Blackmail

Parents

Nate walks straight into the house, my dad already calling him part of the family. He joins me on the couch, lifting my feet into his lap.

"You know you don't have to act like this all the time, right?"

"Like?"

"Like my boyfriend."

"I'm just playing the role."

A little too well if you ask me.

"When am I going to meet your parents?"

He tenses up but tries to hide it.

"This is only a temporary thing. Is there a need to meet my family?"

"Well if I'm going to fall for you like you say so, shouldn't I at least meet your family?"

I leave out the part where I have managed to develop a crush on him already. His wonderful personality sealed the deal on the crush.

"My mother doesn't really like new people."

"Come on. Everybody thinks I'm having your baby."

He mumbles something under his breath that makes me raise an eyebrow.

"What was that, Nathaniel?"

"Nothing."

I pull my feet away from his lap and lean towards him.

"I want to meet your mother. Please."

"And I want to figure out who the baby's real father is."

"You have to win your bet if you want that information."

He smiles at me and pulls me up onto his lap.

"Just to please you, I'll take you to meet my mother this weekend. Okay?"

I hear my dad enter the house, prompting me to make my move. I kiss Nate on the cheek, drawing a chuckle from my dad as he enters the kitchen.

"I can't wait."