Although my date with Chris went really well yesterday, I can't shake the feeling that there was a reason why he cut the evening short. Especially when I basically offered myself up like a cheese platter.

I feel slightly rejected, in a way.

The fact that he had company coming over eases my paranoid mind a little as Halle and I stroll through midtown. We made a stop at Ponce City Market in order for me to snag a couple of last minute gifts for the marketing team, and of course if I see anything for Audrey I'll have to get it.

The plan was to shop for a bit, grab a bite to eat at the market, and then head on over to the Fox Theater to catch a showing of The Nutcracker before the after-church crowd rushes in. It's something we do every holiday season.

It's the last weekend before Christmas, and although Jeremiah will have her Christmas Eve, thankfully Audrey will be spending Christmas Day with me. I've already gotten her tons of presents, and even though she's too little to understand the concept of gifts, spending the afternoon at my mother's house will be a nice start to a new family tradition. Plus, my sister, Abby, her husband and their three kids will be there as well.

I place the earrings I found down on the register of a small boutique we discovered nestled in a corner of the market shops; I thought they would be a good gift idea for Avery. I pull out some cash in preparation to pay.

The clerk looks uninterested as she scrolls through her phone, smacking her gum loudly. She scans the earrings, announces my total, and then takes the cash to place it in the register.

She hands me back my change, and I thank her with a smile as I turn to leave.

"Maybe we should try that new sandwich place today?" I suggest to Halle as we step out into the cold. "I hear that their paninis are —"

My words come to an abrupt halt as I feel my body collide with another on my way out of the door.

Of all the times I've bumped into someone, I've never actually fallen down. This time though, I actually do, and my feet twist together as the ground comes speeding towards me before I can gain my balance back.

The man I've collided with catches me quickly, however, wrapping me in his arms before my clumsiness is exposed to the public.

I look into the eyes of my savior, and quickly notice that they're hazel.

Motherfucker.

It's Chris.

He smirks at me, and I remain in his arms, just a foot away from the ground.

I push against him, scrambling to get my footing back.

"God, Chris! How many times are we going to meet like this?" I complain, brushing myself off in an attempt at looking a little more put-together.

Chris laughs at me, and then I do too, shoving him slightly.

"Eh hem," comes a small throat-clear from behind him, and when I look, I notice that there are more people than just me and Halle standing around.

A woman with tanned skin, and hazel eyes stares back at me. Her gray hair is neatly combed into a bun, and she wears real pearls around her small neck. To her left stands an older gentleman about the same age. He wears a long, black trench coat, and although his eyes are blue, he looks almost exactly like Chris in older form. A younger, petite woman with long, amber hair and a plaid scarf, looks at me with a huge grin, and the boy next to her, who must be her son, seems to only be interested in the novel that's in his hands. Upon taking a closer look, I notice that it's the seventh book in the Harry Potter series.

I smile at them, and look to Chris for permission. He seems to be a little on-edge, but introduces me anyway.

"Vanessa, these are my parents, Janice and Michael," he starts, gesturing to them.

"Oh dear, it's Mrs. Peters to you," Janice says to me as she reaches out with her hand, her palm facing the ground.

I take her hand, and she clasps her fingers around mine in a bird-like grip.

"Mother, you don't have to be so rude,"
Chris says adamantly.

Mrs. Peters beams at me anyway, and turns to her husband.

"This is Mr. Peters," she says to me, and Chris eyes her expectantly. "Michael," she tacks on, and I reach for his hand as well.

"Vanessa," I greet him.

He seems nicer, but doesn't say anything in return as he takes my hand into his, and smiles a kind smile that touches his blue eyes.

"This is Leanna, and my nephew, William," Chris says as he introduces his sister.

I smile at William, and he glances up from his book to give me a small wave. Leanna beams at me, but when I reach my hand out to shake hers, she takes me into her arms instead.

"Oh, I'm so glad that we ran into you today!" She exclaims during our embrace.

"Yeah, quite literally," Chris mumbles under his breath with a smirk.

I look at him with a big smile as his sister hugs me still.

"I feel like I already know you!" Leanna says excitedly. "And who's this?"

