Maybe, Maybe Not

26. Date Night

Time seemed to go slow and fast at the same time.

After her Valentine's Day with Nikko, their relationship was on another level. She basically spent all of her time at his place and would only go back to her apartment to reload on clothes to bring to his place. After two months of dating, she basically moved in with him because it was more convenient for her to stay over and get to work the next day.

Things were going well with their relationship. They did not argue or fight over anything, they liked different things but always came to an agreement on what they wanted to do. Nikko was more of an outside person and loved sports. She would rather spend cold days inside binging Netflix shows. He liked to spend a lot of money on nice dates, where she was happy with picking up cheap Chinese food with a can of Vess soda instead of wine.

As winter was ending and the days getting longer and the air warmer, Nikko liked to take her to places all over the city. It was amazing to her that he still found places in her city that she never knew of.

"Gus's Pretzels is one of my favorite places." He had taken her to a local pretzel store off Arsenal that she heard of but had never been to. She loved pretzels. The hard kinds and especially the big soft, chewy ones.

They ordered some and sat outside of the place and enjoyed them with mustard dipping sauce on a late winter afternoon one Saturday.

"So good!"

"Better when they are fresh right here."

"I could eat my weight in these." She stuffed a bite in her mouth.

She needed to watch what she ate because since she was with him she gained ten stubborn pounds. She hated dieting, so all she was going to do was watch her portion sizes and now that the weather was warmer, maybe do some walking.

"What are your plans for Easter?" he asked her.

That was a big family tradition holiday for her ever since she was younger. Since her parents divorced when she was five, they would alternate having Easter Sunday. One year her father, the next year her mother. They made it a big thing like it was Christmas or something and even gave Easter baskets to the adults.

This year it was her father's turn to host. That meant her step-sister Morah, who was still upset with her, would be there. Her stepbrothers whom she barely talked to would be there. Her stepmother Lisa, who she adored would be there. Maybe her kids would be there, she had not heard from them. Maybe they were spending it with their father.

"My father is having dinner and he likes to go overboard. And you?"

"I might go visit my mom."

Maybe she should invite him to her parents. Was he expecting that? They were getting more serious and he had yet to meet any of her family. She was not looking forward to explaining how young he was. Would they judge her?

"Want to come over my father's with me?"

"No, no, I wasn't asking you to invite me or anything."

"It might be fun. It might be weird as well. My father is pretty old-fashioned. He does not believe in just shacking up or anything. Get married, and raise a family. All of that."

"Is that why you got married because you got pregnant? Because of your parents?"

She shook her head.

"No, I don't blame them for that. I wanted to be grown and on my own. Theo was promising me the world. I was young and thought I knew everything. Didn't you think that way when you were eighteen?"

He chuckled. "You need to meet my mom and see what she has to say about that."

Were they really at that point ready to meet the family? It felt as if things were going so fast. Then again, what was time? Was there a timeline for falling in love and having a relationship? If so, were they following it or on their own path? Maybe, maybe not.

"You want me to meet your mother?" This terrified her. Theo's mother liked her, up until she left him. Still to this day, that woman pretended as if she did not exist.

Mothers were funny with their children, especially their sons. If Nikko's mother was a single mother raising her son, she probably was very close to him. Judging by the things that Nikko said about their relationship, it was touch and go. How would she factor into things?

"I think, if you want, it's a good idea. My mother has her issues, but like you said, she just wants me happy, right?"

They finished their pretzels as she thought about that. How would she feel if her son brought home a woman or a man her age? She had a feeling her son was bi-sexual but he never came out to her. She did not care about his preference, again only that he was happy.

"I will only meet her if you are ready for anything. If she hates me and tells me to get out, you have to be okay with that."

"What? I will never be okay with that." He took her hand as they walked to his car. "Listen. My mother is not like that. She's stubborn yes, but she loves me."

"You said you guys have had a strained relationship the last few years."

"Because of my art and my job. I wish she would let me do want I want to do, but never about my relationships."

"Your last girlfriend?"

"She liked her. Hated her when she broke my heart."

That was understandable. She did not plan on breaking Nikko's heart. Or did she? Life could get complicated.

"Want to go to Soulard Market, and get some healthy food for the crib?"

"After stuffing myself with doughy carbs, sure."

Soulard Market was the biggest farmers' market in the city of St. Louis. A large-pavilion-style structure with vendor after vendor that offered all the fruits, veggies, fresh fish, and meats you could think of. There even were a few stands that sold clothing and lotions and concoctions. There was always something new every time she went which was maybe every other month during the spring and summer.

"I better get some cucumbers for my daughter for when she stops by. Lately she is addicted to those things."

"That's sweet you shop for your daughter and she doesn't live with you."

"She may not live with me, but she shops at my place often."

"She can't shop for herself?"

Good question she would rather not get into with Nikko. Yes, her daughter could shop, but if it wasn't for her daughter shopping in her kitchen she would never see her.

Instead of answering, she nodded her head and let that be that.

They parked in the near-packed parking lot.

They discussed more about meeting his mother, and she decided she would skip Easter with her family and spend it with Nikko to see his mother. That would upset her father and stepmother, but she could see them another time. She needed this for her relationship with Nikko, no matter how his mother would feel.

Was she nervous? Heck yes! This was one time she hoped looking younger would benefit her. Maybe her age would not come up.