In Memoriam ✓

Bonus: Meet The Parents

Reid

I never felt nervous. But today, my sense of anxiety was so visceral that fear overwhelmed my every waking thought. I stared critically at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, fixing my shirt, and breathing to calm myself down.

I closed my eyes, speaking quietly to myself. "You'll be fine. You're good with meeting parents."

"They say that talking to yourself is the first sign of madness." I heard from somewhere near the doorway. I frowned, opening my eyes to my cousin. 

Tony smirked, his eyes glinting with humor as he crossed his arms. I sighed irritably, turning back to my mirror. "Today has to work out, Tony. I'm not in the mood for your asinine jokes."

Tony looked sympathetic. "I get it. When I met Kennedy's parents, they weren't sure about me at first."

"I wonder how you made them agree to your marriage." I said skeptically.

Tony hit me over the head, scowling, and I yelped. "I was going to comfort you. If you're being good to their daughter, Mallory's parents won't have a problem with you."

"Thanks for the advice." I groaned, massaging my head. I squinted at my cousin. "You know Mallory's parents are rich? They live in the middle of New York, in some fancy apartment."

He shrugged. "You told me that ages ago. You and your goldfish memory."

I frowned. "Huh. It's a long drive, so can I borrow your car?"

Tony cleared his throat awkwardly. "About that."

At that moment, my two-year old niece Armin toddled into the doorway, looking up at her father and uncle with wide eyes. "Uncle Reid?"

I walked over to Armin, crouching so our faces were level. "Hi, sweetheart. Can I pick you up?"

Armin stretched out her tiny arms, and I braced her on my shoulder. I leaned in conspiratorially to talk with my niece. "Do you think I'm smarter than your dad?"

"No." Armin replied sweetly. "Dad is a doctor. Ma told me that doctors have to get a really long degree."

"I really feel the love, Armin." I muttered. Armin giggled, and I set her down so she could run freely.

"Don't take it personally, I'm her dad." Tony said, still chuckling as he watched Armin roll around on the floor.

"Well, I'm going now so if I get a hug from someone-" I drawled. I was unable to finish my sentence due to the whirlwind of pigtails and chubby cheeks flinging her short arms around my back. I quickly wrapped his arms around my niece in return, closing my eyes.

'Can I get a hug too?' Tony asked pathetically, holding out his hands to me.

I rolled my eyes, pushing my cousin's hands away. "You get hugs from Armin every day."

"Rude." Tony lowered his arms, opting to pick up Armin. He balanced his daughter against his hip, frowning at me. "I never gave you a wedding present, by the way."

"That's because giving presents was my job." I told him. "It was your wedding."

Tony grinned deviously. "Not the point. Follow me." he said, rummaging through his pockets. Finally, he showed me a brand-new car key, tossing it to me. I caught it easily, then examined the metal.

"You didn't." I said in shock.

"I did. Come outside." Tony said with a grin, walking out to the driveway. With a growing sense of trepidation, I walked out to see a gorgeous looking car.