Hell's Smitten (Gordon Ramsay x Reader)

Chapter 86- Hey Platter Platter...

Tuesday, July 16th, 2013

As we settle into our booth, I glance around the room. To our left is Taylor and her family and to our right, Bella and her mother are seething at each other. Their collective tenseness radiates from them in waves while Bella's little girl looks around the room, blissfully unaware. I can't see any further from where I'm seated, but I can hear the deep laughter of Red's fiancé over the other table's chatter without trying.

Taylor catches my eye and wiggles her fingers, then elbows her brother and points at me. Lance does a half-wave and I wave back with a small smile.

Evelyn clears her throat and I turn to look at her, still smiling.

"You must be someone very special to have captured my son's attention."

I duck my head shyly. Before I can respond, Abel speaks.

"She is."

My cheeks flush and I feel Abel lace his fingers with mine.

"Take good care of him, (Y/N). I don't want my son's heart broken the first time he lets someone into it." Atlan adds. I feel his piercing gaze on the top of my head and raise my eyes to meet his.

"I will, I promise." I say, meaning my words.

Gordon moves from Taylor's table to Red's table in my peripheral vision. Abel squeezes my hand, drawing my attention gently.

"I know Ramsay already introduced everyone, but I feel like I should still let you know a little about them." Abel gestures to his sister across the table. "She's Jane, my little sister, and aspiring actress. We usually spend time together on holidays since I've been taking apprenticeships, but that doesn't stop her from spending half that time bickering with me."

"What can I say? There aren't too many people that can keep up in a verbal spar, and I like to hone my talents." Jane sticks out her tongue at Abel before shooting me a dazzling grin.

"Then there's my father." Abel nods to Atlan. "He's dedicated his life to collecting and researching artifacts from around the world and displaying them for the general public at Texas's second-largest museum."

"There is much to be learned in our history, young lady." Atlan sets his hands on the table and steeples his fingers. "One can hope to prevent our failures from repeating themselves by learning from our past mistakes."

"I can certainly understand that." I nod.

"For your sake and the sake of the world, I hope so." Atlan's eyes are steely.

"Oh honey, please, no apocalypse talk at the table, don't go frightening Abel's girlfriend away!" Evelyn lays her hand on Atlan's arm and he glances over at her.

"Sorry for Atlan's dramatism, I think Jane must have inherited her theater talents from her father." She pats his arm. "I'll go ahead and introduce myself. I'm Evelyn, but you can call me Mom or Mama."

She absentmindedly runs her fingertips across Atlan's arm. "I'm a veterinarian for exotic species.  You know, like iguanas, sugar gliders, and mice. Those sorts of cuties."

"Do you guys have any pets? Exotic or not?" I ask.

"We do! We have a Fennec fox named Quicksilver, or just Silver. He was abandoned at the front door of the vet's office in a carrier crate. It didn't take but one look into his little cage to fall in love with him." Evelyn beams as she recalls her little fox. "Abel hasn't met him yet, but he's seen my countless videos and pictures of him so he knows him well enough. I'd show you a picture, but we weren't allowed to bring our phones in."