The Dating Plan(59)
That got her attention. “For real?”
“I was twenty-one and had no job and no college education when I left San Francisco. I had to earn money to live. Also, I was pretty messed up at the time.”
She poured the last of their Milk Duds in her mouth. “So you turned to crime?”
“It paid well. Most of the bikers were good guys. I’d run errands and they’d give me a place to sleep, something to eat, a little company . . .” He trailed off when her eyes widened. Daisy probably didn’t need to know all the details of his wildest days, or how lonely life on the road could be. “There’s nothing like being out on a bike. You’re part of the world instead watching it go by. The wind in your hair, the sun on your face, the open road in front of you . . . It takes your breath away.”
Her lips curved a little, her brown eyes dreamy. “I’d like to try it someday.”
Not something he’d ever expected Daisy to say, but he wasn’t going to waste an opportunity to take her out on his bike. “It’s still on the plan if you change your mind.”
“We should go find my relatives,” Daisy said abruptly, shaking herself as if caught in a daydream. “I got their seat numbers from one of my cousins who works here as a security guard. We can try to bump into him, too. The only things you need to remember about Taara Auntie are: one, don’t eat any food she gives you because she’s a terrible cook; and two, praise her boys.”
Liam chuckled as they made their way up the steps. “Praise the food; don’t eat the boys. Got it.”
They walked through the crowd to the food service area outside the section where her aunt was seated. It only took a few minutes of searching before Daisy began to wave. Liam was about to comment on her incredible eyesight, when he noticed two large and two small people in full foam shark suits pushing their way through the crowd.
“I knew I should have worn my suit,” he grumbled.
Daisy greeted her relatives with awkward hugs and kisses to their faces, which were visible in the cutouts in the shark costume undersides. Wearing only his jersey, his foam shark head hat, and his fan towel around his neck, Liam felt positively underdressed.
“This is my fiancé, Liam,” Daisy said after introducing everyone without taking into account the thickness of Liam’s shark head hat. As a result, he missed the boys’ names and mentally labeled them Baby Shark #1 and Baby Shark #2.
“So this is the boy.” Taara made no effort to hide her perusal, her gaze lingering on Liam’s hat. “At least he supports the right team.”
Score! Liam fought back the urge to pump a fist at what clearly was a victory in his quest for acceptance.
Taara turned her attention back to Daisy. “Every week I see you. Every week you try my new fusion food. And you told Salena first? I thought I was your favorite auntie.”
Emotional manipulation. Liam knew all about it. Every CEO with a failed start-up pitch had a sad story to tell, and he’d quickly learned to harden his heart.
“It was an accident,” Daisy said. “If she hadn’t bumped into me, of course I would have told you first. You are definitely my favorite auntie. Who else could make me a special engagement celebration surprise?”
Taara’s eyes widened in delight. The baby sharks visibly grimaced. Liam sidestepped over to them and slipped a twenty-dollar bill into each boy’s hand. “Go buy yourselves something to eat,” he whispered.
With a quick, questioning look to their dad, they waddled away, their steps restricted by their shark fin tails.
“If I’d known we’d be meeting you, I would have made something special.” Taara handed Liam a clear plastic container filled with brown goo. “But lucky for you, I made extra of our halftime treat. I took all the special foods you can get here—hot dogs, sandwiches, pizza, corn dogs, chocolate, popcorn, Hawaiian barbecue, Dole Whip, nachos—blended them all together, sprinkled on a little cayenne for spice, and some garam masala, and surprise! Shark Stew! You don’t have to waste time lining up or deciding what to eat and miss the halftime fun. You can have it all.”
Daisy snatched the container out of Liam’s hand. “That’s so kind, Auntie-ji, but we’ve already eaten.”
“I still have room. I want to try it.” Liam took the container and lifted the lid. No noxious smells or odors were released. He took the spoon Taara offered him and had a small sip. Utterly vile. It reminded him of his days as a biker when they would drink every night until they threw up, and then drank some more. Still, Taara looked so hopeful, he didn’t want to disappoint. Gritting his teeth, he finished everything in the container, realizing only when he was done that the boys had returned and everyone was staring at him in silence. Liam wasn’t sure if that was bad or good. He offered the empty container to Taara. “If we hadn’t already polished off a tray of food, I would ask for seconds.”
“My God.” Her husband shook his head in wonder. “He ate it.”
“He likes it. He really likes it!” Taara grabbed Liam’s cheeks and gave them a squeeze. “What a nice boy. And such good taste in food . . .”
“Well, weren’t you just the fabulous fiancé,” Daisy said after Taara and her family returned to their seats. “Am I going to have to take you to the hospital to have your stomach pumped?”