeah," I said, squeezing her hand. "It’s just that this is gonna be a surprise."

"You think she'll be upset?"

I shook my head. "Nah, not upset. Maybe a little shocked, but my mom's pretty cool."

I glanced over at her, taking in her beautiful face, the hint of vulnerability in her eyes.

Her smile in response was everything.

We pulled up to my mom's house, the one I'd grown up in. The flower beds were meticulously maintained as always—my mom's pride and joy, especially her roses, which were in full bloom now.

As we walked up the path to the front door, I took Asia's hand again, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Ready?"

She nodded, and I could see she was nervous but trying not to show it.

I knocked on the door, though I could have used my key. It felt right to knock today, given the circumstances.

After a moment, the door swung open and there was my mom, Barbara, looking surprised to see me.

"Nyree! I wasn't expecting you today," she said, then her eyes moved to Asia, curiosity evident in her expression.

"Hey, Ma," I said, unable to keep the grin off my face. "I want you to meet someone special. This is Asia... my fiancée."

My mom's eyes widened, darting between my face, Asia's face, and the ring on Asia's finger. For a moment, I thought she might be speechless—a rarity.

"Fiancée?" she managed.

"It's nice to meet you," Asia said, stepping forward and extending her hand. "Nyree's told me so much about you."

My mom's sense of hospitality kicked in despite her shock. She took Asia's hand and then pulled her in for a hug instead of a handshake.

"Well, come on in, both of you," she said, stepping back from the doorway. "I think this calls for some sweet tea and a lot of conversation."

I could read my mom well enough to know that behind her polite smile, her mind was racing with questions. But she'd never embarrass me or make Asia feel unwelcome. That wasn't her style.

We followed her inside, and I felt a wave of nostalgia hit me as we entered the familiar living room with its comfortable but outdated furniture, family photos covering almost every surface, and the faint scent of cinnamon from the candles my mom loved.

"Sit down," my mom urged, gesturing to the couch. "I'll get that tea."

"Let me help you," Asia offered, and I could have kissed her for that—my mom always appreciated good manners.

"Aren't you sweet," my mom said, her smile warming. "But no, you two sit. I'll be right back."

As soon as she disappeared into the kitchen, Asia turned to me with wide eyes. "She thinks I'm crazy," she whispered.

I laughed. "No, she thinks I'm crazy. But don't worry, she'll warm up once she gets to know you."

We sat close together on the couch, and I put my arm around her shoulders, partly to reassure her and partly because I couldn't stop touching her since she'd said yes.

My mom returned quickly with a tray holding glasses of sweet tea and a plate of the butter cookies she always kept on hand for visitors.

"So," she said as she sat in her favorite armchair across from us, "why don't you tell me how this happened? Because last I checked, Nyree, you weren't even seeing anyone."

I cleared my throat. "Well, Asia and I have been dating for a little while. We met on a blind date and we just... connected."

"When was this?" my mom asked, her tone casual but her eyes sharp.

"Almost two months ago," I admitted.

My mom's eyebrows shot up. "Two months."

"I know it sounds fast, Ma," I said, "but when you know, you know."

She turned her attention to Asia. "And you feel the same way? After just two months?"

Asia sat up straighter beside me. "I do. I understand it seems sudden, and, I was surprised myself when Nyree proposed. But..." She looked at me, and the softness in her eyes gave me confidence. "There's something special between us. Something I've never felt before."

My mom studied Asia for a long moment, then nodded slowly.

The tension in the room eased, and we spent the next hour talking.

My mom asked Asia about her job, her family, her education.

Asia answered everything with grace and asked questions of her own, showing genuine interest in my mom's career and her garden.

By the time we were ready to leave, they were exchanging recipes and my mom had invited Asia to her book club.

As we said our goodbyes at the door, my mom hugged Asia again, this time more warmly, then pulled me in for a tight embrace.

"I'm happy if you're happy, baby," she whispered in my ear, though I could hear the unspoken reservations in her voice.

We drove back to Asia's place with a sense of accomplishment, both of us relieved that the first family introduction had gone relatively well.

"Your mom is so nice," Asia said as we pulled into her apartment complex. "I can see where you get your personality from."

"She liked you too," I assured her. "I could tell."

Once we were back inside her apartment, Asia turned to me with a determined look. "I gotta have you meet my mom too, and then you have to meet my best friend."

"I thought I was your best friend?" I joked, pulling her close.

She giggled and rolled her eyes. "You're my fiancé. Different category."

"Whatever you say," I said, enjoying the way those words sounded.

She kissed me. "So? Are you ready to meet my family next?"

"I guess so," I said, though the prospect was intimidating. "When do you want to do it?"

"Let me call my mom and see when she's free. Maybe tomorrow or next weekend?"

I nodded, pleased that she wanted to move quickly too. It made this whole whirlwind engagement feel more real, more solid.

We spent a little more time together, but I could see Asia was tired from the emotional roller coaster of the day, I kissed her goodbye, promising to call her later that night.

As I drove home, my phone rang through my car's Bluetooth. It was my mom.

"Hey, Ma," I answered, a smile in my voice.

"Nyree," she began, and I could tell from her tone that this was going to be a more candid conversation than we'd had in front of Asia. "Now she's a nice girl, baby, but I think you're moving too fast."

I sighed, having expected this. "I know how it looks, Ma."

"Do you? Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you've known this girl for a minute and now you're ready to spend the rest of your life with her. That's not like you, Nyree. You need to be more careful."

"This was careful," I insisted. "I've never been more sure about anything."

"Love can make you feel that way," she said. "But feelings aren't always reliable guides for life-changing decisions."

"What are you saying, Ma? That I shouldn't marry her?"

"I'm saying you should take your time. There's no rush if it's real. Get to know each other better. Live together maybe, before you tie the knot. Just... make sure."

I gripped the steering wheel tighter. "I am sure."

We remained silent for a few moments before she said, “Love you, baby."

"Love you too, Ma."

As I hung up and continued driving home, my mom's words echoed in my head. Were we moving too fast? Was I being reckless?