22 - Parents

Ian waited until they were on the train to touch her. When she stepped onto the sidewalk smiling, he had a powerful urge to kiss her right there. With only standing room, he held her steady with one hand on her hip and his other hand grasping the overhead pull. With his legs spread, he balanced better and held her against him. Her shampoo drowned out the smell of the train, a combination of body odor, perfumes, garlic and a hint of curry. Ainsley had led him to his regular commute, so when they switched trains at Government Center, the outbound train was packed.

She whispered. "Sometimes the red line is less crowded."

He smiled. "Next time we'll go your way."

She chuckled. It shouldn't feel so good to be with her after a week. Once on the sidewalk, they discussed dinner.

Ainsley said, "I'll cook tonight."

Ian smiled. "I'll take you out tomorrow night."

"Like a date?"

He laughed. "It's obvious." He started to say more, but sucked his words back. He needed to bring it up. They had agreed to be honest, so he would lay it out. "Um, are. Are you still doing the online stuff?"

Ainsley stopped walking. He turned to face her slightly smiling face. "Seriously? Why would I want to continue that torture when I can get wet with you?"

He smiled as relief spread. "Wet and dirty."

"But seriously, this is my first attempt at dating in my thirties, so I don't know if dating is even the right word. Even in my twenties, I never slept with more than one guy. Aside from obvious health reasons, it's not right. So no more swiping right for me as long as we're getting..."

"I get it."

"Like the puddle. I haven't bothered, but I'll mute my profile."

Ian nodded. He couldn't ask her to take it down. He reached up and scratched his neck. No, he definitely couldn't ask that.

When they reached their building, they went in opposite directions. He went to feed Felix, change his clothes, and do his exercises which only took about fifteen minutes.

When he entered her small apartment, it smelled of garlic. She looked busy mixing something in a small bowl.

"Smells good. What are you making?"

She smiled. "My famous shrimp tacos. You can assemble your own."

In front of him, she had chopped tomatoes, floured tortillas, fresh snipped green onions, and a cut avocado. She put down the bowl with a creamy mixture. "My special sauce."

He let her go first and followed. Ian was never a picky eater. Growing up in New York City, he had been exposed to lots of different ethic foods. In his experience, shrimp or fish tacos came from restaurants, and were not something made at home. He folded the small tortilla with the tidbits inside and bit into it. Some of the sauce dripped onto his hand, but he didn't care.

"Delicious." The sauce was special. "I'm impressed." He almost joked about it being too bad that neither liked marriage. David teased about marrying Rose for her cooking skills, Ian was skeptical since Rose worked so much. "What else can you cook?"

"I just started cooking the past two years, so I can muddle through. This is my signature dish, but I can change it up with chicken too."

"Next week." He winked.

"What can you make?"

He paused. "You experienced my pasta."

"It was good. Hey, did you ever meet with HR?"

He frowned and nodded. "I shouldn't talk about it."

With all the meetings, it was one big headache. Even Oliver Sumner, from operations, and Josh Roche, from legal, were involved. None of the women complained about any of his team making advances. There was a very thin line that they may have skirted. The maximum repercussion would be some mandatory training.

He shook his head hoping to dislodge the stress. "You said you had a bad day."

She sighed. "Somehow my sister found out I have a new friend."

"Somehow?"

"It's not a mystery. I told my best friend, and I imagine the telephone game started. I'm surprised my mother hasn't called."

Ian nodded. "Sounds like last weekend. Brooke to Rose to my Dad with my uncle in the mix. Was that it?"

"Yes. No, there was drama in my department. There's this guy, and he's basically a jerk to, um, one of my coworkers. Another coworker mentioned he's that way because he likes her. Why would a guy be that way?"

Ian froze for a second. Henry. It had to be. "Why? Because he's a jerk."

"Did you pull ponytails?"

"Me? No. I was too afraid of getting in trouble. Does he pull her ponytail?"

"No. Just her proverbial ponytail."

He laughed. Henry was full of himself, but he was alright unless he vented about his nemesis. Ian had also suspected he liked her. Ian would have to keep his ears open. Maybe he should come clean about knowing Henry, but then he would end up explaining how he knew Oliver well enough to forward Henry's resume. He felt guilty for bringing Henry in to torment some woman. Too much guilt.

"You look worried."

He sighed. "The help desk thing, but..."

"I know. You can't talk about it."

Ian left after they watched three episodes of Schitt's Creek together. Ainsley couldn't believe he hadn't seen it. He liked it, especially watching with her. Her laugh warmed his insides and sitting close together felt nice. Just being with her was becoming his favorite place.

Proud of himself, he left without getting dirty. Friday night was a different story. After a nice dinner, they ended up in her bed. He didn't care whose bed, although Gunther was more interested in watching than Felix. Her cat didn't really watch, but he tried to ruin the mood by giving himself a bath.

Content with Ainsley pressed against him, Ian wasn't in a hurry to leave her warmth. He woke and looked at her clock, four am. Instead of sulking back to his apartment in the middle of the night, he let sleep take him under.

When he opened his eyes, Ainsley was watching him sleep. "Did I invite you to sleepover?"

"I think you fell asleep on your guest."

She laughed. "I must have. Coffee?"

"Later?"

She giggled as his fingers explained the reason for the delay. As much as he enjoyed waking up to sex, he decided weekends only. Unfortunately, he had the symphony and dinner, so he would sleep alone.

As they enjoyed their coffee, he asked, "Do you have plans tonight?"

"Everyone is busy. It's okay. I've spent plenty of Saturday nights on my own. I might go food shopping."

Ian looked at his watch. "My order is coming soon. I have to go." As he opened her door, he said, "Come over when you're dressed, unless you have plans."

