Melissa was told several more times how beautiful she looked but none of them lit her face up like when I'd said it. She was sticking to drinking orange juice for now but promised to have a glass of wine later on. It was so weird, but I had to admire her for it.

I introduced her to all of my aunts, uncles and cousins, including the newly engaged Megan and Gary. Like any female on the planet, Melissa got excited at seeing the flashy engagement ring and before I knew it, she was being dragged away to talk about weddings with all of the other women. I had some sympathy for her but there was absolutely no way I was going near that group conversation.

Instead, Gary and I sat at the dinner table with my dad and spoke about pretty much the only thing the three of us had in common. Our love of the Seahawks.

"We were shit! No other way to say it!" My dad yelled in reference to the recently finished season. He always gets really animated and angry when he's had a few beers.

Not only that, but his glasses will slide a little down his long nose; his face would turn bright pink, causing his sheet-white hair to stand out way more than usual. His large, formerly athletic, chest would puff out and he'd shake like he was away to explode. The first few times I saw it, I was convinced he was about to have a heart attack. Nowadays, I know that that's just him.

"We weren't that bad!" Gary scoffed.

"How many games did we win? And how many of those were flukes?"

I wasn't getting involved in this.

"Some people would call it a fluke but you've still got to have the talent to capitalize on the situations!" Gary argued. "Besides, we had a tough division this year."

"Bullshit! We should be mopping the floor with those losers. The Rams got lucky this year. Right David?"

"Maybe?" I shrugged. The truth is, although I get bummed when we lose, which was quite often this season, but it isn't something that really affects my life as much as it did with my dad. Early retirement will do that to you.

"Were you even paying attention?" He asked, frustrated. I wasn't sure if he meant the conversation or the season. "You've been really distracted lately. Is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine," I assured him, and meant it. As for being distracted . . .

"Just got asked when OUR wedding was! Shall I give them a date? :P xxxxx"

Melissa's text brought a smile to my face.

"Sure, then I'll just steal your car and leave you here xxxxx," I replied instantly.

Suddenly fearing that she would actually go along with a joke like that, I bailed on Dad and Gary to go and rescue her (and myself) from anything wedding related. Thankfully, once I joined them in the living room, they seemed to have moved onto another topic.

"I'm really glad he has someone like you in his life," My aunt, Tracy, said to Melissa. They hadn't noticed me by the door so I decided to eavesdrop for a little bit while she continued. "He's been single for far too long!"

"I was starting to think he would be forever!" Mom agreed. "I know he hasn't said much since he's gotten here, but I can tell that he's much happier than he's been for a long time."

Melissa looked shocked at this revelation, just as I was.

"Well if it helps any, I do really like him," She smiled. "More than I thought I would the first time I met him!"

I laughed but still remained undetected.

"What is it that you like about him? I know it's a little weird but I like hearing things like this!" Mom said with glee.

"Just don't tell her anything that a mother shouldn't know!" Tracy warned, teasingly poking her shoulder as my mom swatted at her like a fly.

"I dunno," Melissa's voice reached a higher pitch then I'd previously heard. "He's nice, funny . . . caring. He's really, really fun . . . and he doesn't treat me like . . . like I'm different. Which is great, because I don't feel different to anyone else. Everyone else I've went out with has made it into a big deal but David . . . he might come across like he doesn't really care about stuff, but I know he does."

I could get used to this!

"Sounds like you've got I bad," My cousin Megan commented.

"I think I do," Melissa admitted. I took that as my cue to enter the fray.

"What are you ladies talking about?" I asked with a knowing smirk.

"None of your business!" Teased Melissa. The mischief in her eyes told me all I needed to know.

Soon, I'd make her my girlfriend and I didn't care what anyone else thought.

"Just girl stuff," Megan lied, but I wasn't really listening to anyone now that I was reunited with Melissa.

*

As the party drew to a close, my dad and I saw the last-guests-standing out into the rain while Melissa (despite mom's protests) helped clean up. They seemed to be enjoying another quiet conversation and I couldn't help watching their interaction.

Noticing my stalker-like behaviour, my father came up behind me and placed a strong hand on my shoulder.

"She's a great girl," He told me.

"Yeah, she really is."

"How did you pull that one off?"

"Honestly, I'm still trying to figure that out," I laughed.

"Well whatever you do, just don't fuck it up."

"What makes you think I'll fuck it up?" I asked, somewhat annoyed.

"You always fuck it up," He pointed out.

"Whatever. Well, I won't fuck it up this time."

"You always say that too," I stared at him as soon as he said it and we both shared a grin and a silent chuckle. It wouldn't have made sense to many people, but to me, this was his way of saying "Good job, son".

*

"Your family are all really nice," Melissa told me, untying her hair from its ponytail.

We were now back in my old room and I was changing into some comfier attire for getting into bed. It was a much smaller bed then I was used to in my apartment so I was looking forward to getting a little closer to Melissa that night before we drove home in the morning.

"You obviously didn't speak to Gary that much," I jokingly shrugged.

"Technically he's not your family yet," She argued.

I reluctantly conceded her point before slumping onto the bed and turning on the ancient TV in the corner with the barely working remote.

"What are you doing?" She asked from behind me. As much as I didn't want to, I was deliberately keeping my back to her while she got changed.

Don't look so surprised, I can be respectful sometimes!

"Getting the movie ready," I told her. "Don't think you've gotten out of watching the greatest eighties movie of all time!"

There was a pause then before she spoke again.

"Actually, I thought we could do something else instead,"

"Like wha –" I spun round and shut up when I saw that she'd stripped down to nothing but her underwear.

"Do you like my idea?" She blushed.

"You brought the sexy underwear," I whispered, almost to myself.

"There's just one condition," She warned.

"Whatever you say," I whispered again as she approached. I swear, she could have told me to go streaking through Sunday Mass and I would've done it at that point.

"You have to promise me that you'll be quiet," She told me, sitting on my lap. "I think you're mom likes me and I don't really want this to be something she remembers me by!"

Sound logic, really.

"Deal; easy," I nodded. "Besides, we all know that you're the one who's going to have to stay quiet," I wickedly whispered before spinning my body round so that now, I was the one on top of her.

____________________________________________________________________________

We're back! I'm so sorry for the long delay with updates but holidays will do that to you!

What did you guys think of this chapter? I swear I thought it was longer! Haha! But seriously, I love writing sweet little chapters like this so I cant wait to hear some feedback!

Finally, You'll see that I included a music video at the end. You know sometimes when you're listening to music and you just think "This is my story!". Well that happened here. Oh My Love by The Score perfectly illustrates how David is feeling about Melissa right now and if this was a movie, this would be the perfect place to put it! I hope you like it!