Yes Please || c.g. {complete}

The List

19

.Layla.

Carl and I were on a Pink Line train up to the Loop to meet my parents for lunch. He offered to go meet them with me after the argument we'd had. He had really hurt my feelings about visiting my friends and family the other day, but when he opened up about why, I could see why he had reacted that way. As usual, we came to an understanding both verbally and physically. Jesus Christ, could that guy apologize, I grinned to myself as I felt my cheeks warm up.

I looked over at Carl, who was oddly quiet and tapping his foot nervously. He was dressed up a little more than usual in a button down shirt, and he had tried to force his hair to lay more smoothly than it did on a regular day. It was really cute that he was so concerned about impressing them.

"Don't be nervous," I laughed, rubbing his leg. "They will love you."

Carl sighed heavily, leaning his head back against the wall. "Let's review our list of off-limits topics," he said for about the fifth time that day.

I rolled my eyes and grinned.

He grabbed each of his fingers as he listed them off. "One: my parents. Two: my criminal record. Three-"

"Your 'vast knowledge of and experience with drugs and weaponry,'" I chimed in with him as I sighed. "Although, again, Carl, I'm really not sure how items two and three would present themselves during a casual lunch conversation."

Carl shook his head, his expression still serious. "Well I'm just saying."

"And four: the attack outside my building," I added. "Do not bring that up, or I will be back living in my parents' house before lunch is over."

Carl nodded. "See? The list is good."

I laughed at him and rested my head on his shoulder.

A few stops later we got off and made our way through the crowded L platform and down to the street. The restaurant was about a block away. I gave Carl's hand a squeeze before he opened the glass door and we walked in.

"Hi!" the hostess smiled. "For two?" she asked, not even disguising the fact that she was checking out Carl.

"We're meeting someone," I replied coldly, leading Carl past her as I spotted my parents at a table by the window.

.....

.Carl.

I was smirking at how that floozy hostess had made Layla get all possessive of me when I heard someone call her name.

"Layla! Honey, how have you been?" came the excited voice of a woman.

I followed the voice to its source: an attractive brunette with deep olive skin and light brown eyes- definitely Layla's mom. The apple did not fall far from the tree.

"Hi, Mom!" Layla replied, releasing my hand when we got to the table to hug her.

The man seated next to her got up as well. He was tall and paler than his wife. He had handsome features set in a stern expression that suggested he was a no-nonsense kind of guy. He smiled at Layla and pulled her in for a hug.

"Hi, Dad," she smiled, leaning back and turning to me. "Guys, this is my boyfriend, Carl."

Her parents smiled at me as they each reached out and shook my hand. I smiled back, hoping I appeared more confident than I felt.

Finally, we all sat down and I gulped the glass of water in front of me as her parents asked her about her new place.

"So how long have you two been seeing each other?" her mother asked, smiling over at me.