I glance over my shoulder at Halle, and then motion for her to come forward.

"This is my best friend, Halle. We were just getting some last minute Christmas shopping done," I tell them as Halle approaches.

"Halle's the one dating Aaron," Chris says to Leanna. She seems to take interest in that fact.

"So you're the one who's been keeping him out of trouble!" Leanna says.

"It's sort of easier said than done," Halle laughs, and Leanna laughs with her.

I look at Chris. He's so handsome in his dark, slim fit coat and brown oxfords. I can't help but feel a little aroused from his professional demeanor, and find myself remembering back to when we had sex in my office at the Christmas party just two nights ago.

I blush at the ground as Halle and Leanna chat some more about Aaron.

"Vanessa," Leanna begins. "You should come with Chris to mother's Annual Independence Day Cookout! And of course, Halle, you're welcome to come as Aaron's plus one."

Chris scowls at Leanna, and she shrugs her shoulders, an innocent expression on her face.

Does Chris not want me to come?

"Oh Leanna, dear. You can't go around inviting just anybody. There are very important people that come to this," Mrs. Peters reveals.

Although I like to give most people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to first impressions, I get the feeling that Janice Peters is exactly who she appears to be.

"Mom. There is nothing wrong with Chris bringing a date to the club."

"As long as Vanessa's able to bring her daughter, Audrey with," Chris inserts for me, and I look up at him out of shock.

"No, no. I understand if it's just a family thing. I'm not offended in any way," I add before anyone else can say anything for me again.

I'm a little disappointed in Chris' mention of Audrey, I guess I just didn't expect that from him.

"Darling, you have a daughter? You can't be any older than twenty-five," Janice Peters says, a hint of disappointment in her tone. Her statement reminds me of a very similar conversation I had with Chris when I first met him.

He looks at me apologetically, but I ignore him, my focus on Mrs. Peters.

"Leanna did the same thing about ten years ago. What a shame. Now she's divorced, and a single mother living on her own,"

"Mother," Chris interjects, but Janice continues.

"I told her not to marry that dim-witted, lazy, cheating bastard of a man, but she didn't listen. And now look."

I glance at Leanna, who shakes her head back and forth, her palm to her forehead.

"Mom, stop." Chris pleads with his mother again.

"And then there's Chris, who made the biggest mistake in the family, marrying that retched girl. It nearly gave me a heart attack hearing about what that whore did to my only son. The women at the country club had plenty to say about it bless their hearts, and I tell you dear, it was quite embarrassing. If it were up to me, I —"

"Mother, enough!" Chris interrupts Mrs. Peters rant once again, but this time she remains silent.

We all stand there silently for a moment, Chris' final words hanging in the air like an icicle.

"Well, it was so nice to meet all of you, but Halle and I have a show to catch," I finally say, breaking the silence.

Leanna smiles at me kindly, and waves goodbye as she pulls her mom by her arm toward another shop. Mr. Peters follows, a small apologetic smile on his face, and William dawdles behind, his attention on his book.

"Um, I'm going to go warm the car up," Halle states, before making her escape to the parking lot.

Chris exhales, and looks down at me from several inches above. He reaches for my hands.

I allow him to take them, and smile softly at him in return.

Is this what Chris has had to endure during his childhood? No wonder he didn't want to introduce me.

He brings my cold hands up to his lips, and plants small kisses on the back of them.

"Now do you understand why I didn't want you to meet my family?" He asks, relieved somehow.

"I don't know, they're not so bad," I say with a smile, attempting to make him feel a little better. "I like your mom a lot."

He laughs, and then let's my hands go, taking me into his arms in a warm embrace.

"You're amazing. Every time I think you'll run away, you surprise me by being so understanding."

I breathe the smell of him in, and close my eyes.

I wish things could always be this simple between us; no bullshit, no stress, just love and affection, like in the movies.

Too bad we live in the real world.

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This chapter was a teeny bit longer than my longest one, but I hope you liked it!

Let me know if you think Chris is overreacting about his family, or do you think his feelings are justified? Tell me in the comments, and don't forget to VOTE ⭐️