Nick and Riley’s relationship blossomed more and more as weeks went by. The talks of starting an actual relationship never came into play. There was a mutual understanding within unspoken words that they will just let time take its course and not categorize what they have. Riley no longer resided with Nick as his house cleaner and cook, but as something more than that. She still did the occasional cleaning and cooking but of her own free will and Nick never once asked her to do any of it.

“Hey guess what?” Nick implied as he stormed into the house as Riley vacuumed the living room carpet, he walked to her and turned the vacuum off and led her to sit on the couch

“What’s up?” Riley asked as she reached for her hair and fixed her ponytail.

“My mom invited us for dinner at their place tonight, she wants to meet you,” he said without a smile on his face

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I can’t tell because you’re so serious,” she chuckled

“My mom’s…she’s quite a character. Very uhm…she’s just…hard to please, that’s all. I couldn’t say no to her mainly because it wasn’t an option, we HAVE to go to dinner to their place tonight”

“Okay, I guess it’s dinner with the Carter’s tonight!” Riley kidded, hoping to lighten up Nick’s mood. “What are you so worried about?”

Nick leaned in and gave Riley a small peck on her cheek. “You’re very special to me, you just remember that. And everything that my mom may say tonight, just…just ignore her! She’s not exactly one of the light-hearted people out there!”

“Duly noted,” Riley said while getting up to continue her vacuuming.

Nick leaned back on the couch while running his hand through his hair. Jane Carter was a woman of many words. She always makes sure she gets the last word in. She is also the type that has very high expectations. And because of this attitude, it worried Nick a great deal of introducing Riley to his mother. All he could ever really do is cross his fingers that nothing disastrous will come out of the evening. He cared about Riley a great deal and he didn’t want to see her get hurt by his own mother.