Cuba
I know I love her. I have to, that is the only way I can make sense of me letting her drive my baby to Palm Springs. Bliss tried to talk me into getting in the lime green machine, but I told her that was a hell no. I would not get in that bright ass car, besides I would be driving. She has never had to drive us anywhere, I drive. But when she put her foot down this morning I cracked, making a deal that she could drive my car to her mom’s house, and I would drive to my parents later tonight. She agreed the moment my head went between her legs.
Now I watch as she sings, bobbing her head to the beat of some pop song she put on. She hooked her phone up as soon as she got in, as usual her taste in music surprises me. Today she seems to be into top forties pop. Any other day I would beg her to turn it off, but today I don’t care. I know she’s kind of nervous about me meeting her mom. She hasn’t said anything, but I can tell. Her dad said I wasn’t her usual type, and my guess is I’m her first black boyfriend. If I have anything to do with it, I’ll be her last boyfriend.
Whoa. I need to slow down. Let’s get through today first. Meeting the parents.
I send my mom a text letting her know I’m still coming by tonight. They are used to me flaking last minute but not this time. I even told her to invite the Emmett’s too. She has no idea that I’m bringing my girlfriend. I’m not sure if this is a good idea or a bad idea yet. Also, Bliss doesn’t know that they don’t know.
“You’re quiet.” Bliss turns down the music. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” I ask while I send my mom another text.
Me: I’m bringing my girlfriend.
I caved in the few seconds I thought about it. Bliss would kill me if I took her over there without them knowing.
She shrugs. “Maybe because this is a big step in our relationship.”
My phone vibrates in my hand.
Mom: Cuba, don’t play with me.
Me: I’m not.
I shrug. “It is but I already met your dad, so I think I’m okay to meet your mom, babe.” I glance at her. “Are you okay?”
Bliss laughs. “I’m nervous as hell,” she admits. “Not for you to meet my mom, but to meet your parents.”
Reaching over, I give her thigh a light squeeze. “Don’t be nervous.” I try to reassure her, but I’m getting nervous now too. My emotions are everywhere.
“Right, I’m the first girl you bring home.” She lifts an eyebrow. “And you’re not nervous?”
I shake my head. “No, you’re the last girl I bring home,” I correct her. “So, stop, they’ll love you.”
I can see her visually relax a little. “We’ll see.”
Smiling, I give her thigh another squeeze as my phone vibrates again.
Mom: Oh my God. I’ll tell your dad to throw another slab of ribs on the grill. She eats meat right?
I chuckle as I text her back.
Me: Yes, mom. She eats real food.
I see they are excited I’m coming home, dad is on the grill already. Bliss said her mom would probably make some kind of salad and sandwiches, so I won’t feel too bad stuffing my face tonight. I’ve been trying to eat better since getting back on the team. My first week was a reality check that I can’t live off burgers and pizza.
I recline my chair back a little more as she drives through the desert singing along to her pop songs again. It’s going to be okay. Today will go okay. What really could go wrong?
The moment she looks at me, I can tell the former Mrs. McQueen doesn’t trust me just yet. Her brown eyes sweep over me quickly the moment she greets us in the foyer of her home. She lingers on my tattooed arms before looking away, I’m used to it.
Bliss has told me this is her grandfather’s home, and that after her mom and dad divorced, her mom moved back home with her father.
“Mom, this is Cuba.” Bliss laces her fingers through mine. “Cuba, this is my mom.”
I stretch out my hand to her. “It’s nice to meet you ma’am.”
She gives me a tight smile and shakes my hand lightly. “Call me Beth.”
Bliss said her mom was free spirited. I thought free spirited people were friendlier.
Beth lets go of my hand and goes to hug her daughter. “So glad you’re here,” she says. “Can you do me a favor and grab a lemon from the garden?”
My stomach dips as Bliss squeezes my hand. “Yeah, I’ll be right back.” I don’t want to let go of her hand. Please don’t leave me with her, I want to say, but of course, I let her go and follow Beth into her kitchen.
The smell of spices and herbs fill my nose. “It smells great in here. Do you need any help?” I offer, but she shakes her head as she ties an apron around her small waist.
“No thank you. I’m almost finished.” She rounds the island and motions for me to take a seat on the stool across from her. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
Clearing my throat, I nod. “Water. Thank you.”
She smiles and goes to grab a pitcher of water out of the fridge. I look around and see Bliss out the kitchen window in what seems to be the garden. She should look out of place in her dark jeans and off the shoulder olive t-shirt, but she doesn’t. I can tell the way she moves around that she spends a lot of time there when she visits.
