"I want to meet your family." He states, making me choke on my water.

I look at him surprised, thank God he said this after we ordered. My family is a dysfunctional chaotic mess. My parents separated when I was ten and not on good terms. My mother decided one day that monogamy and parenting just wasn't her thing. So, she left my stepfather, the only father I've ever known to live as a nomad in the RV that he bought two years before they spilt. Since then, the RV has broken down so she lives full time in a rented apartment in Redford Michigan, paid for by generous tax payers. Not that she doesn't work, she is a part time cashier at the local Kroger. She also smokes a lot of pot, has three cats and a steady string of gentleman callers, none of which she calls her boyfriend.

"Why?" I ask, dumbfounded.

"Do you plan on telling them you're married?" He questions, looking a little annoyed with me.

I shrug. "Eventually."

"After we get done here, I thought we could fly to Michigan."

My mouth drops. "I don't have a normal family. Its not going to be some grand experience. We could just call and tell them over the phone. Its what they'd expect from me anyway." His eyes narrow at my response, but I'm being honest.

"Do you not want them to meet me?" He asks, simply.

I think about his question. "No, its more that they won't care. My mom will tell me what a mistake I made and preach about how people were not made to be monogamous. My stepfather, the only dad I've known, is taking care of my brothers and sister because my mother cheated on him and broke his heart. Its not that he blames me for her actions, but after the divorce." I pause thinking to myself. If my mom was married to my real father, was her marriage to Chris even legal? I don't have the energy to even think about it. I carry on with my explanation, "After the divorce we haven't really seen much of each other. I left with my mom and we moved two hours away from them. I hardly hear from any of my family, just my mom and that's only when she needs something."

"I'd still like to meet them." He replies, stubbornly.

"Maybe I'm not explaining this correctly." I say, confused as to why he'd push this subject.

"No, you are. I would still like to meet them." He repeats, firmly.

"Okay, I guess I can call them." I reply, hesitantly. "It would be nice to see them. They like sports, they might've even heard of you." I comment, feeling a little more at ease with the situation.

His eye brow raises at my statement and smirks. "I'm sure they have."

I roll my eyes at his confidence. "They root for the blue team not the red team." I point out.

"The Detroit Lions, babe." He informs me, entertained.

"Exactly. So, don't be shocked if they've never heard of you." I tell him.

"You know I play the Lions." He states, amused.

"Really? You travel that far to play?" I ask, shocked.

His smirk turn into a full out smile, "You're lucky you're cute."

I roll my eyes, and take out my phone. I dial Chris, my stepfather and anxiously wait for him to answer. "Well, if it isn't little Briar patch." His voice answers, teasingly.

"Hey, dad. How are you?" I ask, smiling at his nickname for me.

"Same ole, same ole." He replies, "How are you? How's sunny California?"

"Um, Its good. I'm calling because I was thinking about coming to visit soon. I want you to meet someone." I state, feeling jittery.

"Got yourself a man?" He asks, sounding surprised. As he should be, I never dated or brought anyone home before. Hell, I'm a little shocked too.

"Yeah. Its Mya's brother." I tell him, knowing I've told him about Mya.

There's a brief pause. "You with him now?" He inquires, curiously.

I pause. "Yeah." I answer, apprehensively.

"I'd like to talk to him. Make sure this isn't a, George Glass type situation." I laugh, thinking of the Brady Bunch. I hand the phone to Truex, who looks rather confused but takes the phone anyway.

"Hello." Truex, says into the phone. Whatever my dad does makes him chuckle. "Yes, sir....No, sir. It took a lot of convincing." Not liking that I can't hear what they're talking about I demand the phone back. Truex shakes his head no and continues to listen. "No, I don't. I play football, actually." My eyes go round, Dads not messing around here. "No, for the 49'ers." Another pause. "Quarterback." He nods, "Yes, that's me." He smiles, "I know, I tried to get her to go the The Super Bowl. She wasn't having it." He replies and I glare at him. He loves bringing that up, doesn't he. "Yes, its serious." He states, grinning at me.

I shake my head and whisper. "Do not tell him we're married."

"I look forward to meeting you too." He states, finally handing me the phone.

"Nice chat?" I question Dad sarcastically. "Did you leave anything out?"

