Coffee and Love

Acceptance is Key

If it was up to me, I would've continued staying in my room and avoiding my family like I had for most of the vacation already, but Phil was determined to make my family fall in love with him. He started by playing video games with my little brother, Michael, and older male cousins Billy and Matt. He then moved onto wowing Molly with stories about Youtubers. He impressed my uncle with being willing to carry in firewood even at night when it was dark and freezing. My aunt and my parents were a little harder to convince.

"I'm going to make them like me." Phil said as we cut vegetables for dinner. Everyone over eighteen in the house had to take over making dinner for one night and somehow Phil and I had been put in charge of Christmas eve dinner.

"No, you're really not. In their eyes you're a boy trying to steal away their precious Nikki." I said, mixing some oil and seasonings in with the veggies and sticking the dish in the oven. I then began to work on the chicken I was making, breading both sides carefully. Phil opened his mouth to ask how he could help and I motioned to the veggies leftover for the salad that needed to be chopped. "Don't take offense, alright? They've never liked any of my boyfriends."

"I'm not just a boyfriend." Phil protested. "I'm..." he looked at me. "I'm more, right?" I nodded, my cheeks flaring red. "Good. Because you're more to me than just a girlfriend. You're Nikki. The little intern who didn't hate me after I burned her with coffee and who was too shy to ask for help with money and who can kick my ass at almost any activity we do and who I love."

I stopped with the chicken and leaned across the counter, kissing him lightly on the lips. "I love you too."

"Gross, get a room you two." My brother said, coming in and stealing a carrot.

"Hey, that's for the salad." I protested.

"I need it for the snowman. "Michael rolled his eyes and broke off one half, setting it back down so Phil could chop it up. "Matt, Billy, and I just finished it. Are you almost done with dinner? We're hungry."

"It's gonna be like half an hour." I said, finishing breading the last chicken breast. "Play video games until I'm done."

Michael groaned and started to leave, but stopped and looked at Phil. "Do you want to play with us? We could make it a tournament."

Phil looked at me then shook his head no "I'm gonna stay with Nikki."

"She's got you whipped." My brother said, giving Phil a sad look. "She always does with her boys. Oh well, you'll be gone soon anyways. It's her seven-month curse." He walked away before doing any more damage.

"Seven-month curse?" Phil asked as I put the chicken in to bake.

"My relationships never make it past seven months." I explained. "Don't listen to him, he's trying to scare you. He does that with every boyfriend." I washed my hands before making the dressing for the salad.

Phil's eyes stayed on me as I focused on my work. I tried to ignore his questioning gaze and finish my task. "Your family makes you tense." Phil noted and I glanced up to lie to him, but he was no longer across the counter from me. I sighed as his hands began rubbing my shoulders. I hadn't noticed him sneak behind me. "But I can tell you love them."

"I do. They're just being difficult. They do it with every boyfriend. Don't get offended." I closed my eyes and leaned back against him.

"But it would relieve your stress if they liked me, right?" Phil clarified.

"I guess." I said "But you're not going to get them to. No one ever has."

Phil chuckled and kissed me gently. "I'm AmazingPhil, I can do this."