He doesn’t.
“I was thinking maybe you could come over sometime.” My heart starts to pound, and I realize this is a bigger deal to me than I anticipated. “I’m certain once she gets to know you, she won’t think that anymore.”
Asher immediately agrees. “Of course, Raya. Anything. I don’t want to be the reason you and your friend aren’t getting along.”
“Okay. Maybe in a week or two. Are you still down for dinner at my parents on Thursday? It’s okay if you want a break from everything, I know this is a lot to put on you all at once," I say, my eyes on my feet as we walk back toward the office building.
He stops again and ducks his head to meet my gaze.
“Sunshine, listen to me. You are not too much. Your family is not too much. Your friends are not too much. I want to meet all of them, and if I didn’t, I would tell you. Okay?”
I blink as my eyes turn glassy, unable to turn away.
“Okay," I whisper.
A few days later,my week having much improved, Asher drives us over to my parents’ house for dinner. I’m pretty sure I’m more nervous than he is based on how my skin keeps tingling in random places. I can’t stop bouncing my leg, while he’s all calm control with one hand propped on top of the steering wheel as he drives.
The front door opens as we pull into the driveway so I don’t even have time for a quick pep talk before we head inside. My smiling mother gives us both hugs as I introduce them, and the men do that man handshake back slap thing that guys do.
We shrug off our coats and my dad starts right in.
“So, I hear you work with my daughter.”
“Dad, come on, we haven’t even taken our shoes off yet.” I protest the interrogation that’s about to start.
“I’m only making small talk, honey," he says, squeezing me in a one armed hug.
I shake my head and grab Asher’s hand.
“Come on. I’ll show you around.”
I pull him into the living room, where Wesley is playing video games, as usual.
“Wes, this is Asher.”
“Hey, man,” my brother at least meets his eyes and gives him one of those dude bro chin jerks as he says it. That’s more than I normally get.
“Hey, nice to meet you," Asher replies.
“You too.” He’s already turned back to his game, so we move on.
“Kitchen is through here.” We follow the sounds of soft jazz into the brightly lit room.
“Jo!” I stop in the doorway, beyond surprised to see my sister. “Why are you here on a work night?”
She’s already pulling me into a hug, and her voice is low in my ear, though not quiet enough that Asher doesn’t hear too.
“I couldn’t miss a chance to scope out the new guy," she says, eyeing him as we pull back from each other.
She holds out a hand to Asher and he meets her with a twinkle of amusement in his eye.
“Jo. Raya’s older sister,” she says. Then, narrowing her eyes with her hand still white knuckling Asher’s, she adds, “Panther shifter.”
He nods once, holding her gaze.
“Asher. Vampire.”
Their hands finally unclasp and I shake mine out in sympathy. Too many over protective cats in this house, that’s for sure. I snag Asher’s elbow as I turn out the door.
