Chapter 18 The Childhood Home

I woke up the next morning to kisses on my face. Slobbery, wet, stinky kisses. Murphy was stood right in front of me on my bed, licking my face repeatedly.

"Murphy, gross!" I exclaimed as I sat straight up. I wiped my face to get the slobber off. Murphy just stared up at me, innocently.

I slid off my bed, and made my way to the kitchen. On my way out of my bedroom, I grabbed my phone. As I looked at it, I noticed a bunch of texts from the family group chat. As I checked the texts I got Murphy his breakfast.

Who wants to have dinner tonight? - LawyerBoi

Family dinner? I'm there - KnightinFleece

Of course I want to have dinner with my kids! When and where? - Pops

The house and let's say, six? - LawyerBoi

Lance can bring his fiance and Ana can bring her new boy - LawyerBoi

New boy? What new boy? - Pops

Wait a minute, Ana is this the same boy we were talking about last week? - KnightinFleece

What do you mean Lance? Ana are you dating someone? - Pops

Anastasia, you better answer me - Pops

I rolled my eyes before I answered.

Dad, I am dating someone. Lance, yes it's the same boy. EG, six is fine. - Me

After I texted my family I decided to call Namjoon. Or maybe I should just text him. But he said he would be coming over to watch a movie, so I could just tell him then. But I wanted to hear his voice.

I'm starting to sound like a crazy girlfriend. And I've only been his girlfriend for less than twelve hours. But he would want to hear my voice as well, being my boyfriend now.

So I dialed his number before I could change my mind. After three rings, he picked up.

"Hello?" his voice murmured through the phone. I could tell he just woke up, his voice being low and raspy from sleep. I looked over at the clock on the stove to see the time, seven thirty-four. Maybe Namjoon's not used to waking up so early.

"Did I wake you? I'm so sorry," I apologized quickly.

"Ana-AH!" He shouted my name before yelling. A loud thump sounded on the other side of the phone. Namjoon groaned from a distance.

"Namjoon?" I asked worried into the phone.

"Sorry. I didn't expect to hear from you this early," Namjoon said. He sounded more awake.

"So what, you fell out of the bed?" I joked.

"Um . . . yeah," Namjoon muttered embarrassed.

"I was joking, I swear," I said quickly.

"I know, Ana," Namjoon said. "So what do I owe this lovely wake-up call?"

"Dinner with my family is planned for six o'clock," I told him. "I just wanted to make sure you knew."

"Thanks, but you could have just told me when I came over later," Namjoon chuckled.

"I know, but I wanted to hear your voice," I said. Namjoon fell silence on the other side. "Namjoon? . . . You still there?"

"Sorry, my mind just blanked," Namjoon said. "Hearing you say that, made me want you here in my arms."

"That's sweet," I cooed.

"No, I want you here in my arms so I can pound you into the mattress and make you scream my name." Namjoon's voice dropped an octave as he spoke. My panties grew wet and my phone nearly slipped out of my hand.

"Oh. Is-is that . . . is that so?" I stuttered out.

"You know, now that we're dating, you can play along to right?" Namjoon asked, his voice returning to normal. "Phone sex is pretty hot."

I laughed and took the phone away from my face. I ran my hand through my hair. "Is that what you want to do right now?" I asked.

"I mean, you did wake me up from a pretty hot dream about you. Why don't you tell me what you want me to do to you?" Namjoon asked.

"Hmm . . . I want you . . . to get off the floor and get ready to watch a movie with me," I teased.

"Is the movie some sort of foreplay? Because I don't think I've heard of it," Namjoon chuckled.

"When are you coming over?" I asked.

"I have some things I need to take care of before I can come over. I'll text you when I'm on the way over," Namjoon said before pausing. "And by the way, I like pink lingerie."

"I don't own lingerie, Namjoon. Not like you'll see anything like that anytime soon," I snapped. "I'll choose a movie. I'm thinking a musical."

"Oh, I'm going to change the part about you not owning lingerie," Namjoon said.

"I'll see you later, Namjoon," I said, quickly ended the conversation.

"What size are you?"

"Goodbye, Namjoon."

"Bye, Ana."

I hung up the phone as he did. I rolled my eyes. I knew Namjoon was a pervert. I just didn't know how much of a pervert he was. But if I was being honest, I liked that about Namjoon. It made me feel something that I've never felt before.

///

I looked at the clock on my phone. It was thirty minutes until six and Namjoon still hadn't come over. I had cleaned my entire apartment, showered and shaved everywhere, looked at the Ambler murder case three times, and all the cold case files twice, I even went grocery shopping for the next two weeks.

At the moment, I watched Netflix while I cuddled Murphy to my chest. If Namjoon wasn't here, I would cuddle Murphy instead. Even though he said he would text me on the way over, I haven't heard anything from him since our call this morning.

I fell to my side. I realized I was a clingy girlfriend, desperately waiting for a text from Namjoon. I groaned into Murphy's neck. I was pathetic. Was this what being love-struck felt like? Because I was starting to feel useless. I can't do anything because my mind was focused on Namjoon.

I remember when Lance got together with his fiancé, they would spend any available time, talking, texting, spending time together. Am I turning into him? I already didn't want to go to dinner if he was just not going to text me.

My phone dinged, to let me know I had a text. I practically threw Murphy off as I sat up to reach for my phone. Murphy let out a yelp as he fell to the floor and glared at me as I looked at my phone. I apologized to Murphy as I saw the notification was from Namjoon.

I'm so sorry, Ana. Something came up that had to be dealt with. I'll meet you at the address, if you send it to me.

I sighed. I couldn't help but wonder what came up. I wasn't going to ask. I knew what his work entails.

