The Middle of Love

Chapter 3: Road Trip

Katie:

"Hi Mr. Heck. Mrs. Heck." I greet. "I brought drinks and dinner." I present the box of pizzas and pastas as well as the bag for Mr. Heck. "Drinks for those over 21, and sodas for those under 21."

"Thank you." Mr. Heck says taking the bag. Mrs. Heck takes the food.

"Guys, dinner!" Mrs. Heck calls into the back of the house. Sue and Brick come into the main living space.

Sue gives a squeal before hugging me around causing Axl to let go. I hug her back. "Hi Sue." I greet. "Here's the book that I had for you Brick." I pull an old leather-bound book from my bag. "I think you'll like it." Axl pulls me back into his chest wrapping his arms around me.

"I'll grab some plates." Sue says. She basically skips to the kitchen to grab plates.

"No need." I tell her, "We got some with the food." Axl holds up the other bag in his hand. "And Silverware."

"Then let's sit down and eat." Mrs. Heck says. Automatically they all head to their table in the kitchen living area. I grab one of the kitchen bar stools and pull it next to Axl's chair. "Let's try the dining room."

I put the food down on the table and put the plates down at the places before putting down the silverware. "Look at this, a fancy dinner." Axl wraps his arms around me when I finish with the last place at the table. He pulls out the chair for me and I sit down his mother and sister sit before he sits down himself. "We'll make a gentleman out of you yet." I whisper to him kissing his cheek.

The food gets passed around the table from Mrs. Heck to Mr. Heck, Sue, Brick, Axl, then myself. I take the remaining leftovers from the Hecks and put them on my plate. Axl frowns at my lack of food. I shrug, and he takes his plate and puts some of his food on my own from it.

"Wow, Axl must really love you." Mr. Heck says. "He never shares."

"Don't worry Mr. Heck, he was snacking the whole way here, that's why we're down a whole pizza." I glare playfully at Axl.

"I was hungry!" He objects. The family begins eating.

"Bless us O Lord and these Thy gifts which we are about to receive from Thy bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen." I say quietly hearing Axl following I cross myself and Axl follows. His family staring at us awkwardly.

Conversation is slightly forced until Axl and his father start talking sports. Axl's hand reaches mine beneath the table. I finish my meal first and begin clearing the table of the empty dishes after excusing myself. Axl follows shortly after. "Keep the dishes, my parents like to keep them."

"Okay, I'll wash you dry."

"Nope, I'll wash, and we'll leave them to air dry." He says before pecking my lips with a kiss. He lifts me up and sets me on the counter next to the sink.

"Who are you and what have you done to our son?" Mrs. Heck asks I don't know whether it was me or him she was talking to.

"Axl's still the same goofy kid you raised." I assure her, just as he flings water at me from the sink. I fling some back at him and soon we're in a full-on water war. The water is soon cut off.

"We can't afford this kind of water bill." Mr. Heck says walking away picking up one of the beers. "Go dry off, we can't afford mold either." Axl chases me into the bathroom and hands me a towel.

"I'm sorry I upset your father." I tell Axl sitting on the rim of the bathtub. He sits next to me drying his hair. "I feel as if I caused a rift between you and your family. Did you notice that they were staring at us when we blessed dinner?"