Two weeks later, and there was no doubt to how I felt about Rya.While we hadn’t been able to spend every night together, we had managed to spend most of them at her apartment, getting to know each other better and falling asleep in her bed like I’d been living there for ages.In fact, I had a set of toiletries already taking up space in her bathroom.
The only problem was that Rya still refused to go to my place, and I was hoping that she’d get over that soon.My money still made her uncomfortable, but she was very forthcoming and honest about it, so I could appreciate how she was trying.In fact, she was trying enough that she had agreed to finally meet my parents, and we were even going so far as to have lunch with them at the Rosario Country Club, a place that they frequented often.There was also a big dinner at the end of next week that I wanted to bring Rya to, so I was hoping that this lunch would grease the wheels for me a bit.
Luckily for me, my parents were great.Though they had more money than a small country, they weren’t elitists, and while they weren’t ignorant of wealth disparity, they didn’t believe that money made them better than others.They were just aware that they were better off than most people, and there was a difference.
Squeezing Rya’s hand, I looked over at her when I asked, “Are you good?”
She nodded.“Yeah.”
“Good,” I grinned.“Because here they come.”
Because Rya had been nervous, she had insisted that we get here early, so that my parents wouldn’t have to wait on us.Since they were treating, Rya had been determined not to come across as rude or ungrateful, but I could see that the poor girl was still nervous as hell.
“I’m so sorry we’re late,” my mother rushed out as soon as they reached our table.“There was a detour coming over the hill, and your father insisted that the GPS was lying about a faster route.”
I let out a chuckle as I hugged my mother, then shook my father’s hand as he came up behind her.“She says that as if GPS has never led us astray before,” my dad huffed as he let go of my hand.
“My best friend, Dalton, still keeps a map in his glove compartment,” Rya announced, smiling at my parents, and my heart hurt with how much she was trying not to act nervous.“He says that his face will never be eaten by cannibals because technology failed him.”
“Smart man,” my father remarked before reaching out to shake Rya’s hand.“Ashford Wilder, and it’s so good to finally meet you, Rya.”
Rya took his hand in hers.“Thank you.It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Rather than shake her hand, my mother pulled Rya into a hug like a lunatic when you considered that this was the first time that they were meeting.“Oh, I’m so happy to finally meet you, dear.”When she pulled back to look at Rya, she added, “Koen cannot stop talking about you, and I can see why now.”
Rya gave her a tentative smile, and I knew it was because of the reference to her looks.“Thank you, Mrs.Wilder.”
My mother immediately scowled.“Now, there won’t be any of that nonsense.You may call me Patty, or Patricia if you’re more comfortable.”
“Yeah, I also prefer Ash or Ashford from family, Rya,” Dad added, and Rya’s cheeks immediately turned red with their easy acceptance.
At that, Dad went to pull Mom’s chair out for her, and I did the same for Rya, and once we all got comfortable, Mom dove right in.“So, I need to know.Is working with animals all day as wonderful as it sounds?”
Rya immediately grinned.“I can’t think of a better job on the planet.”
“Oh, to be so lucky to have a job that you love,” my mother sighed.“Now, don’t get me wrong.I absolutely adore being a pediatrician, but the parents...sometimes, the parents can be too much.”
“What a coincidence,” Rya chuckled.“I feel the same way.”
My mother just grinned as my father asked, “Did you kids order yet?”
“No,” I answered.“We were waiting for you guys.”
Proving that my parents were more important to this place than I was, a waitress immediately approached us once we were all seated comfortably, though no one had acknowledged me or Rya the entire time that we’d been waiting for my parents.Now, while I did have my own membership, I didn’t frequent the place enough that my tips made a difference in these servers’ lives, so that could explain why we’d been ignored until now.
“Mr.and Mrs.Wilder, how lovely to see you,” our server named Kelly said with a welcoming smile on her face.“What can I get you started with?”
I shot my mother a look, and I couldn’t help but grin when I saw that she was about to open her mouth before my father spoke for us all.“I’ll take an unsweetened tea, Mrs.Wilder will take a lemonade, and whatever my son and his girlfriend would like.”
Having learned a few things about Rya during these past couple of weeks, I ordered for the both of us.“Rya will have a water with lemon, and I’ll have another unsweetened tea.”
As soon as Kelly was out of earshot, my mother was quick to voice her displeasure.“Well, that wasn’t rude at all.”
“Patty,” my dad drawled out quietly.“If they’re not already aware of their behavior, then there’s no sense in pointing it out.”
“I know,” my mother sighed.“It’s just...some days, I can look past it, and there are other days when it pains me to have to bite my tongue.”
“In general, people just suck,” Rya announced.“And trying to figure out why does nothing but drive you crazy, so there’s really no point.”