He told himself it was the newness. In time, he wouldn't want to spend every waking moment with her. The novelty would wear off.

They spent the day together, including him accompanying her to Whole Foods. With Ainsley, he forgot how much he hated food shopping. He would have to adjust his order as she started some impromptu meal planning for the week ahead. He might have been bothered if he didn't enjoy sharing meals with her.

Reluctantly, he looked at the time. Ainsley had been curled up against him as they made progress into the first season of their binge. Six seasons of the Rose family's antics gave some relationship security. Otherwise he would have to google how it ended, because he wouldn't watch it alone.

The episode ended, with another starting in two seconds. "I have to change to go out."

She pressed pause on the remote and turned her head toward him. "Can I see you dressed up?"

He chuckled. "It's only a suit."

"I haven't seen how you clean up."

"Because I go to work dirty every day."

She laughed. "I hope not. You'd be the one in HR."

Ian laughed as he stood up. "Stay, if you want. You can help with my cufflinks."

Her face beamed. "I'm impressed, no buttons."

Andrew Gillespie was a classy man and some of it had rubbed off on his son. Although Ian wasn't wealthy, he was accustomed to it. After one last look in the mirror, he emerged from his bedroom. She looked up with a smile.

"Do I look presentable?"

Her mouth gaped open. "You. You look more than presentable. Handsome."

He smiled, as she approached him. Ainsley ran her hand over his shoulder before tugging on his tie. He captured her lips in a lingering kiss until his phone vibrated in his pocket. Dragging his lips off hers, he said, "They're here."

Her eyes widened. "Will they come up?"

Kurt had borrowed his brother-in-law's car. "No parking. You're safe."

She laughed. "Have fun."

He followed her out the door. She walked towards the stairs while he went for the elevator. On the ground floor, he stepped outside and slid into the backseat.

"Hi, daring." His mother greeted him. "Are you excited about this evening?"

"Having dinner with my parents. The ones I thought only tolerated each other my entire life."

Kurt said, "They more than tolerated each other when they were nineteen."

"Kurt! Don't tease. You'll make poor Margot uncomfortable."

Ian coughed. "Over a one-night stand and logistical parenting for the eighteen years that followed?"

"Darling, I never realized the quality of my interactions with your father bothered you. If I'm completely honest, I resented the time I had to send you away, but I always admired his commitment to you and fatherhood."

Ian would bet a hundred bucks they were all thinking of Olivia's father, but there wasn't a Sumner in sight so no betting was necessary.

Ian thought of the amount of condoms he had been using in the past week. He had spent more than one night with Ainsley, but wouldn't want to have a conversation like his parents must have had thirty-five years ago.

Anita said, "Ian, tell me more about Margot."

"I met her twice. She's nice enough. I can tell he likes her. They have some friends in common and music of course."

"Do you and your new girl have friends in common?"

Henry, but Ian wasn't sure it was a good thing. "Other than her meeting my cousin, we haven't met each other's friends." Maybe if they continued to get along, he would introduce her to Seamus and Josie.

Kurt said, "Isn't your cousin a child?"

"Brooke is ten. My uncle left her with me for a day. We spend a lot of time together."

"You should be a dad."

"Mom, I like her because I can give her back." Did his dad feel that way about him? "My father did the same with me."

"Your father kept you for entire summers, not an afternoon. I remember because I spent the summer missing you."

Unease crept in. "I'm sorry, mom."

"Sweetheart, it wasn't your fault. Your father and I did the best we could. We both love you. I know we've had this conversation before, but we never considered any other option. We didn't know we needed you, but we wanted you."

"I know. I've never questioned your love, but I think you should hope Livvy gives you grandchildren."

Kurt scoffed. "Livvy doesn't date. She's too busy running things."

"She's always been good at it." Even three years younger, she bossed Ian around.

They arrived at Symphony Hall and found their seats. Half way through the concert, Ian wished he had eaten a snack, because he wasn't used to late dinners. He remembered his first concert when he sat with his grandmother, after he had just started playing piano. Seeing his father on stage looking like a star, Ian lost count of the concerts he had attended since.

At the start, he pointed to Margot for his mother. After the standing ovation, she leaned over. "It was wonderful."

Kurt looked less enthusiastic as he yawned. Ian asked, "Did you fall asleep?" He shook him off. The music exhilarated Ian, but he had seen snoozers. His mother went ahead and Ian looked back. "I won't tell."

They waited in the lobby for his father and Margot. "There they are." Anita stepped forward. "Andrew, it was amazing. Thank you."

Andrew beamed. "Anita, you look younger every year." He kissed her cheek.

Ian never remembered them together.

"Hello Margot. Nice to meet you. Ian has told me wonderful things." Margot lapped up her embellishments. "My husband, Kurt."

After introductions, they stepped out onto the sidewalk. "I have a reservation. It's a five-minute walk. Can you handle it?"

"Dad, they walk in the city."

Andrew nodded. "I was asking about your knee."

"It's fine."

His knee was the topic of conversation until they reached the restaurant. After their drinks arrived, Anita said, "I want to hear more about your girl."

"Can we keep talking about my knee?"

Andrew said, "No. I'm curious too."

"I like one parent at a time. There's not much to tell. She lives in my building and we've had dinner a few times."

"Brooke likes her."

"She had lunch with me and Brooke last Sunday."

Margot smiled. "You like her. I'm happy for you."

"Thank you." He turned to his stepfather. "I was dealing with a sticky situation last week." The others talked while he told the help desk story.

"Tricky. Your sister is good at handling tough situations. She's the one to talk to."

"Josh and Oliver are on it."

Luckily, the rest of their night continued without more questions for him. When they arrived back in front of his building, the basement apartment was dark.

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