Sleighed by Shawn Bailey

Author:Shawn Bailey [Bailey, Shawn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

“Ma, Pop, I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Alexander Braxton. Alex, these are my parents, Esteban and Jacinta Ariza.”

Alex shook hands with Taylor’s father and got a hug from Taylor’s mother.

“It’s so very nice to meet you,” Jacinta said. “Taylor has never brought a guy to meet us before.”

The parents were joining them for dinner. Taylor got that perfect black hair, the height and build from his father. His mother had shoulder-length brown hair and hazel eyes.

“I want him to bring you to our home to celebrate New Year’s Eve with us. The restaurant will be closed and all the rest of the family should be there, too.”

“I’d be honored,” Alex said. “Thank you for inviting me.”

Esteban Ariza was kind of quiet, but he’d kept sneaking looks at Alex while his wife spoke.

Dinner started with a charcuterie board with grapes, cheese, olives, tomatoes, strawberries, crackers, celery, carrots, pecan, Swiss cheese, breadsticks, French bread, mozzarella balls, hummus, jam, Calabrese, prosciutto, and capocollo.

A sommelier came to pour wine. His parents chose white, while he and Taylor picked red.

A leafy green salad with goat cheese, green olives, topped with a raspberry vinaigrette was served next. Dinner began with a shrimp pasta, followed by the best lasagna he’d ever eaten. The rolls that came with the meal were buttery and honey sweet. “I can make a meal of just these,” Alex said.

Dessert was cherry cheese cake and coffee.

“The meal was delicious,” Alex said to the Arizas. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Esteban said. “You have to join us for Taco Tuesday one of these days. Sebastian makes the best salsa.”

Sebastian was Taylor’s older brother who had come through earlier to check on how they were enjoying their meal. He looked a lot like Taylor, except Taylor was taller. Sebastian had brown eyes like their father.

“You’ll meet the rest of the family on New Year’s Eve,” Jacinta said.

Alex found himself looking forward to the event.

Taylor’s parents had to get back to work. Taylor paid for their meals. “You don’t think it’s odd that I’m not eating for free?” Taylor asked as they got back in their winter coats and left the restaurant.

“No, it’s a business like any other business. And your family wouldn’t make any money if they gave food away for free.”

“Yes. You’re quite the businessman.”

“Yes, don’t let the mascara fool you,” Alex said.

“Mascara?”

“It’s an old saying,” Alex said.

They walked to Taylor’s car and got in.

“Are you in a hurry to go home?” Taylor asked.

“Not really. What do have in mind?”

“It’s a surprise,” Taylor said as he started up the car. “Buckle up.”

The surprise took them about five minutes to get to. It was across the highway from the restaurant. “You have got to be kidding me,” Alex said as Taylor found a parking spot. They were at an ice-skating rink.

“Your father said you used to be pretty good at this.”

“You spoke to my father about me?”

Taylor nodded. “I’m an old-fashioned-type of guy. I even asked his permission to take you to dinner. He got a big kick out of it.

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