Mr. Gardner

Birthday Part 2

Mila's POV

"Mila, dear it's good to finally meet you! John has talked non-stop about you to us!" John and I walk in the door to his parents house and his mother immediately gives me a hug saying this.

"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Mulaney!" I say, returning the hug.

"Mom you didn't need to tell her that I constantly talk about her..." John says, embarrassed about his mom saying the truth to me.

"Oh it's true, John. Don't be embarrassed, it means you truly care for her. A lot of men these days aren't like that. Mila, please come in and have a seat, dinner will be ready soon!" I nod and follow her inside to the living room. John's parents live in a nice big house full of family photos and cute nick-knacks. My parents house looks like a dungeon compared to this.

"Would you like anything to drink? We have water, champagne, wine, lemonade, and iced tea." John asks me as his mother returns to the kitchen to finish cooking the meal.

"An iced tea sounds great. I can get it, though." I say, starting to stand up from the couch.

"No, I can get it for you. It's your birthday you don't have to lift a finger." John says, pushing my shoulders for me to sit down as he disappears in the kitchen to get my drink.

"This is weird..." I whisper, not used to being treated like royalty, especially on my birthday.

"An iced tea for my lady. Dinner will be ready soon, is there anything you wanna watch on TV?" John comes back, handing me a glass of the amber liquid as he sits next to me with his own glass.

"It doesn't matter, I'm sure once we find something to watch dinner will be ready." I say and John shrugs, setting the remote down and turning to me.

"Okay, we can talk in the meantime." He says and my heart drops. Does he need to tell me something?

"About what?" I ask, a little nervous for some reason and John furrows his brows.

"Anything. Did you think I had something bad to tell you?" He asks and I laugh nervously, shaking my head.

"No, I just wasn't sure with how you initially said that we can talk. I'm used to that being a bad thing."

"I have no complaints about our relationship. I really like you, Mila. I wouldn't have had you meet my family if you weren't special to me." John says seriously as he lightly grabs my hands.

"I know, John. I really do appreciate all of this. Remember, it's just weird to me to have people who really care about me for once..." 

"I know, but it's my job to show you a life you deserve surrounded by people who care for you." I smile and he gives me a hug and a kiss on my cheek.

"Dinner is ready!" John's mom yells throughout the house. John and I pull away and stand up to go to the kitchen. "There you crazy kids are! Mila, I hope you like ham and green bean casserole."

"Who doesn't like ham and green bean casserole?" I ask as I sit down at the dining table next to John. 

"I knew she was a keeper, John." His mother says as I see John blush a little.

"You said dinner is done?" A man who I presume to be John's father walks in.

"Yes, hun. Make your plate so we can say grace." The man grumbles whilst making his plate.

"Dad, I'd like you to meet Mila, my girlfriend." John says, getting his fathers attention.

"Oh! My apologies, I completely forgot. Mila, it is so nice to meet you!" John's dad turns his attention to me and attempts to shake my hand with his plate in his other hand. I return the shake before John's father sits down. "I've been doing work all evening, my brain is complete mush. Isn't it also your birthday, dear?"