The View From Here

23. The In-Laws

*Ambrose POV*

"I'll give the two of you a chance to get dressed or something before we talk about this." June said while making hand motions towards where Conner and I were tangled together in the covers before closing the door behind her. It wasn't until I could hear her footsteps going down the stairs that I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding in.

"I don't think I've made a good impression on your stepmom." I chuckled out before dropping some of my weight on to Conner, whose mortified look turned into a small smile.

"I wasn't thinking of introducing you guys like this. You know I actually had a plan of how I wanted this to happen, the whole introduction of my boyfriend to my dad and his new wife. This throws an entire wrench into my time table, I mean it's not like I'm not happy to see them, it's just— they aren't even supposed to be here right now, they're supposed to be in Europe somewhere drinking wine." complained Conner as I lifted myself off of him and the bed. Standing up I take my soiled underwear off and make my way into the bathroom to wet one of the washcloths to wipe myself off quickly before getting another to wipe Conner off. Walking back into the room I'm met with a sight so mouth watering it makes me wish we hadn't been interrupted before we could go further. The sight of a fully nude Conner sprawled across the bed has my blood wanting to rush back south and pick up where we left off.

"Here I'll wipe you off." I say advancing towards his figure as he gives a small okay. I try not to let my hands stay in one place too long so the dirty thoughts don't completely consume me. Finishing up I throw the washcloths along with all our other dirty laundry created into the hamper before grabbing some clothes for the both of us. It doesn't take us long to get redressed with the frequent sighs coming from Conner.

"Come on Babe, it's all going to be alright. You just have to adjust your time table to earlier than you had planned. It's gonna be fine, now let's go downstairs since they are waiting for us. I can even do all the talking if you want." I tried to reassure him, wrapping him in a hug from behind and rocking us towards the door.

"I guess this gives you an opportunity to try and redo the impression you left on June." He joked as we slowly made our way towards the sounds of hushed voices coming from the living room. Before stepping into view I unstick myself from Conner and just settle with holding his hand to lead us into the eyes of one half of his parents. Letting my eyes scan the room I find them with their backs towards us as they look at the few scattered photos of Lucy and aunty Veronica together. As I clear my throat to get their attention they seem to jump a little at their conversation being interrupted before they turn their attention to us letting their gaze drop towards our intertwined fingers.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Mattews, I'd like to formally introduce myself. My name is Ambrose Shaw, and I am dating your son. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Very concise and to the point I like that, but taking into consideration what I saw the two of you doing makes me reconsider." June practically threw back at me as she eyed me up and down making me inwardly wince. I don't think our mess hair and the hickies covering both our necks helped my case either.

"How about the two of you sit here on the couch so us adults can get the whole story. Great now Conner you will sit here on this side and Ambrose was it? You can sit over there." Directed Mr. Matthews with a serious face as he made us sit on opposite sides of the couch as if he were separating two little kids who were caught fighting. Stepping away from me he goes and stands behind June who was looking at Conner and I. I think I can see who is wearing the pants here.

"Now boys, does Lucy know about the two of you and your... activities?" June was the first one to ask a question. Looking at Conner I could see him turning red from the implications behind her question.

"Mrs. Matthews we actually met in a way through Lucy."

"And she just lets the two of you be here alone in the house?" June asked seriously, keeping her eyes on me.

"I got permission from her to be here when she's not." I responded trying to keep eye contact with the both of them while also coming up with a reasonable response as to just why Lucy is so okay about us without bringing up the whole werewolf thing, all the while wondering why this felt more like an interrogation as opposed to meeting the in-laws.

"So Ambrosh, how long have you two been going out?" Asked June, getting my name wrong almost as if on purpose.

"It's been almost 3 months since we started dating."

"Why haven't we heard anything about this? Why are we just finding out that you are in a relationship with a GUY of all people. I knew we should have never left him here, just look at what's happened in the short time we've left him here with that woman. By the looks of it she seems to have let her sickness rub off on you. Maybe if we just get you away from this place it'll just go away and you'll be back to normal." She practically yelled at Conner who just sat there unmoving as she berated him. I don't know what made me more angry, the fact that she was criticizing my beautiful mate or the fact that the man who is supposed to be his dad is just standing there behind his wife not saying a word like an idiot as his wife mistreats his only son. Seeing Conner look as if he just wanted the couch to swallow him up just crushed me, and I started talking to his witch before I could even stop myself.

"I have a question that's been bugging me since the beginning, what are the two of you even doing here? I heard y'all were supposed to be in europe or whatever, so what the reason that you've traveled all this way for. Cus from where i'm sitting it feels like you just came to criticize everyone here." I argued watching as June's face morphed into an angry scowl. Honestly I don't know what Conner's dad sees in her considering Lucy is like a goddess compared to this woman.

"For your information Ambrosh, we came to spend thanksgiving with our precious son, but that seems to be ruined by your presence. I think we're going to have to cut all of our vacations short so we can take Conner back home up north and away from this place and he can get back to normal." She said practically seething since I was arguing with her. Hearing her response just set me off in a way no one likes.

"If you feel that we aren't what you consider normal, then I'll politely ask you to leave right now. If you need help I can show you the door." I said as calmly as I could while standing up to emphasize I wasn't playing around.

"I suppose you lack that southern hospitality I've heard so much about. I don't even know what you are getting so upset about anyways, if i were you i'd just find a pretty girl to settle down with. I mean think about later down the road, you are going to want kids, your own kids with your own flesh and blood and it's not either of you can get pregnant. I mean if you really wanted to you could always go about adopting an orphan, but I mean who knows how good those things are." As she kept rambling on and on I could almost feel the cartoon vein popping out on my forehead as this woman began getting on my last nerve. I was about to snap at her but was interrupted by Conner.

"I need some air. I'll– I'll be right back." he mumbled out before practically running out of the room.

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*Conner POV*

I feel like I'm going to throw up and stumbling out here isn't helping. This is not going like how I planned this. I feel like I need to get out of here or do something to get That thing out of here. I need my real mom here. With that thought I'm pulling out my phone and praying she'll answer. My prayers are answered on the third ring.

"Hey Cone, what's up? You never call me at work, is something wrong?"

"Mom i–i want, no i need you to come home right now. I–i don't know what to do, dads here and I just need you to come home." I choked out feeling my throat get tight as tears started pricking my eyes.

"I'll be right there okay, I'll be there as fast as I can. Just– just sit tight and if you can't handle it just leave it to Ambrose." She rushed out as if hearing the panic in my voice began to spur on her own panic.

"Okay mom, please hurry. I really don't know how much longer I can take this." I pleaded before hanging up. Taking a deep breath I wiped the few tears I didn't know I shed off my face getting ready to walk back into the shit show that I never expected would happen today. I just have to hold out until mom gets here.