“What are we eating?” Cage asked, getting up from the couch.

“I brought over food for a couple of days, so we will just eat from that. I’ll send over more later on. Your dad will arrive in an hour.” He pulled her onto her feet and hugged her.

“Thanks for understanding, mom.” He kissed the top of her head.

“I can see that you’ve never felt this way before. I am so happy for you.” She sounded teary and he was going to have none of it.

“Does this mean, dad has another chance to tell me how the two of you fell in love?” he asked with a chuckle.

“Yes, for the hundredth time.” As they waited, the talk of when he planned on telling her he loved her came up.

“I probably told her already, but I don’t think she believes me. She’s been burned in the past. Her fiance cheated and got another woman pregnant. She walked in on them and he asked her if she wanted to join.” His mother’s eye widened in horror before uncontrolled anger brewed in them. She had very little tolerance for cheaters and jerks. That was why he grew up becoming a gentleman. She would have disowned him otherwise, especially after becoming famous.

“I’d hope she peeled the man’s skin and tossed it in the bin. What is his name?” Her tone her promises of violence. Rarely was she angry enough to threaten bodily harm. Cage felt the need to reassure her, but he didn’t know how.

“Jonathan. But I have no clue what his last name his.” He shrugged.

“She’s probably too nice to do anything to him, so I will find him and help her out a little. Only if she wants, though.” She scoffed.

“Shouldn’t you send her a thank you card for leaving her? That’s why I met her.” He laughed. “She met a wonderful man.”

“Narcissist,” his mother said with a smack. “Yes, I would think you are the most talented and handsome man in the world even if you weren’t my son.” She rolled her eye. “But she didn’t need to go through that. I advise you to take it slow and show her your sincerity. You’ll have a hard time, though.” She smiled at him.

“I know.” His mother went to the kitchen and started to pull out the dinner set he had never used. They had cost quite a bit, so it was good to make some use out of them.

He pulled his phone out and saw Katherine’s message. He was about to reply when he heard his mother call. He scurried off to his bathroom and washed up, knowing his mother would ask. No one sat at his mother’s table without being prim and proper. They were simply asking for a beating otherwise.

He would call Katherine about the shopping trip later on. They hadn’t video chatted before, so maybe she could model the things she bought. Now, that was an idea he could stand behind.

“Cage?” he heard his mother called from outside the bathroom door. He jumped.

“Coming!” His perverted brain conjured images that were downright sinful to think about while his mother was standing on the other side of the door.

“Hurry up!” she replied and thankfully walked away. He calmed himself down, clearing his head of the multitudes of images of Katherine in various pieces of clothing. When he looked at himself in the mirror, he looked perfectly normal and ready to head out and face the others.

He hurried the kitchen and saw his mother plating the food. “Do you need my help?” he asked.

“Were you talking to Katherine?” she asked slyly.

He had obviously taken far too long to wash up. “No, no,” he said all too quickly.

“Okay, you took fifteen minutes to wash up.” She giggled as he sighed. “Don’t worry. I’ve been there. Now, don’t groan. I know you don’t want to hear any of it, but you are living proof.” Cage had a conflicted look. “I often send your father dirty texts when I am between classes and know that your father is composing. It either inspires him or he forgets about his work. He’s learned to ignore them when he is working over the years.” She held back a sad sigh.

“Please stop…” he finally knew where he got his dirty texting genes from and he didn’t know whether he should be proud of disgusted. As she had said, he was living proof.

“Heat the plates,” his mother said, changing the topic quickly. There was a flash of mischief in his eyes that he couldn’t hide. Cage hoped in his heart that after 30 years of marriage, he too would feel this deeply about Katherine.

It was already that every time he spoke to her, his heart wanted to burst with affection. It grew more profound as the days passed.

Just as his thoughts floated, his front door opened. He placed the plates in his microwave and went outside to greet his dad.

“Hey,” he said, pulling his dad into a hug.

“Do you want to take another shower?” his dad asked gruffly. Cage shook his head, knowing his mom had been quick to tell his dad that he had spent a little too long in the bathroom. These two.

“No. Wash up and head in. We’re just heating the food.”

Within five minutes, the three of them were seated.

“You must see Katherine,” his mother gushed.

“Who’s Katherine?” his dad asked absentmindedly. Typical dad. He was probably thinking about something.

“Stop thinking about work. We are talking about your son’s girlfriend!” Her tone was all too serious.

“Oh, right. Your mom told me about the girl you like. How did that go?” Now, he was all too interested. He loved some good old gossip and putting his nose in his son’s love life. Nothing more fun than to compare if his son had gotten their romantic genes.