“Aw,” Baba sang, “you look in love, Enushka.”
Hell yeah, I was.
“Well, details.” Eden urged with an eager expression.
Esther, who was across from Eden at the table waved her hand across her neck in a‘cut it out’gesture.
Eden gaped, “What? I’m not allowed to ask about her?”
The ice water sloshed in my stomach uncomfortably.
“It’s fine, Esty. I shouldn’t have gotten upset when you asked. Um,” I turned my attention back to Eden. “What do you want to know?”
“Name? How’d you meet? Can we meet her? How long have you been—” Sebastian cut Eden off with a chuckle, placing a hand on her shoulder from across Benji.
“Slow down. Let the man answer a couple before he forgets the first one you asked.”
“Sorry,” she said with a hand raise. “You’re right.”
I cleared my throat, glancing around the table to find I’d captured everyone’s attention. Jae looked anxious, chewing on his lip.
“Her name is Emory.”
“Emily!” Ruthie gasped. “That’s my best friend’s name!”
“No, baby. Em-or-y,” Eden corrected, looking at me for confirmation.
I nodded and she motioned for me to continue.
“We’ve been together for six weeks. We met at a work event, and no, she’s not active duty or military affiliated.”
I finished with a head nod at my sister and picked up my water.
Fuck, I was sweating.
“Will she be at the opening? I wanna meet her,” my mom asked.
My stomach churned with nausea, the smell of wine and seafood pungent in the air. “Um, she won’t be there. Sorry. Um, it’s…new. So, I don’t wanna spring my entire family on her at once, you know?”
My mom and Eden pouted but nodded in understanding.
“Tell us about her?” Auntie suggested, drawing my attention back to Jae who was beside her, nervously fidgeting with the folded napkin on his plate.
“Um…she’s…fierce. She’s got a sharp tongue and an even sharper attitude. Strong. Independent. Fucki—” my eyes cut to Eden. “I mean, beautiful. She’s intelligent, selfless, thoughtful…” I trailed off, realizing I was rambling, and cleared my throat.
“Wow, she sounds like a keeper,” my dad said from the opposite end of the table.
I nodded with a confident smile.
“Well, maybe y’all will come visit for the holidays this year,” my mom said with a hopeful smile in my direction.
“Yes. Enushka, you need to come home and visit me. I’m getting old,” Baba demanded.
I made a noncommittal sound and silently wished someone would change the subject. I caught Jae’s stare, and he attempted to hide the sadness on his face with a smile.
Fuck, we hadn’t even gotten appetizers. This dinner was going to take all damn night.
I was itching to pull my phone out to text Shiloh, but I didn’t want to risk anyone reading over my shoulder. She was supposed to be starting her tattoo session and I was antsy to talk to her, to check in, and see how she was feeling about the pain.
