“Angela, we’re leaving.”
“Wait, what?”
“Why?”
“Eric.”
I heard my father, Angela, and Lisa’s voices. Ignoring their questions. I rounded the table to kiss my grandmother and tell her in Korean that we were leaving. I came back to the table to help Angela up, not addressing the funny look she was giving me, quickly escorting us out of my parents’ home. So much for a great first meeting.
Chapter Ten
Angela
Well, that was a bust.
I felt the tension coming from Eric’s mom as soon as she opened the door. However, I did my best not to let it get to me. I knew this was a big deal for Eric, bringing a woman home to meet his family. I thought it might be a little awkward, but I figured I’d be able to get his family to warm up to me. Obviously, that didn’t happen, and now I was feeling bummed. Not only bummed but totally out of sorts. I was starting to fall for this man, but not being liked by his mother was a problem for me. I couldn’t imagine being with someone who my parents didn’t accept.
I sighed, lifting my gaze to realize we were just now turning onto my street. The entire car ride had been silent. I got the impression Eric was attempting to calm himself down or trying to figure out a way to let me down easy.
“Thank you for dinner. I can walk myself to the door,” I stated, opening the car door. My movement was stopped by a large hand on my knee. I turned to glance back at Eric who wore a quizzical expression.
“Since when have I ever let you walk yourself to the door? Or open your own door for that matter?” His eyes drifted to my hand on the door. I let my hand fall from the handle.
“Don’t move.” He got out and rounded the car to open my door, just like he always did.
I’m going to miss this,I lamented as we crossed the street to my home. I left the porch light on to make it easier to see. Before I could put my key in the lock, Eric reached out, pulling my arm to turn me toward him.
“I’m sorry about my mother. I don’t know what got into her.”
I forced a smile. “It’s all right. Hey, I’ll see you around, okay?” I quickly turned to insert the key, but before I could turn the knob, I was spun around.
“See me around? I’m a pretty smart guy, so I know a brush off when I hear one. What the hell is that about?”
I shifted my gaze to a point over his shoulder, not liking the feeling rising in the pit of my stomach at the thought of not seeing him anymore.
“I was trying to give you an easy out,” I admitted.
“An easy out?”
“Yes. Since things didn’t go so well with your parents—”
“My mother, you mean.”
I nodded. “Okay, with your mother, I figured that would be the end for us.”
“Why the hell would you think that?”
“Well, you were kind of quiet on the ride over here, so I assumed you were trying to figure out a way to let me down easy. I don’t want to cause any strife between you and your parents.”
“And you won’t. My mother’s issue is her issue.”
Blowing out a deep breath, I folded my arms across my chest. “Eric, family is important. I know how important it is and I don’t want to be the reason you and your mother don’t get along.”
My eyes fluttered shut when he took a step forward, cupping the left side of my face with his hand. In spite of my will to remain firm, I leaned my head into his hand, parting my lips slightly when his brushed against mine. I felt bereft when, instead of deepening the kiss, he pulled his head back.
“You want to know what I’ve learned in the last seven years?”
My eyelids parted to see his serious expression.