"Yeah, tickets. Do you think I can get some at Ford Field?" He asks, excitedly.

I shrug. "He wants tickets to Ford Field." I say, to Truex not knowing what the means, but I'm sure it involves football.

He nods, "I can get him tickets, if you promise to go too." He replies.

"For what?" I question.

"To watch me play." He replies, seriously.

"Ugh, he said sure." I respond, into the phone. "Thanks a lot. Now, I have to go go the game too." I grumble, jokingly. I think it could be fun to watch him play football against my dads team. He would be able to explain it to me, at the very least. Because, what I see on the television makes no sense. I don't understand any of the rules and it seems like they're constantly stopping for a whistle or a bright colored hankie being throw onto the grass.

We say our goodbyes and I feel almost giddy to go home. Its been so long, it never really hit me how much I've missed him and my siblings. I've been taking care of my mom, while trying to go to school and start a career. Time just flew by, calls everyday turned into once a week, then once a month, now its down to every couple months.

"I'm excited. I can't wait to see them. I think I just felt bad. You know? As if I turned my back on them. There was just never enough time for them, school, my mom, painting and then I moved out to California." I explain, with a shrug.

"How many brothers and sisters do yo have?" He asks, interested.

"Two brothers, they're twins, Brian and Logan who are 15 and my sister Lynn, who is 17."

He nods, in understanding. "Does your mother see them?" I bite my lip and shake my head no. "Is there a reason for that?"

"She's just not, normal. I don't know how to explain her to anyone. She was happy, that's what I can't understand. She tends to be self destructive, not reliable and a flake of the worst kind. I finally moved out and lived with Mya after she told Brian and Logan that she would be at their birthday party two years ago, she never showed up. I left the party to go get her and I found her stoned out of her mind, drinking with her friend. I wish I could hate her and I'm sure my siblings feel the same way, but its hard. I've continued to send her money, I just can't cut her out of my life. She's not the best mom in the world, but she's my mom."

"I'm sure it will be fine. My Dad wants to meet you, too. He lives in Ohio, its not too long of a drive after we meet your family, I'd like to go down and to see him."

"Have you told him yet?"

"Yes, he was happy for us." He answers.

I throw my hands up. "How have you told everyone already? Who just picks up the phone and says, I got married in Las Vegas last night. Its so strange to me."

"I've always had a supportive family. I make my choices and they back me up every time." He states, simply.

"I'm jealous. I want a family like that." I mutter.

He shrugs. "You do. You married into one."

I put my hand on my chest. "Every time I hear that word, it makes me spazz out and you keep saying it."

"I noticed." He smirks.

Our lunch comes and I thank the waiter, looking at the greasy hamburger and fries lustfully. "Smells amazing."

His eyes narrow at mine, "You look at the burger, how you should look at your husband."

I glare back at him. "Well, my husband talks too much." Picking up my burger, I lovingly say, "You wouldn't do that, would you." I take a bite and look back at Truex smugly.

Truex's phone rings and he looks at me apologetically. Its Emma, last night might've gotten out." He answers on the second ring and I listen. "Yes, it is. I don't want to confirm it yet. We haven't told her parents." He listens to whatever Emma is telling him and says, "Just issue a statement, We're very much in love and are happy in our relationship. Don't say anything else." He ends the call and I glance at him nervously. "It'll be fine. Your family won't believe the rumors, even if they do, they'll still hear it from us in person soon."

I nod at his logic, I doubt my Dad or siblings are stupid enough to believe gossip. The only thing is, now that I'm bringing him home, it might make sense that we're married. He already told my dad it was serious. Either way, like Truex said, they'll hear it from us.

"By the way, Mya has a VIP lounge booked at One Oak for us tonight. I would love for you and Easton to be getting along by then. This is for Mya, she wants everyone happy."

"Thats not going to happen." He replies, stubbornly.

I roll my eyes, "You said you wanted to get married and he basically delivered me on a platter. You should be thanking him." I point out.

He shakes his head. "What he did wasn't funny. It crossed a line and he knows it."

"I agree, but you're making it work to your advantage. Go easy on him." I encourage. When I see his stubborn refusal, I do what I never do..I beg. "Please." I see him start to soften a little, but with Truex, I never really know what he's thinking until he says it out loud.

"Alright." He replies, making me smile.