Badges and Bikes

Chapter 22

Thane's POV***

I go home and shower before going to Tara and Griffin's for dinner. I think that it will be awkward to be there without Ash. But I know that I need to get used to being around the Tuckers without her as I plan to be around for the rest of my life. I wonder if I should bring anything with me. I text Griffin my question. He calls me back.

"Hey, you don't have to bring anything. But when you marry my daughter, you will have to pitch in a little money each week for groceries and stuff like that."

"Ok I can do that. I didn't know how this works." I tell him.

"Alright, dinner in an hour. Don't be late. We don't hold plates for anyone unless they are working. Tara likes to sit down to eat at six o'clock."

"I am leaving in a couple minutes. I just needed to see if I needed to bring a bottle of wine or a dessert." I tell my future dad-in-law.

"Hey, desserts are always a plus. Tara doesn't do desserts and we don't usually drink wine. Sometimes the guys go out back and drink some beer or whiskey. That is about it. So, don't feel obligated to carry anything." Griffin tells me. We talked for another minute before hanging up.

 I leave the apartment and head for the nearest grocery store for a dessert to carry. I settled on two types of cheesecake and cookies. Mainly because I don't know what Tara is serving. I think that these go with everything. I drive the five minutes to Griffin and Tara's house as I prepare myself for an awkward evening around my future family. I arrive as Vick and Gina do as well. 

They see the bag in my hands and smile. "Good evening, Thane! Is Ash not with you tonight?" Gina asked politely.

"Good evening, Gina and Vic. Ash is with Justice on their date. So, I am flying solo tonight."

"Well you came to the right place. I heard that we are eating lasagna tonight." Vic said.

That made me smile. I love lasagna. "Sounds delicious!" We enter the house and are greeted with people laughing and talking in almost every room in the downstairs. I follow Gina to the kitchen. I see that Kennedy and Kaden setting the table. 

Tara sees me and smiles. "Hello, Thane! I'm glad to see you tonight."

"Hello, Tara! Thank you for the invite! I brought cheesecake and cookies. I didn't know what else to bring I hope that is ok."

"Oh you are the sweetest! Thank you! I love cheesecake. And it goes great with lasagna."

That makes me smile. I have made brownie points with Tara! Griffin comes into the kitchen with River. He kisses Tara before acknowledging anyone else. He greets and hugs his mom then says hello again to me. Gina tells him about the cheesecake and cookies. He looks at me and smirks.

"Isn't it too early for brownie points?" He asks. 

"Nope! Not when it is a Tucker woman you want to impress." I answer with my own smirk.

"Damn you are smart after all! Good choice! We might even make you take the Tucker name at marriage."

"I can think of worse names to be called, actually. I can live with that. But you would have to convince Ashton to drop the Thomas name first. Good luck with that!" I laugh with the rest of the family in the kitchen and dining room.

"No thanks! I guess that we will have to settle for you being a part of our family with your own name." We all start helping take food to the longest table that I have ever seen. This entire house is fitted to house a super large family. I have seen mansions that are smaller. But this isn't a mansion. Just a huge house filled with love and laughter. It is a warm home.