Mother's&Father's Approach

"Rose, can you help me?"

Once the dinner was over, there just happened to be a basketball match so Ryan and his dad collapsed on the sofa, ready to watch a match like in the old times. The women were not really interested so Ryan's mom invited Rose for a little chat.

"Sure, Auntie!" Rose agreed immediately, grabbing the rest of the plates from the table.

Rose felt like she was sitting on needles the whole dinner, her legs wobbling as she stood up. She didn't know why she felt so nervous in front of Ryan's parents. She already spent so much time around them yet the desire to please them at all cost didn't go away.

Rose followed Ryan's mom to the kitchen and surprisingly, the two cats who enjoyed dinner with them split, Isabella walking after Rose while the Emily hopped onto the sofa, staying with the boys.

"Did you enjoy dinner?" Ryan's mom asked as she moved swiftly, putting dirty dishes into a dishwasher.

Even while being a working mom, she still did most of the chores at home so she moved as if programmed, already used to it. They didn't have the leisure to hire a maid every few days. She didn't mind it, treating it as a stress-reliever from all the work in their company.

Rose helped as she could, grabbing a cloth to clean the kitchen top.

"Well, Auntie will think that I'm trying to please you but it was really tasty. I liked everything, especially those chicken wings. With how Ryan enjoyed it, I definitely need to learn the recipe for that sauce," Rose replied with a smile.

"Of course, I can teach you," Ryan's mom agreed happily and pulled her closer, whispering, "Talking about Ryan, did you notice anything strange with him lately?"

Rose froze when she heard it, thinking they got exposed but then Ryan's mom continued, "He ate very little today. Usually, he eats two or three dishes but today he only ate his favorite chicken wings. He didn't show much appetite."

"Hmm, I don't think so… I thought he ate normally��" Rose muttered in wonder, trying to calm herself down.

Ryan's favorite food changed to blood so naturally, he wouldn't show much interest in stuffing himself with food. Just eating for the taste was enough.

"Well, maybe I'm over-thinking…" Ryan's Mom muttered, gazing at Ryan from the distance. "Might need to observe longer."

"I'm sure he is okay. He is a big man already and would say if something was wrong," Rose pointed out.

"Yeah, you are right."

Just as they both looked in their direction, Ryan's dad turned around and called out, "Honey, will you pass us some beers? The match already started."

Ryan's mom rolled her eyes and motioned at the sofa, "See what I have to deal with?"

Rose only giggled and watched as Auntie walked towards the fridge and called back, "Mike! Do you want light or dark?"

"Two light!" Mike, Ryan's dad called back without turning around from the TV screen.

"Rose sweetie, will you pass them the bottles?" Ryan's Mom asked as she reached out with two beers and Rose didn't mind at all, grabbing them.

"Sure, Auntie."

The coldness from the beers felt refreshing, so she pressed the bottles against her cheeks as she walked.

"Here you go, uncle," Rose called out as she extended the bottle above Mike's shoulder.

Mike grabbed the bottle, fully engrossed in the match. "Red Bulls are winning with ten points already! I'm sure we will get the title this season," he commented excitedly.

"That's great!" Rose shared his enthusiasm and reached out to Ryan as well. "Ryan?"

He caught the bottle with one hand but just as she was pulling her hand back, he grasped it and tilted his head backward. He didn't let go of her so she figured what he wanted.

Giving Mike a side glance, she lowered herself and kissed him, holding onto his jawline with both hands. Drops from her wet fingers traveled down his neck but he didn't seem to mind.

Rose wasn't as bold as him so the most he got was a short peck before she forced herself to pull away.

"Thank you," Ryan said lovingly, not shying away from showing his affection, even within his parents' presence.

If Mike turned around and commented, she would definitely burst in redness but thankfully he didn't, watching the match intensely.

"Enjoy."

Rose walked back to the kitchen while letting out a big sigh of relief when she saw Ryan's Mom stare at her with a teasing smile.

