Page 129 of Whiskey and Regret

“I know. You haven’t had it in so long, I thought since we were meeting the boyfriend I might as well break out the big guns.” My mother’s banana pudding was to die for. I never ate anyone else’s because it would be an insult to the homemade cookie custardy, goodness she baked in her oven.

“So it’s okay if I just hide this for myself, right?” I beamed with a smile.

“Girl, don’t even try it. Now, where is this boyfriend? Or do you have to wait for Senator Freeman to leave?”

“No need to wait for me to leave,” Evander’s voice rounded the corner and he was all smiles. Six-foot-three. Two hundred and thirty pounds of chiseled fucking sex.

I’m sure that’s not what my parents saw when they looked at him but that’s what the fuck I saw.

“Senator Freeman, nice to meet you, man. I’ve heard so much about you from Xari and Navy. Thank you for being such a kind boss to my girls.” Dad shook Evander’s hand and they shared a polite smile.

“Yes, we appreciate you giving Xari a chance. I know she didn’t have any experience as a nanny, but you took a chance on her and we are so grateful.”

“God, you guys make me sound like the fuck up of the family,” I griped, pouring glasses of wine for everyone.

“Xari, watch your mouth, girl,” Mom fussed, shooting a disapproving look my way. I forgot just that quick that they had no idea Evander was my man and my boss. They thought I was letting the f-bomb fly in a work setting.

“It’s true though,” I shrugged.

“You’re not the fuck up of the family, Xari. Cut that out,” Navy added.

“Whatever,” I muttered,

“I wasn’t sure about hiring her as my daughter’s nanny at first, but she proved herself to be invaluable. She took to it like a fish to water.” Evander’s arm slid around my lower back in that possessive way I loved so much, and my father’s eyes dropped to his hand on my hip. “Now she’s making schedules just as efficiently as Navy. You have amazing daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Lucas.”

“Thank you,” Dad said, uncertainty thinning his tone. Mom looked over her shoulder at Navy who was seated at the island sipping her glass of wine, unbothered.

“So, you guys want to move into the dining room? I have the table already set. The food is on warmers, so nothing is cold.” Evander and I walked in hand in hand and I felt my father’s laser beam eyes on us the entire time. Mom was busy trying to piece the puzzle together even though it was right in her face.

“So, when are we meeting this serious boyfriend of yours?” Dad asked. His arms were folded across his chest, blocking any and all bullshit.

Evander and I shared a glance as he pulled out my chair and helped me slide up to the table. Navy snorted into her wine glass and made a humming noise with her lips pressed together. She was barely holding her laughter in.

“Ah…” Evander chuckled and took his seat next to me. “Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Lucas. I’m Evander Freeman and I’m madly in love with your daughter.”

You could have heard a fucking pin drop on the carpet.

The room stretched then filled itself to the ceiling with silence and quiet glances. My face flushed and I looked at Evander before looking at my parents trying to gauge their reactions.

Navy let out another snicker and tipped her wine glass up. “I’m so glad I decided to tag along for this,” she sighed.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Dad said, rubbing his face. “You?” He pointed at Evander from across the table. I busied myself with lifting the lids off the warming platters hoping the aroma of garlic and parmesan would grab their attention.

“Yes sir,” Evander said. He was so at ease like he’d done this shit a million times. He was a politician though and they were used to wading through shit storms. “I know this is a little awkward and clunky right now but trust me, I’m not here to play with Xari’s heart. We take our relationship seriously.” He lifted our connected hands then kissed my knuckles. We were united.

I watched the stiff way my father sat up taller in his chair and kept my eye on that twitching vein running up the side of his head and disappearing into a silver and black crop of close-cut hair.

“How old are you, Senator?” Dad said, clasping his hands on the tabletop.

“I’m forty.”

“You know how old my daughter is? She’s not even twenty-one yet.”

“Precisely why I don’t have a glass of wine…even though I need one,” I muttered.

“I’m aware of how old Xari is. Our age difference isn’t an issue as long as she’s an adult. Not a teenaged adult but an actual twenty-year-old.” He was being polite but I could tell he already had my dad pegged as overprotective, so he made sure to stand his ground. I, on the other hand, was going to dissolve into the ground.

“She is a grown woman, babe,” Mom chimed in. She looked at me for a few beats then looked at Evander then Navy. “You knew, didn’t you?” She asked my sister.