I almost jump when a glass of water appears in front of me. Beth sees where my attention was. “She’s beautiful.”
“She is,” I agree. My girl is gorgeous. “She has a beautiful mind too,” I add, taking a sip of my water.
“That too,” Beth says softly before going to the other side of the island. “So, the last time Bliss spoke of you, it sounded as if you didn’t know if you liked her or not.”
Ah, Keith isn’t the only blunt one. I have to choose my words very carefully with Beth. “I’ll be honest. I had a rough year last year, and I was trying to get my life back on track. I didn’t see her coming. I didn’t expect the influence she would have on me.” I look Beth in the eye, because I know she thinks I’ll break her baby girl’s heart. “I didn’t plan on falling in love with her, but I did.”
She looks surprised. “Does she know?”
“Not yet.” I shake my head. “I’m going to tell her soon.”
She smiles, this time it’s a real smile. “I’ll be honest with you. I wasn’t sure how I felt about my daughter being with you, with you being an athlete. I’m sure you know about her ex.” She rolls her eyes, and I nod. “She just deserves the best.”
“And I plan on trying –”
“Trying what?” Bliss comes through the door. She’s carrying a basket full of lemons. “You never said how many you needed.”
Beth takes the basket from her. “I just needed one but maybe I can make some lemonade.”
Bliss slides on the stool next to me. “I didn’t know that you knew your way around a garden.” I nudge her smiling.
She blushes. “It’s not like I have a green thumb or anything.”
Beth tosses a towel at her. “You’re being modest. Her and my father would be out there for hours in the summer.”
Her mom finishes up making lunch and starts filling plates as she continues to tell me all about how Bliss started gardening. I notice that there are four plates instead of three and I glance at Bliss to see if she has noticed, but she’s busy squeezing all the lemons she brought in for the lemonade. She never mentioned anyone else joining us and also didn’t mention to her mom that I was now her boyfriend.
I try to get her attention when Beth turns away by throwing a napkin at her. She raises her head and looks at me confused. I point to the four plates that already have salads on them.
“Four plates.” I mouth and hold up four fingers just in case she doesn’t understand.
Bliss’s face scrunches up and shrugs. “I don’t know.” She mouths back. She doesn’t seem too concerned, so I just shrug back not knowing what to say back. I mean, it’s her mom.
Beth turns back around and begins setting sandwich halves on the plates. “I hope you like chicken salad, I forgot to ask Bliss.”
I give her a smile. “I love food.” It’s not a lie. There isn’t much I won’t eat.
She smiles back. Funny how she damn near snubbed me at the door but now she is smiling at me. Probably because I confessed my love for her daughter and because she hates Dex. I’m not a fan of him either and he knows it.
Beth pulls out a large floral tray and starts to put the plates on it. “Cuba, do you mind taking this out to the table in the back?” she asks. “It’s really nice out today so I thought we could eat by the garden.”
Sliding off the stool, I walk around the island. “Yeah, I’ll take it.” I wait until she sets four glasses and four cups in the tray as well. Looks like she’s just not going to mention the extra setting.
Bliss catches my attention and softly shakes her head with a smile, she is loving that I really want to know what’s going on. I roll my eyes at her but smile, picking up the tray.
“We’ll be right behind you, we have to have girl talk.” Her mom winks with a smirk.
“I can feel my ears burning already.” I laugh before walking through the open doorway.
I follow the path that seems to lead to the garden that I saw out the kitchen window. I wonder if they are looking at me, probably. I hope she’s not in there spilling all the details. And definitely not about our sex life.
The table is off to the side away from the window, and Beth has already set out bright orange cloth napkins. I see where Bliss gets her colorful choices of colors, thankfully she left it at her car because she mostly dresses in earth colors. Yeah, I’m that far gone that I actually pay attention to what she wears. She could walk in with a yellow hairband and I would notice.
Setting the tray on the table, I try to gain brownies points by setting the plates, cups, and glasses on the table. There are two chairs on each side of the iron table with, of course, matching bright orange cushions.
The sound of a door opening catches my attention, but it’s not Bliss and her mom, since I left the door open. Turning, I’m shocked to see her dad, Keith, standing there with a bottle of wine. She said they have been divorced since she was a toddler or something but they are still friendly. Why wouldn’t she have said anything about him coming over then?
