Happy holidays, everyone! I took a break from commissions over the holidays but I wanted to write something for all of you. So, as a gift from me to you and a huge thank you now that I'm about to hit 500 followers, I wrote this, my longest single story ever. This was an old project from a couple months back. I started a couple thousand words and then shelved it. Until now. I really hope you all enjoy this story. I know it's a little past Christmas, (My bad, I just kept writing and writing.) but I hope you all had a great Holiday and have a Happy New Years. Here's to a happy and healthy 2021. Cheers!
Thanks!
firebird68
Disclaimer: All characters are 18+
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"Okay, go right up here and then it's the next house on the left."
Scott set his blinker and turned onto the street that his girlfriend, Lauren, was pointing to. As he straightened the wheel back out, he could see the house she was referring to as it was the only house on that side of the street. The long driveway already had about a dozen cars parked in it, so he pulled up and stopped behind the last one.
He was not looking forward to this. Lauren's family had an annual family reunion of sorts and this year, she had convinced him to join her. Scott had met Lauren during their freshman year at college. He had spotted her at a party with some friends and was enamored with her instantly. After downing a few beers to work up some courage, he spent the night talking to her and telling cheesy jokes. She laughed at all of them, so he had taken it as a good sign. Turns out, he was right because she agreed to go out with him shortly thereafter and, three years later, they were still going strong.
Still, he had never met her family before. Lauren was from southern California and it was a long way from Penn State, where they attended school, so he had never encountered them. He was concerned that her parents were not going to be enthusiastic about his small-town Pennsylvania background. Lauren had mentioned that her parents were fairly well off. Looking up at the massive estate-esque home they had arrived at, he could tell she had understated that.
"Well, we're here!" Lauren said and hopped out of the car.
When he didn't immediately follow her, she leaned back in the door.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "You're not still hung up about meeting my parents, are you?"
"Well off?" he said, sarcastically, gesturing towards the mansion.
"Oh, don't worry." She said, reassuringly. "They're not snooty or anything. I'm sure they are going to love you. Now come on, ya big baby. It looks like we're the last ones here already."
With a sigh, he followed her to the trunk and took out both of their suitcases. He could never say no to her. Her attitude was always so sunny and positive, he was pretty sure no one could say no to her.
"What does your dad even do?" he questioned her as they walked toward the front door.
"He's an executive for Harley Davidson." Lauren answered.
"You never told me all that." He grumbled, his nerves wrapped up in a tight ball.
"I didn't tell you for exactly the reason you are exhibiting right now, buster." She remarked. "I knew you would get all weirded out if you thought I was some rich girl or something."
"No, you could never weird me out." He said.
"Awww, you like me!" she joked, grabbing his head and yanking him down to kiss his cheek.
"Your dad on the other hand..."
"Oh, relax!" she laughed. "He probably won't throw you in the dungeon."
Lauren bounced up the steps in front of him and threw open the front door.
"Moooom, Daaaad!" she called out.
The inside of the house was just as impressive as the outside. The main entry room was incredibly tall, and a staircase wrapped around the perimeter leading to a second floor. An elaborate chandelier hung twenty feet above them.
"Hey, Lauren!"
"Daddy!" Lauren shouted, running to hug the sandy-haired man that had just entered the room.
Lauren's father looked like your typical dad and his smile was friendly and warm. He released Lauren and turned to face Scott.
"You must be Scott!" he boomed. "My daughter has talked a lot about you. Nice to meet you, son."
"Nice to meet you, too, sir." Scott replied, extending his hand to shake.
"Oh, don't call me that." The man laughed, shaking Scott's hand. "I get called that enough at work. My father was a sir. I'm just a Steve. Here, just leave your bags by the stairs. I'll have someone come get them for you. I suppose we better introduce him to your mother, right, Lauren?"
"Yeah, come on." Lauren took his arm and pulled him down a hallway. "My mom has been dying to meet you."
The hallway led to a beautiful kitchen that one would expect to see in a magazine. The countertops were all deep marble and the metal appliances gleamed. Windows overlooked a picturesque backyard, dominated by an inground swimming pool and enough exotic plants to start a nursey.
"Mom!" Lauren called, getting the attention of a woman stood talking to another couple people.
"Lauren, you're finally here!" the woman exclaimed as they embraced.
Lauren's mom was pretty and had the same smile as her daughter. Scott could see where his girlfriend got her cheery disposition now.
