Unraveling [BXB]

Chapter 25

Chase met Wren's parents for the first time two weeks before Christmas. It was a bit strange to think he'd known Wren for four years and had never met them, but he also hadn't been over to Wren's house until a few months ago, so he figured maybe it made sense. Wren's dad had come home from his business trip for the holidays and Wren's parents had decided to meet Chase at a restaurant called The Aurora.

When Wren pulled his car into the parking lot, Chase realized immediately that he was not dressed nice enough to be seen in the restaurant he was about to be walking into. Wren had told him that his parents wouldn't care what he wore, though he'd still opted for a black turtleneck under a dark green sweater and black jeans. Still, he felt like wearing anything other than a button up and tie would get him turned away at the door. And what would Wren's parents think if he showed up looking severely underdressed for the restaurant they'd picked?

"I think your parents are gonna hate me," Chase murmured, brushing invisible dust off his sweater.

"My parents are going to love you," Wren said, taking his hand and walking in with him.

"But, I'm the first boyfriend you've had, what if they have like, super high standards for the guys you date?"

"I can promise you, you exceed all of their standards. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if you become the new standard. They're going to want to adopt you after tonight," Wren said, giving him a small smile and squeezing his hand. "But at the end of the day, their opinion doesn't mean anything and it won't change how I see you."

Chase took a breath and nodded, smiling despite his stomach still twisting itself in anxious knots.

Wren walked up to the host counter. "Hey, we're here on the Hendrix reservation. My parents should already be here."

The short, brunette hostess smiled and nodded. "Come with me."

She took them upstairs to a quieter room enclosed behind a door where Wren's parents were sitting at a private booth in front of a large window overlooking the beautiful view of the sun setting over the forest outside. Wren's dad was a broad-shouldered man with dark hair that was graying around the sides and square, dark-rimmed glasses in front of his dark green eyes. He sat up straight with a sort of commanding demeanor that would intimidate anyone. Wren's mom, on the other hand, had a warm smile and long, curly brown hair.

A minute later, a server came over to their table to hand out menus and glasses of water.

"My name's Jenna and I'll be assisting you today. I'll give you all some time to look over your menus. Let me know if you need anything," she said before walking away to help another table.

Wren waited a second before taking a breath and folding his hands on the table. "So, Mom, Dad, this is Chase Tanner, he's my boyfriend," Wren said and Chase smiled somewhat awkwardly, holding out his hand to shake which Mr. Hendrix took in a firm grip as he smiled back.

"It's nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Hendrix," he said, shaking his mom's hand as well.

"Please, call me James," his dad said and Chase couldn't help but smile a little at that.

"Does anyone ever call you Jimi?" he asked with just a bit of a joking tone in his voice.

"Believe me when I tell you I don't have a musical bone in my body, but my parents were big fans of him and couldn't pass up the opportunity, since we already had the last name," James said, chuckling softly. "Do you play anything?"

"Uh yeah...I'm actually planning to be a concert violinist," Chase said, playing with his hands in his lap.

"That must take a lot of work," Wren's mom, Trinity, said.