Love At First Hate (Love At Firsts Book 2)(56)
“Don’t start now! I don’t want to have a boner while meeting your parents.” He frowns, and I laugh.
“That’d be epic, though.”
“For you, not for me!”
“True. I’m heavily tattooed, and they don’t care. They all have tattoos actually. My mom got her first one done last year, my father has full sleeves, my brother is as bad as me, and Gabby has a few here and there. They always support the troops, and no they won’t care that you’re missing a bit. You don’t have to tell them if you don’t want to. It’s all up to you, babe.”
“Good to know.” He smiles nervously.
“As long as you have a great personality, aren’t a freeloader, and accept that they are very opinionated and won’t hesitate to say it to your face then you’re safe.”
“They’re just like you then.” He chuckles.
“Not as fabulous, though.” I grin smugly.
“No one can be as fabulous as you.” We both laugh as we walk out of the elevator and walk to the hotel’s breakfast restaurant.
They are all waiting for us there. It’s just my family, Madeline, Nate and me this morning. The others knew he was going to meet them, so they just went and did their own thing. We could have had a major breakfast party, but something intimate will be a lot better, especially for Nate.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Mom comes to me and hugs me straightaway.
“Hi, Mom. This is Nate. Nate, this is my mom, Joan.”
“A pleasure to see you again, Nate.” She smiles and hugs him. I chuckle seeing him a bit taken aback by this display of affection.
“Good to see you again too, Joan,” Nate says with a big smile.
“You two know each other?” I ask confused.
“Yes, he’s the one who tattooed me.” She grins proudly.
“What were the odds.” I chuckle.
“Small world, isn’t it? I’m Adam, Matt’s dad,” Dad introduces himself, shaking Nate’s hand.
“Nice to meet you.” Nate shakes his hand back, smiling. He looks a bit nervous still but seems to be relaxing.
“Brody, I’m this fool’s brother.” He ruffles my hair, and I slap his hand away.
“Don’t you dare mess with perfection.” I glare at him and fix my hair. We get along really well. We just enjoy riling each other up.
“You’ll live.” Brody chuckles shaking Nate’s hand.
“Good to meet you.”
“We know each other already,” Gabby says hugging him.
“How come you two know each other already?” Mom asks Gabby.
“We met at the opening of the tattoo shop he works at, and I’ve seen him a couple of times when I went to see Matt.”
“Oh, very good. How about we go for breakfast. I’m starving!” Mom walks in not waiting for us to answer her back. We all follow her in and to the table she picks.
“That went better than expected,” Nate whispers.
“It did, I can’t believe you’re the one who tattooed my mom.”
“Nor me. I should have known.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask him raising an eyebrow.
“She talks as much as you do,” he says with a smug grin.
“Yeah, you’re right about that.” I snicker.
“What are you two plotting?” Mom asks with a playful, scolding expression on her face.
“Us? Nothing, we’re innocent as can be!” I grin innocently.
“Yeah right. The day I believe you’re innocent, pigs will fly and chickens will grow teeth,” she scoffs.
“Fair enough.”
We all sit around a large table, and a waitress is directly at our table to take our order.
“So, Nate, tell us a bit about yourself,” Dad asks him casually, wanting to get to know him better.
“Uh, what do you want to know?” He chuckles nervously.
“Anything you’re willing to share on meeting us for the first time.” Dad shrugs.
“I come from a military family, dating back to my great-great-grandfather. I served our country as well, and I’ve been a tattoo artist for the past ten years,” Nate says nervously.
“Don’t be nervous around us, we’re chill. We just want what’s best for Matt, and you’re already a lot better than the last one so don’t worry,” Brody jokes.
“That’s reassuring. If it means anything, I couldn’t stand John either.”
“You knew him?” Dad asks surprised.
“Briefly. We crossed paths a couple of times, and he never left a memorable opinion on me.”
“I like you already,” Dad exclaims.
“Thanks, that’s good to know.”
“Where were you based while you were serving?” Brody asks.
“Afghanistan for two years.” A sullen expression clouds Nate’s face. I know he doesn’t like talking about that time or why he was discharged.
“I can’t even begin to imagine the horrors you’ve seen out there.” Mom frowns.
“It was pretty brutal if I’m honest.”
“What made you decide to join the Army? Sorry if I’m asking too many questions, we’re always admiring the amazing people protecting and serving our country,” Mom says with a fond expression on her face looking at Nate.