Meet Scarlett Striker, a bold and quirky journalist for the Seattle Times. She's fun, confident, sassy, and just the right amount of weird. Scarlett is determined to rise to the top, no matter what it takes.
When her boss offers a golden opportunity...
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A week after Scarlett's birthday, Thanksgiving crept up faster than I expected. Somehow, Chris ended up tagging along—probably because we've been dating for a few weeks now, and after losing my virginity to him, well, I'd say things have gotten serious. But with seriousness comes nerves, especially the kind that creep in when you're introducing your boyfriend to your family.
I sit on the couch at Scarlett's parents' place, biting my lip as I glance towards the door. What if he doesn't show up?
"Hija [daughter], what are you looking at?" my mom asks, noticing my constant glances toward the front door.
Before I can answer, Scarlett plops down beside me with a sly grin. "Obviously, she's waiting for her boyfriend to show up." She leans in, whispering teasingly, "Bet you can't wait for your mom to grill him."
I roll my eyes, but a small smile breaks through. "It's not that. I just... it's Chris, you know? I want them to like him."
My mom, overhearing, grins knowingly from across the room. "I'm sure we will, mija. He's probably very charming. Better than that Matt you were seeing."
"Who wants wine!" Scarlett's mom, my aunt Mia, cheers bringing over two glasses of wine to us. Scarlett accepts it eagerly. My uncle John is doing the cooking. I'm surprised more of our family didn't join... but then again, it's a small apartment.
My mom walks away with tia Mia, disappearing into the kitchen. I take a sip of the wine hoping it will calm my nerves. Seconds later my mom and aunt come back into the living room with their own wine glasses. They take a seat to join us around the coffee table.
"So, Scarlett... anything new? You barely call your own mother," Mia says with a pointed look. Scarlett takes her own long sip of wine. Before Scarlett can answer there's a buzz signaling that Chris is here. Saved by the bell. My mother, a little too excited, gets up and presses the button to open the apartment complex door.
"The kitchen calls," Mia says when uncle John calls for her. I smile at my aunt as she walks away. She's beautiful, like Scarlett. Her skin a dark olive and her hair as dark as mine. Yet there's a unmistakable similarity between her and Scarlett's smile. Scarlett is the perfect mix of both her parents. Uncle John and Mia make the perfect couple.
I focus back to the matter at hand, my heart pounds as we wait. I stand, setting my wine glass on the coffee table. Scarlett however, stays seated, ever the casual lady.
The moment the knock echoes through the apartment, I feel my heart pound harder. It's silly to be this nervous, but this is Chris. Things between us have been getting serious, and the thought of him meeting my family makes everything feel more... real. My mom, practically vibrating with excitement, reaches for the door, her hand moving faster than mine.
When she pulls it open, there he is, Chris, standing in the hallway, looking effortlessly handsome as usual in his dark jeans and black turtleneck sweater. He holds a bottle of wine in one hand and flowers in his other. He flashes that charming smile that makes my heart flutter.
