Picture Perfect?

ASHLEY'S POV :

Everybody had a great time at dinner last night , and my family loves Dev almost as much as I do . My aunts were actually shocked when they found out that she can cook , because none of my other girlfriends ever could .
Joanne informed everyone that she refused to let any of her kids go out on their own without having basic skills , so all four of them can cook, to some degree , and at least sew on a button .
By the time everyone was ready to go to bed , Dev and my aunts have exchanged who knows how many recipes , and she heard more embarrassing crap from my childhood than I ever wanted anybody to know . ( Although , to be fair , her family had a decent number of stories about her , too .) But I really knew she'd won them over when all of my uncles informed me that they had unanimously decided that if I was dumb enough to let her get away from me , they would look into having me declared incompetent .
Joanne and my aunts found out from one of the waitresses that there's some sort of an outlet mall a few miles away , so they decided to go check it out this morning , and drag all of the girls along . I'm OK with that , it gives Dev some time with her mom and sisters , and a chance to get to know my aunts and cousins .
It also gives me the chance to do something very important that I need to have done before her birthday . Well , technically , I don't HAVE to do it , but I feel like I should .
I walk around for a bit , and I finally find Rob , just getting back from jet - skiing with Paul and Tony .
"Ash, you should have come out with us ! It was great out there. !" , Tony calls out to me .
"Sorry , man , you got up too early for me ." I tell him .
"So Devlin actually lets you sleep when she gets up , huh ? Consider yourself lucky ." , Rob says , with a smile .
"I do that every day ." I tell him . "Rob , there's something I'd sort of like to have a word alone with you about , if you have a few minutes ."
"There's no need for that , anything you want to say to me , you can say in front of the boys ."
"Well , I suppose they might have an opinion on this , so lets go sit down ." I say .
We walk over to a picnic table and sit down , then I take a deep breath and say . " First of all , I just wanted to let you know that , if you haven't already , you will , at some point , hear some ....
not - so - good things about me . I don't want you to think that I'm trying to hide anything from anyone , especially Dev , so if there's anything you want to know , just ask ."
Rob holds up his hand to cut me off , and says , " We have seen some things on the internet , and the way I see it , most of it is none of our business .What happened in someone's past is no one's concern but theirs . The only thing that might concern me is your reputation as , well , let's say a ladies man , to be polite ."
"I'll be totally honest , yes , I've definitely had my moments , but that's been when I'm single . I have never cheated on anyone I've actually been in a relationship with , and since I've been with Dev , I barely notice that there ARE other women ." I tell him .
"I'd have to say , I'm pretty sure he's being honest about that , Dad ." , Tony says . " That female bartender was hitting on him hardcore , and he totally ignored her ."
"Huh ? When was that ?" , I ask him . I'm totally confused by this . " I don't remember that happening ."
Tony and Paul both completely crack up , almost falling off the bench . Finally , Paul manages to choke out , "Hell , man , ask Dev and Holli , or that short aunt of yours , I know they all noticed . The chick was doing just about everything short of a striptease on the table to get your attention . Your aunt looked like she wanted to go over and bitch -slap her , but Dev seemed to think it was funny ."
"Good , she knows I'm not gonna do anything with anyone else ."
"When everyone finally gets ahold of themselves , Rob says , " If that's all you were worried about , don't . As long as my daughter is happy , we're good . I actually like you , Ashley , which hasn't really been the case with anybody else she's gone out with ."
"I'm glad to hear that ." , I tell him . "In that case , maybe you won't have a problem with this ." As I say this , I reach into my pocket , take out what I've been hiding from everyone for the past week , and hold it up in front of him .
He looks at what I have in my hand , then at me , and asks , "Are you absolutely sure you want to do this , Ash ?"
"I've never been more certain of anything in my entire life . My life feels like it makes sense to me now , this is where I'm supposed to be , and who I'm supposed to be with . Truthfully , it's making me a little crazy forcing myself to wait another two days ."
He looks me in the eye , and says , "Give me an honest answer to one question . If I say I don't like this , will that change anything ?"
I look back at him , and say , "I would be disappointed , but no , it wouldn't ."
"I'm guessing that we probably shouldn't say anything , especially to your mom ." , he tells Paul and Tony . "It might spoil the surprise if she spends the next two days crying every time she sees your sister ."
Then he turns back to me , and holds out his hand . I reach out to shake it , and he pulls me into a hug instead and says , "Welcome to the family , son ."
Wow ! That's definitely a relief !
"Thanks , but first I have to get her to say yes ."
"Don't worry , she will !" , all three of them say in unison .
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Later on , after the girls get back from shopping , I catch up with all of them , and ask Dev , "Was there actually some chick trying to flirt with me at dinner last night ?"
She cracks up laughing , looks over to my aunt , and says , "Now do you see why I'm not worried about her ? He's oblivious !"
"Good , he doesn't need to have anything to do with an over - inflated hussy like that !" , my aunt huffs .
"Don't worry about it , I don't WANT anything to do with her . I have exactly what I want ."
Or , hopefully , I will in a couple of days .

Notes