It's okay, Namjoon, it happens. We're meeting at my dad's house. 68464 Bentary Ave.

Can't wait to see you. Movie afterwards?

Perfect

See you there

I then began to get ready. I got dressed in a black and white mini skirt, a black, long-sleeve turtle neck, black boots, and tights. As I got my bag ready, I realized I didn't have a ride.

I quickly grabbed my phone to text Lance.

Can I get a ride?

///

Lance pulled up to our childhood house and I was bouncing in my seat. It was the same house from when we were born to when we all moved out. The cute bungalow house painted blue with white trim. There was flowers and trees all around around the yard that my father kept up because my mom liked them.

"How long has it been since you came home?" Lance asked as he parked the car in the driveway next to the house. Dad's black sedan was parked in front of Lance's car.

"Too long. I haven't been able to get a ride," I said before I jumped out of the car.

I hurried to the door with Lance right behind me. I knocked on the door and didn't have to wait long before the door was opened. There Dad stood, his large belly, his gray hair, and his large smile that he gave to all of us kids. It felt like I haven't seen him in years, but it's only been a few weeks.

"Dadda!" I shouted as soon as the door opened. I jumped to wrap my arms around his neck in a hug, causing him to stumble backwards into the entryway.

"Annie! My baby girl," Dad said as he hugged me back. "You look amazing!"

"Thanks, Dad." I let go of him to step away from him.

"You looking this good for me? Or for your boyfriend?" Dad asked as he looked me up and down.

"A bit of both," I said.

"I'm guessing the boyfriend," Lance said from behind me.

"Lancelot," Dad said as he walked up to hug him. "How's the fiancé doing?"

"He's great. He's really sad he couldn't come, but doing great," Lance said.

"So where's this boyfriend of yours, Ana?" Dad asked.

"He got caught up at work, but he should be here soon," I said.

"Mmhm. You remember what I told you about good boys?" Dad asked.

"Remind me again, Dad," I said, sarcastically.

"Good boys will be on time. They will never make you wait. A good boy will treat you like the most special girl in the world," Dad listed off.

"Thanks for reminding me, Dad," I said.

"Is Dad listing off what makes a good boyfriend, again?" EG said from the still-open doorway.

"Elmer George!" Dad called out and reached up to hug the tallest member in the family. Dad and Lance were the same height at five foot eight, a half a foot shorter than EG. "You're looking good."

"Thanks, Dad," EG said as he pulled away from Dad. "So, Ana, where's Namjoon? Did Mr. Building-Owner stand you up?"

"Building Owner?" Dad asked going to close the door.

"You can ask him about it when he gets here," I said to deflect the conversation.

"Is it because you don't know the answers?" EG teased.

"Not more than you do," I snapped at him. He literally interrogated him last night so he knew the answers as well. "You asked him last night."

"Hey, that's enough, you two," Dad said. "We don't need you two to get in a fight before Ana's boyfriend gets here. What's his name, Ana?"

"Namjoon," I answered.

"Namjoon? Is he foreign?" Dad asked.

"He's Korean," I said.

"I didn't expect you to be attracted to Asian guys," Dad said.

"That's what I said," Lance and EG said at the same time. They looked at each other and laughed.

"Very funny," I snapped.

"Well dinner is ready. Nice and hot," Dad said. "We can go wait in the dining room for Namjoon to show up."

"What did you make Dad?" EG asked.

"The only thing I know how to make, hamburgers and corn-on-the-cob, made on the barbeque," Dad said. "I also got potato salad and chips from the store. And for desert, you know what it is-"

"Marie Callender's pie!" we all cheered. We made our way around the dinner table and sat down. Dad sat at the head of the table, Lance and EG on the far side, near the window, and I sat opposite of my brothers with an to an empty chair next to me for Namjoon.

"I hope Namjoon doesn't mind our single-dad dinner," Lance laughed.

"He'll love it, I know it," I said. "He likes a simple life."

"What is Namjoon like, Ana? Does he treat you well?" Dad asked.

"He's polite. He always has what's best on his mind. And he's very romantic," I said.

"Yes, yes. All the good stuff. What else?" Dad asked.

As I opened my mouth to continue, a knock on the door made me stop.

"I'll get it," I said quickly. I stood up. I rushed over to the door before any of the boys could even move.

I pulled open the door, to see Namjoon standing on the porch. His left hand held him up against the wall and his right arm held a beige coat. I looked him up and down. He wore a mint green button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, white dress pants, and a black belt and black dress shoes. How was he so attractive just standing there?

"Ana," he said with a smile. "You look amazing."

"Thanks, my family has been waiting to meet you," I said. I gestured for him to come in. He walked in and put an arm around my waist. He pressed a kiss against my temple in which I quickly blushed.

I closed the door and led him into the dining room, where my family was waiting. Once in the room, my dad stood up. Namjoon sent him a smile.

"You must be Namjoon," he said as he held out a hand.

Namjoon shook my dad's hand firmly. "Yes, sir. It's great to meet you."

Lance was the next to stand up and reached over the table to shake his hand.

"I'm Lancelot. But everyone calls me Lance," he said.

"It's nice to meet you," Namjoon said. He looked over to EG, who just simply nodded his head at Namjoon.

"We were waiting for you to arrive to start eating," Dad said. "Go ahead and sit."

Namjoon threw his jacket on the back of his chair and the two of us sat in unison. Namjoon reached over, placing a hand on my knee, giving it a squeeze. I sent him a smile as he moved his hand back to his lap.

"I hope you don't mind barbequed hamburgers, Namjoon. It's one of the only things I can cook well. I've never been the best cook," Dad said.

"No, this all looks great. And I can't cook either, so I don't mind," Namjoon said.

"Well dig in," Lance said and reached for burger.