Breathe Again

Chapter 42

Meanwhile, back at the office...

Rob:

Rob was pushing to get everything done so he could head home and get ready before the girls got to the apartment.

Nate and Johnny had left to go get lunch so they could all work and eat at the same time.
When they walked in the door, Johnny tossed a small white paper bag to Rob and he caught it and opened it to see a fresh chocolate chip cookie and smiled, then Rob was hit with confusion, "How did you know?" he asked.

"Oh, we just happened to run into your girlfriend that happened to give you up on this little secret." Nate smiled mischievously.

"You saw Madi?" Rob asked a little surprised.

"Yes, her and her Mom and Sister were having lunch at the café when we walked in to pick up the food." Johnny said with a triumphant smile.

"You got to meet them already?!"

"Yep, and they had said that they just came from Woods Exhibit, so chances are they met Rick too." Nate said unpacking the food from the bags.

"Unbelievable. I have been waiting at stressing about meeting them, and half of you have already met them." Rob said annoyed.

"Relax, yours is more important anyway since last I checked the rest of us aren't dating and living with their pride and joy." Johnny reminded him.

"Yeah, no pressure." Rob said as they started eating and finalizing that month's submissions.

They finished and left the office around 4:30, so Rob had plenty of time to change and clean up before the girls arrived.

He was in the middle of cleaning out the coffee filter and refilling it when he heard keys in the lock. He quickly wiped his hands off and stood behind the kitchen island, looking at the door waiting to see the women he knew were on the other side.

"You're here early." he heard as soon as Madi came through the door and saw him standing in the kitchen.

"Well, the guys and I worked through lunch, but I guess you already knew that. Thanks for ratting me out about the cookies." he said jokingly.

"I was just trying to help everyone involved." She said with a bright smile.

"Rob, this is my family. My Mom Paige, and my Sister Gracie." Madi told him as he looked at them both.

"And this is Rob, my Boyfriend and Roommate." Rob looked back to her with a smile that she returned.

He made his way around the counter to shake her mom's hand, "It's so nice to finally meet you both. I hear I'm one of the last ones to do so." he joked.

"Oh yeah, we already met all of the other good-looking men. I think he wins Madi." Gracie smirks.

"Oh geez." Madi says exasperated with a hand on her forehead.

"It's nice to meet you Rob. I would apologize and warn you about this one here," her mom said nodding to Madi's sister, "But if you can handle Madi, then I'm sure Gracie will be a breeze." her mom joked to him.

"Hello, standing right here!" Madi said waving her hands in front of her.

"Yes, you are. Now show us where you live so we can stop imagining it being like a sterile hospital room." Gracie said as she showed herself down the hall.

Madi just looked back at Rob and shrugged, and then he stole a quick kiss as they showed her family the rest of the apartment.

After the tour they headed down to the car and to a restaurant overlooking the harbor for a sunset dinner. It was an absolutely beautiful site, but not as beautiful as the strong women surrounding him at the dinner table.