It was obvious that she saw the whole scene.

"Auntie, don't say anything… It's embarrassing…" Rose suggested, bracing herself for the incoming comments.

"Haha, I didn't want to," Ryan's mom replied in laughter. "I'm just happy you two match so well together. I hoped my son finds a perfect girlfriend but he exceeded my expectations."

"Auntie, you are too much… No one is perfect."

Ryan's mom seemed to like her answer a lot as she corrected her, "You can call me by my name. I'm Evelyn but you can call me Eve. Auntie sounds old."

"Okay, Au— Eve."

Rose almost made a mistake but corrected herself.

Eve only smiled and called out excited, "Anyway, look what I found!"

Only then did Rose notice two wine bottles on the kitchen top which Eve grabbed and danced with happiness, her smile widening.

"How about we drink some while we watch old photos from Ryan's childhood?"

Eve didn't give her a choice as she turned around and walked out of the kitchen. "Follow me."

Rose didn't have a choice but to comply, knowing very well that when a future mother-in-law proposes you a drink, you just don't reject it. Rose wasn't a heavy drinker, or rather, she had never been drinking much. The most she drank was a glass or two during dinner yet Eve was holding two full bottles of red wine.

Did she want them to drink one each?

They stepped on the steps to hang out in the library as the living-room was taken when Eve stopped as if she recalled something.

"Wait, I have something for you," Eve said as she passed the bottles to Rose. "Wait here for me."

Rose got confused but Eve didn't explain, skipping towards her bag that lay on the cabinet. She searched the insides for a moment before pulling out a small square.

When Rose recognized the object, she couldn't help but turn bright red, caught by surprise.

It was a strawberry flavor condom.

"I figured you don't carry one on you so I bought it for you. A woman should always be prepared," Eve explained as she slid the condom inside Rose's jumper pocket. "I would give you mine but Mike doesn't like them so I moved to pills instead. You are still young so you shouldn't use those yet."

Too many details!

"…"

Rose didn't know what to say but Eve found it completely normal to talk about, continuing as she took over the bottles of wine.

"You two are already sleeping with each other so it won't be long before you have sex. I'm sure Ryan will have his own so treat this as an emergency," Eve suggested. "I know Ryan's is quite energetic so you might need more than one but well, then you will need to get another one yourself."

"Mhmm…" Rose nodded shyly, feeling up the square in her pocket as if she was carrying a bomb.

She never really talked so openly with her mom about it so she found it quite shocking but after her mind calmed down, she felt it was quite nice. Having someone for sensitive matters like those.

Rose also realized from whom did Ryan get so shameless.

"Thank you," Rose acknowledged the help with a smile.

"You are welcome," Eve replied and walked upstairs. "Let's go. Wine won't empty itself on its own."

———

While the girls did their own thing, the boys were the boys, sipping beer and chilling.

"How are you with Rose?" Mike finally asked when the trainer of one team called for a time-break. "I heard she spent the night at your place. I hope you are not just trying to smash. She seems nice."

Ryan smirked at his dad's bluntness and shook his head, "I'm not. I think she is the one for me."

"Oh, already that confident?" Mike asked surprised. "Aren't you two dating for only a few days?"

"How long doesn't matter. There is something special that connects us," Ryan replied vaguely. "Also, I don't think I will ever find a better woman than her."

"True, she is really a beauty. Looks smart too," Mike pointed out and patted Ryan on the shoulder. "I'm happy for you, son."

Huh?

Mike's expression changed as he felt Ryan's shoulder.

"Since when are you so buff?"

Ryan pulled up his shirt to show his perfectly carved abs and teased, "I have been working out lately. Jealous?"

"Damn you, showing off in front of your father," Mike cursed and ignored him. "When I was younger, I was even more ripped."

"Hahaha, sure!" Ryan laughed happily, knowing very well it wasn't true.

Mike rolled his eyes and pointed at the TV while shushing him.

"Shhh, watch the match instead of talking. They resumed."