Page 54 of The Pursuit of Happiness
I raise a brow, “Why were you and Mom watching porn to begin with?”
Mom swats her hand in front of her face, “Oh Sly, we wanted to try something new. Everyone was watching pornos at the time. That’s how you were conceived, you know?”
“Oh, Mom,” I make a disgusted face. “Let’s stop this conversation here before I throw up every ounce of food and liquid that has entered my body today.”
Mom rolls her eyes, “You’re so squeamish. Sex is natural, Slater.”
Aria fights off a laugh and I’m still completely disgusted. “Mom, seriously, gross.”
Dad gives me a cocky look, “I was just trying to comfort your girlfriend, Son.”
“Comforting would be not talking about the tape and especially not talking about your sexual history and the sexual history of our distant relatives,” I assert. I look at Aria and give her an anxious look, “And I heavily stress thedistant.”
Aria laughs and I suddenly don’t care that my parents were being gross. As long as she’s smiling and no longer tense and uncomfortable, I’m happy. “How long are you guys in town?” I change the subject.
“We’re gonna stay for a couple of weeks. We were hoping to get to know your beautiful and very lovely girlfriend before we go to Sorrento,” Mom informs, her tone prideful.
My parents started traveling all over the world a couple of years back. It’s good not only for their individual mental health,but for their relationship. I’m happy that they’re happy even though I miss them.
I grin at my parents, wrapping my arm around Aria’s shoulders. I speak to my parents as I look down at my girl, “Sounds perfect to me.”
Aria looks up at me and winks.
Mom shakes Dad’s arm excitedly, “You see, James! Look how adorable they are together!”
Dad huffs apathetically, “Rose, I’m standing right here. Of course I can see them.”
Mom ignores him and continues, “You two are going to have beautiful babies.”
Aria’s face falls and she pales. My stomach churns. “Mom, no.”
“But-” Mom starts.
I cut her off, “Mom, way too early to be talking about babies.”
Mom rolls her eyes, “Don’t be stubborn, Sly. We want grandbabies.”
Aria stiffens and I frown at my mom, “Again, way too early.”
Mom snorts a laugh, “Fine.” She looks around the studio and focuses her attention on Brody and Ivory. She walks over to them and immediately starts asking them questions about their hair, clothes, makeup, the list is endless. They entertain her, looking genuinely immersed in conversation with Rose Nicks as she moves from one subject to the next.
Dad whispers to Aria, “She gets very excited.”
Aria laughs, “I can see that. It’s okay, I’d be excited too.”
I kiss the side of her head and whisper in her ear, “Thank you for putting up with this. I know this was unexpected.”
She whispers back, “Your parents are amazing,” she has a sad desperation in her eyes. A yearning for the family she never had, but always wanted her parents to be.
“No frowns, Kane,” I demand.
She forces a smile and I frown in return, “No fake smiles, either.”
She avoids my eyes and looks down at her shoes, “Sorry.”
I pull her off to the side. “Don’t be sorry. I know this was a lot. I promise you, I will make this up to you later.”
This catches her attention. I know just from looking at her that she isn’t in need of something to make up for the plethora of emotions this experience has given her. She’s more intrigued because she knows where this is going. “What did you have in mind?” She traces circles on my still bare chest with her fingernails.