"Oh, is this him?" Lauren's mother turned to him. "Wow, you didn't mention he was so cute, Lauren!"
Scott blushed and extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you, ma'am."
"Cute and polite." She giggled, as she shook his hand. "Please call me Tracy."
Scott felt Steve clap him on the shoulder.
"Lauren, why don't you go say hello to the rest of the family. Most of them are outside." He suggested. "I'll show Scott around a little bit."
"Okay, Daddy." Lauren responded. "Don't hurt him too much. I like this one."
Steve steered Scott into another hallway before glancing behind them.
"I just saved your life." He chuckled. "You would've been stuck talking to people for the next twelve hours. C'mon, I'll show you my hideout. We've got the game on."
Scott followed Steve down a staircase to a finished basement. If there was ever a true man-cave, this was definitely it. Comfortable looking couches were all over and a gigantic flat screen was playing a baseball game. One side of the room was a long bar with a series of taps. Liquor bottles were stacked neatly on shelves behind it. Signed jerseys from various teams were in cases along the walls; the LA Rams, Chargers, Lakers, and Dodgers and one Kings jersey. A set of French doors led outside to the back yard where the pool was, and Scott could see Lauren hugging relatives outside.
"Everyone, this is Scott." Steve announced to the group of men seated talking and watching the game. "He's Lauren's boyfriend so try not to scare him off, will ya?"
The men laughed and echoed greetings.
"What kind of beer do ya like?" Steve asked, ushering him over to the bar.
"Whatever's cold." He responded.
"Good answer." Steve laughed. "It's all cold here so take your pick."
He handed Scott a glass.
"You a baseball fan, Scott?"
"Oh, yeah." Scott poured himself a drink from the Budweiser tap. "Baseball, football, Hockey."
"No basketball?"
"Well, Pittsburgh doesn't have a basketball team and I'm definitely not cheering on the 76ers."
"Ah, so you're a Pirates fan then."
"Unfortunately." Scott admitted.
"Well, we won't give you too much grief about it. You probably have a hard enough time watching them play every year." Steve winked at him.
"That's for sure." Scott agreed.
"Well, take a load off. We've got the Dodgers game on so you can see what it's like for a team to win for once."
Scott laughed and they went over to the couches and found empty spaces. The next couple hours were great and he found himself relaxing. He realized he had been worried over nothing. Lauren's father was great and nothing at all like what he had been concerned about. He spent the time alternating between watching the action on TV and asking Scott questions about himself. The other men chimed in with lighthearted jokes and occasionally ribbed him about either the Steelers, the Pirates, or the Penguins. Halfway through the sixth inning, the door to the back yard opened and Lauren stuck her head in.
"Are you guys being nice to Scott?" she asked.
"We're converting him to a Dodger's fan." One of the men, Lauren's uncle Robert answered.
"Yeah, good luck with that one." She rolled her eyes. "Dad, mom wants to know if you want to start grilling the burgers."
"What time is it? Oh, three." Steve mused. "Yeah, I can get them going. Suppose we should all head outside, gentlemen."
Lauren waved at Scott to follow her as they all stood up and she led him through the people standing around outside to where her mother was sitting at one of the tables along with a few other women.
"Everyone, this is Scott." She introduced him. "Scott, this is Aunt Mallory, Aunt Tilda, Aunt Beatrice, and my cousin Margo."
"Take a seat, Scott." Tracy said. "We're going to eat soon."
He and Lauren sat down, and he answered questions from the women until Steve called out that the burgers were ready. Scott realized what Steve had meant when he said that he had saved him from a fate of eternal conversation earlier. He barely had time to eat his food with the amount that the women were talking to him throughout the meal. He didn't mind it, but he was glad when Tracy stood up and suggested they go around and collect dishes and take them inside. He rose and began to take some plates but was stopped.
"No, you're our guest of honor." Tracy said. "We'll take care of it. Just relax and stay seated."
He tried to protest but Tracy insisted repeatedly.
"Don't worry about it." Lauren told him. "We'll be finished soon.
"Yes," Tracy said. "And your sister should be home from cheerleading practice any minute so then you can introduce her to Scott."
Scott sat back down as the women went around the area collecting dishes and then headed into the house to finish cleaning up. He sat there alone, glad to have a break from conversing with people and watched the water spill down one of the decorative waterfalls nearby.