Sucker Punch (TKO 4)

A blush creeps up my face and I can’t hide it. I don’t want to hide it anyway, I want him to see how he makes me feel. “Yeah, we need to get to dinner,” I remind him before we get too caught up in ourselves.

“Lead the way, beautiful,” he says as he leans back and buckles his seatbelt. I almost ask him if he needs help, but he manages just fine.

I pull out of the parking spot and head over to my parents’ house. Austin begins shuffling in his seat and I look over and tell him not to be nervous. My parents are so laid back, he has nothing to worry about. We step out of the car and begin walking to the front door. I go to reach for the doorknob but it opens and Mom steps out front, smiling.

“You must be Austin.” She pulls him in for a hug. I should have known this was coming. I can’t help but stifle out a laugh.

“Yes, ma’am. It’s nice to meet you, Mrs.—”

“You can just call me Pam.” Mom smiles brightly. Oh my gosh, I think she’s flirting with him or something. She wasn’t this way with Brendan. “Y’all come on in.”

We walk inside and Darla comes running towards me. I scoop her up into my arms and give her a hug. “Hi Mommy! Hi Austin!” she greets us.

“Were you good today?” I ask her, but her focus is strictly on Austin.

“Papa bought me ice cweam.” She grins and I eyeball my dad as he comes walking up to us. Of course he would get her ice cream. I try to act like I shouldn’t expect this but I expect nothing less. They spoil the mess out of her.

“He did?”

“It was good!” She beams as she wiggles to be set down. I watch as she walks up to Austin and wraps her tiny arms around his leg. He pats her back and smiles.

Dad walks up to Austin and extends his hand out. Austin grabs his hand and gives him a firm shake. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Austin. Darla speaks very highly of you. You can call me George.”

“Hi, George, thank you for having me in your home,” Austin says with a shaky voice. I know it’s intimidating to meet your girlfriend’s father.

Mom speaks up. “Well, let’s go sit at the table. Dinner is ready.”

My stomach growls as we walk to the kitchen table. Mom really went all out and put out the nice dishes this evening. I chuckle, thinking it’s such a nice gesture. We could have just eaten on paper plates and it would have been perfect.

Dad helps her set the food on the table and my eyes light up. She made a pork tenderloin, green beans, and homemade scalloped potatoes. There’s even a cake with sprinkles off to the side. My guess is Darla wanted sprinkles and what she wants, she gets.

“So Austin, what is it you do?” Dad asks as he fixes his plate.

I grab the pitcher of tea and pour some in Darla’s glass before turning to mine and Austin’s. Austin’s face lights up as if he just got asked a million dollar question. “Well George, I fight right now.”

“Fight? As in?” Poor Dad, he’s confused.

“In a ring. If I win, I get paid well. It’s something I really enjoy doing,” Austin tells him.

“Is fighting possible with your arm?” Mom asks.

I’m expecting Austin to possibly be annoyed, but he just grins. “I learned it is. Matter of fact, I’ve been training for my fight next week. This will be the first time in the ring since I lost my arm in the accident.”

“Sounds exciting. Good luck,” Dad tells him as he digs into his food.

Darla is awfully quiet. I look over and notice she’s about finished all of the food on her plate and she’s eyeballing the cake. She knows the rule. No dessert until you finish your dinner. Thank God she isn’t a picky eater and we don’t have to fight with her.

“Thank you sir,” Austin tells him as he begins to eat.

I was worried this would be awkward, but it’s not. I’m sure later I’ll hear some sort of speech about

what Austin does for a living and whether or not it’s a viable source of income. Maybe I won’t hear it today, but if things do continue to get serious with us, one of them will speak up. Until then, I’m just going to enjoy this dinner and the future times to come.

“Cake please,” Darla asks with a full mouth. She’s barely finished chewing her last bite and that cake is solely on her mind.

“Wait until everyone is done eating, baby girl,” I tell her. I hand her cup of tea to her so she can wash the food down.

“I think it’s so cute how you and Paige met.” Mom smirks as she begins clearing dishes off of the table. I stand and begin to help her.