Kim: Oh! What was it that Russell called him, April?
April: A strapping young buck.
Kim: Yes! The young buck can put the leaves in the table.
April: I’m sure dinner will be fabulous. This is so exciting! You’re going to meet Russell Moore’s family and friends.
Kim: Cousins and their families. Aunts and uncles.
I was beginning to stress again. How would all of them react to Russell being with me? How would they react to his ring? What do they know about my bracelet, or the type of life Russell lived with me? My stomach dropped again as a terrible thought crossed my mind … what if they were like Nikki’s parents?
April: Ry-guy?
Kim: Ryan, did we lose you?
Ryan: What if his parents hate me?
April: There’s no way they could hate you. You’re far too likeable.
Kim: Most of the time, at least. Just don’t trust the fart, and they will love you.
Ryan: What if they don’t approve of Russell being like he is? Like, with me, I mean.
It was the easiest way I could type that and hoped the girls knew what I meant.
Kim: I have a feeling Russell’s parents are very kind and accepting of him and his life.
April: Think of it this way: Russell would burn the world down around you to make you happy and comfortable. I doubt he would take you into a potentially hostile atmosphere for the holidays.
Kim: Yeah, Ryan. Russell wouldn’t put you in a situation where he didn’t know you’d be accepted.
They had me there and were probably right. Russell wouldn’t take me somewhere that he knew we wouldn’t be welcome as we were. Unless he didn’t know we wouldn’t be accepted.
Kim: Ryan, what are you going to wear?
April: We need to get the attire handled.
Kim: How many days will you be there? When is your flight?
Ryan: Russell wants to drive.
April: Drive?
Kim: Oh! A cross-country road trip! How romantic!
April: Don’t his parents live in the Midwest?
Ryan: Yeah, he said he wants us to spend some time together. He knows that I haven’t seen much of the country aside from the west. Well, mainly just two states. So we’ll stop some places along the way.
April: That will be quite the drive.
Kim: An epic drive!
April: How long will it take to get to his parents’?
Ryan: If we were just driving straight there, it would take about three days. But Russell has it all planned out, and he wants us to take our time and see some sights along the way. He wants to stay through the holidays.
April: That should be a lot of fun, Ry. You get to drive across the country with a hotter-than-fuck man who thinks the world revolves around you. Plus, you’ll get to meet his family and spend the holidays in actual winter weather, and see some of the country.
