Love Thy Neighbor (Friend-Zoned)(86)

He’s not wrong.

It’s not that they’ll have anything against Asher. It’s just that they’ll wonder why we eloped. Doing something like that, in our family, means something’s wrong.

Terribly wrong.

I scoff, “You don’t know that. C’mon, I think they’re in the yard.”

We walk through my house when he spots a picture of me and my sisters when I was about eleven. I’m wearing a hat. He chuckles. “Let me guess. Nina and the Mohawk?”

Laughing, I tell him, “Oh yeah. That wasn’t the first time either. You should see our family photos, especially the ones where dad has no sideburns.”

His body shakes behind me in silent laughter, and when I reach the back sliding door, my stomach dips. I won’t let Ash see how nervous I am though. Pasting on a huge smile, I open the door and step out onto the back porch where my mom, dad, Nina and Helena sit at the outdoor setting.

Helena spots us first and stands so fast, her chair tumbles backwards. She squeals and runs over to us, jumping up on me. I throw my arms around her and laugh, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. You’d think I haven’t seen you for years!”

Helena lets go of me and to my surprise, she jumps up on Ash. And he lets her, hugging her and smiling too.

Maybe this isn’t going to be as bad as I thought.

Nina stands and comes over to me. She bear hugs me and says, “It’s so good to see you, honey.”

She cups Ash’s cheek and kisses the other. I watch my sisters flank my husband. Helena wraps an arm around his waist from one side and Nina wraps an arm around his waist from the other side. I smile.

They’re forming a protective barrier around him. They know something’s up.

Ash stands there looking dumbfounded for a sec before he wraps both his arms around my sisters’ shoulders.

My nose tingles and my eyes blur.

Nawww. Stupid feels!

Clearing my throat, I turn to my parents who are both standing now. Mom wears a small smile. Dad…well, he doesn’t look so happy.

Mom comes forwards and wraps me up tight. I whisper, “Hi, Mama.”

She rocks me from side to side and whispers into my ear, “He’s very good looking, beba.”

I chuckle and she lets go of me. My dad comes forwards and gruff as ever, hugs me so hard that he almost cuts of my air flow. I gasp. “Tata, not so tight!”

He lets go of me and moves to stand in front of Asher. He says, “The man from Tina’s wedding, no?”

Ash nods and says, “Yes, sir. I am. Nik’s friend, Asher.” Then Ash holds out his hand for dad to take and my stomach knots.

Please, Tata. Oh please, just take it.

Dad looks at Ash for a good ten seconds before he takes his hand and pumps it twice before letting go. He turns his back and says to Asher, “You come.” Then he walks inside.

Ash looks at me as if I should confirm whether he’s walking into his imminent death. Choking down my laughter, I tell him, “Go with him. He probably just wants to show you something manly.”

Ash swallows hard, straightens to full height, nods into the distance and walks inside, following my father. Shaking my head, I chuckle.

Fare thee well, brave soldier.

***

Oh shit. The man has a basement.

What do people need basements for these days?

For dismembering bodies of their daughters’ husbands, that’s why.

I am so f*cked.

Walking down the steps, I think of my beautiful wife’s face and remember that whatever this is right now, she’s worth it.

When I make it to the last step, I look around and my mouth gapes.

This is the coolest f*cking room I’ve ever been in.

There’s a pool table, a dart board, a poker table, a huge flat screen TV, a very comfortable looking sofa, a library along the back wall and a bar in the far corner. Walking with wide eyes, something hits the side of my head and I reach up to steady the…hanging pork leg?

What the f*ck?

Nat’s dad sees me holding the leg with what is probably my what the f*ck face and he says a heavily accented, “Is prosciutto. Very nice. Salty ham. We do every year. Is traditions.”

He motions to the bar, and satisfied that he’s not going to kill me…yet, I move over to him. My eyes widen once more when he pulls out two shot glasses and an old bottle of something clear. He pours them both and says, “My Natalie. She smart. If she bring a boy home, I know she love him.”

I pipe down the urge to puff up my chest and bang on it like Tarzan while doing a jungle call. He goes on, “So, I must ask. Nina tell me about the other boy, the one who hits her. She say a good man help Nat. Is this man you?”

My gut knots. I had no idea her sisters would tell her parents.

Nodding, I tell him, “Yes, sir. I helped her.”

Nodding with me, he allows a moment’s silence before he asks slowly, “You make him pay?”

Looking him direct in the eyes, I say with sincerity, “In a way he’ll never forget, sir. Ever.”

He nods once more and I know he gets me. Playing with his glass, he asks quietly, “Are you worthy?”

Puffing out a big breath, I tell him, “I- uh- I really don’t know. I hope so because I love her. So much that I’d do anything for her. I’ll protect her til the day I die, if she’ll have me. She makes me a better person.”