“Mr. McQueen.” I set down the last plate, confused.
He almost looks embarrassed, running his hand through his salt and pepper hair “Keith.” He reminds me with a smile, setting the bottle of wine on the table. “How are you?”
“Good.” I rock back on my heels. “How are you?”
His lips twitch. “Good. I see you’re surprised to see me here.”
I let out a laugh. “A little.”
He nods understanding. “Glad you’re here bec-“
“Dad?”
Now it’s Keith’s turn to rock back on his heels with a nervous smile. “Hey, baby girl.”
Her face scrunches up in confusion. “What are you doing here?” She quickly changes her tone. “I mean, I love seeing you but…” Bliss trails off.
Beth wraps her arm around her daughter and leads her to a chair. “How about we all sit down and talk.”
I feel like I should leave, this seems like it’s going to be a family talk and I’m an outsider. Keith must sense my reluctance to sit and pats me on the back. “Have a seat, hot shot,” he says lightly.
Beth busies herself filling glasses with fresh lemonade, I want to ask if there is vodka to go with it because this talk might call for it. I reach for Bliss’s hand, lacing my fingers with hers, giving them a gentle squeeze. She squeezes back letting me know that she knows I got her. This is obviously not what she had planned today.
Her parents settle across from us, shifting awkwardly, trying not to look at each other.
“So, what’s going on?”
Beth looks to Keith and nudges him, I know what he’s about to say before even says it.
He clears his throat and takes a sip of lemonade. “Your mom and I have been seeing each other.”
Knew it. It’s the only logical thing that makes sense. I’m not surprised, but the weight crashing my hand lets me know Bliss is taken off guard. Well shit. Now I’m shifting awkwardly trying to make myself invisible.
Bliss doesn’t say anything for a moment, and I know the silence has them on the edge of their seat, but if I know their daughter like I think I do, then I know she isn’t upset. She’s processing it. Her hand squeezes mine and I squeeze back.
“How long?” she asks finally.
“About five months,” Keith tells her, his eyes never leaving hers. “We wanted to tell you, but we wanted to make sure this is what we wanted.”
Bliss nods understanding. “So, this is why you two haven’t been out with other people.”
Beth smiles up at Keith. “Yeah, we have been seeing each other. We really wanted to tell you, honey, but we didn’t want to get your hopes up.”
A laugh escapes her lips, surprising her parents, even me. “Wow, this is funny. I bring my boyfriend home to meet my mom and she brings her boyfriend too.”
“Except he’s your dad.” I shrug, pointing that out. Lifting the chicken salad sandwich to my mouth, I take a bite. “This is the best ever, Beth,” I say between chews.
Bliss shakes her head and laughs. I can see her parents relax. This is something they should talk about alone, so for now I’ll keep things light. So what her parents are seeing each other, as long as their happy right? If Bliss was upset she would show it, she gets frazzled easily. I’m sure they know her better than I do.
Keith smiles at me and gives me small nod, as if saying thank you. No wonder he was glad I was here. Soon they follow suit and start eating. Bliss lets go of my hand, and I miss it already, but it’s hard to eat with one hand.
“Your first game is coming up, right?” Keith asks.
Wiping my mouth with a napkin, I nod. “Yeah, it’s an away game down at San Diego.”
Keith looks to Bliss. “Are you going?”
“Unfortunately, I’m not, I have a session that night, but I’ll be watching.” She frowns.
I know she wanted to go and I really wanted her there. It’s my first game with Jackson being gone and I’m nervous. Coach has some freshman named Kidd from Jersey starting. He’s cool and he has skills, but I still haven’t warmed up to him, and the poor kid really wants my praise. Back to my girlfriend, though. I want to bring up how she could cancel our session but won’t cancel hers with Ryan fucking Ellis who is just waiting on the sidelines for me to fuck up. I might need to remind him he can’t be a star quarterback with a broken arm.
“That’s too bad, we’ll have to go to the next home game,” he says and looks to Beth. “Maybe I can finally make her a fan.” She smiles at him and it’s really sweet.
“Aw, you guys are so cute I can’t even be mad but don’t go breaking my heart again.” Bliss smiles before taking a bite of her salad.
“We don’t plan to.” Beth’s smile widens, lacing her hand with Keith’s.
The rest of lunch goes great, and I can say I feel like part of her family a little. They look past the color of my skin and the tattoos that decorate it. They look past me being an athlete that might break her heart all over again. They like me as a person, and that’s a whole new feeling I can get used to.