A Doggone Date II
Ling adjusted the hem of her sweater as she stood outside the door to Orm's family home. She wasn't sure what she'd expected when Orm had insisted she come to dinner, but the warm light spilling out of the windows and the faint sound of laughter coming from inside made her heart beat a little faster.
"This is a bad idea," Ling muttered under her breath.
"Relax," Orm said, standing beside her with a grin. She was holding a bottle of wine in one hand and looking far too calm for someone who'd basically strong-armed Ling into this situation. "They're going to love you."
Ling gave her a sharp look. "I'm here because you made me come. This isn't a real date."
"Right. Totally," Orm said, her smirk widening.
Before Ling could argue, the door opened, and a tall woman with warm eyes and short, neatly styled silver hair stepped out.
"Orm! There you are." The woman's gaze shifted to Ling, and her smile grew wider. "And you must be the date."
Ling blinked. "Uh—"
"This is Ling," Orm interrupted smoothly, handing her mom the wine. "Mom, don't scare her off before she even comes inside."
Koy raised an eyebrow, her expression playful. "If she can survive you, she can handle me."
Ling bit back a laugh, and Orm shot her a mock glare.
"Come on in," Koy said, stepping aside. "Dinner's almost ready."
The house was as warm and inviting as it looked from the outside. There was a faint scent of rosemary and garlic in the air, and the dining table was set with mismatched plates and holiday-themed napkins.
As they entered the living room, Ling was greeted by a cheerful older man—Orm's dad, apparently—who waved from his spot by the fireplace. A younger woman who bore a striking resemblance to Orm introduced herself as Asa, Orm's sister, and immediately started teasing Orm about bringing a date to dinner.
"So, Ling," Koy said as they sat down at the table, "how did you and Orm meet?"
Ling glanced at Orm, unsure how much she should say.
"Oh, it's a funny story," Orm said, leaning back in her chair. "Her dog tackled me in the park this morning."
Koy's eyebrows shot up. "That's how you met?"
Ling sighed, feeling her cheeks flush. "To be fair, Bao's usually much better behaved. He just... really liked her for some reason."
"Well, he has good taste," Koy said, her tone warm and teasing.
Orm grinned. "See? Even the dog thinks I'm irresistible."
Ling rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling.
Dinner was an experience. Orm's family was loud, cheerful, and full of questions, but they also made Ling feel surprisingly welcome. Koy asked about her work, Asa wanted to know if Ling had any embarrassing stories about Orm yet, and Orm's dad kept offering her second helpings of everything.
Somewhere between the main course and dessert, Ling realized she was actually having a good time.
"So, Ling," Koy said as they lingered over slices of pie, "is Orm always this charming, or is she putting on a show for us tonight?"
Ling glanced at Orm, who looked far too pleased with herself. "I'd say about fifty-fifty," Ling said, her tone dry.
Orm laughed, raising her glass in a mock toast. "I'll take that as a compliment."
By the time they were getting ready to leave, Ling felt more at ease than she had all night. As they stood by the door, Koy hugged her warmly and said, "You're welcome here anytime, Ling. Don't let Orm hog you all to herself."
"I'll keep that in mind," Ling said with a small smile.
As they walked to Orm's car, Ling let out a long breath. "That was... intense."
Orm looked over at her, grinning. "See? I told you they'd love you."
Ling shook her head, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "Your mom's great."
"Oh, I know," Orm said, unlocking the car. "She'll probably adopt you if you let her."
Ling hesitated for a moment before glancing at Orm. "Thanks for... everything tonight. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."
Orm smirked, leaning against the car. "That's high praise coming from you."
Ling rolled her eyes but couldn't fight the warmth spreading through her chest.
As they got into the car and drove away, Ling thought about Koy's parting words—and the way Orm had looked at her all night. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all.