Let Me Down | John Murphy

Needing You

Chapter 35

To say sitting with your former future in-laws with your new sort-of boyfriend and baby is awkward, would be an understatement.

Literally, no one spoke for at least ten minutes straight. The only noise that lingered was the sound of John digging into his meal like nobody's business.

If only I had that confidence around these people.

"The food is great, mom," Leon, aka kiss-ass, compliments.

"Glad you're enjoying it, son," she smiles before moving her eyes back to me.

She's been staring at me since we got here, and let's just say... it's uncomfortable as fuck.

"So, Quinn," Leon starts, trying to add more conversation to the atmosphere. "How did you and Murphy, here, meet?"

Why on EARTH would he ask that in front of his mother and Rory's father?

Note to self: never bring a new partner to your old partner's family home.

John's eyes lift from his plate and turn to me and then Leon.

"A little while after we were sent down to earth, I guess," I shrug, not really wanting to talk about my new relationship, especially in front of Evelyn and Mr. Stone.

Just try and stay calm, Quinn.

I start to take a sip of water, as Leon continues.

"Ah... love at first sight."

I immediately start choking.

What the fuck?

What the FUCK?

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?

Why would he say that? I mean, really, why?

John and I haven't even discussed what we are. And now Leon is uttering words like 'love'.

Why, why, why?

Can I just crawl into a hole and die?

"Quinn, are you okay?" John asks as he pats my back.

"I'm fine," I continue to cough. "Water just went down the wrong hole."

And the fact that Leon tried outing me to Rory's family.

No biggie, or anything.

Like my knight in shining armor, I hear the sound of my baby crying.

Thank you, Dawn, for excusing me from the hell known as dinner with the Stones.

"Think she may be hungry," I say, heading over to the basinet.

"And you didn't feed her before eating yourself?" Evelyn questions, clearly wearing a dash of disappointment.

I don't respond at first, which I instantly regret when I hear her mutter under her breath.

"Selfish child."

Selfish? How the fuck am I selfish? All I think about is what's best for Dawn.

"Actually, Evelyn. I have her on a feeding schedule. Normally we would eat later than this," I explain, placing Dawn comfortably in my arms so I can prepare for her feed. "And for the record..." I start, stepping towards the table to make direct eye contact at Rory's stepmother. "I ALWAYS feed my daughter first."

Not that I need to justify myself to Evelyn, a woman who takes pride in hating the LGBTQ+ community. A community her stepdaughter belonged to.

"Now, if you will all excuse me, I'm just going to go feed Dawn," I say, ready to excuse myself from the chaos known as the Stones.