Graham and Audrey arrived at Porta Bella Restaurant soon afterward. They walked in and were seated.
Graham asked if she liked stuffed mushrooms and they got those for an appetizer. Graham order the Old World Combo Platter and Audrey ordered the Portabella Mushroom Ravioli. Graham loved how their conversation flowed so well and the awkwardness was gone. He also just loved looking at her, wanting to memorize exactly how her lips curled into a smile and her eyes crinkled as she laughed. He loved how she bit on her bottom lip when she was trying to concentrate, it made him want to kiss her every time she did it, which was a lot when they had been at the Library but not as much while eating dinner. Of course her licking the sauce off her lips didn't stop him from that train of thought either.
"So how did Gina rope you all into doing the DNA test with her?" Graham asked.
"We're all in the same class together so it just made sense for all of us to do it." Aubrey answered.
"But I can't imagine it will tell you anything surprising since you know all your family, right?"
"That's generally true, but out professor did say that sometimes you find cousins you didn't know about because grandparents weren't always as faithful as we'd expect, and they aren't forthcoming about those affairs either. He's heard some interesting results in the past." Aubrey explained.
"So Gina and I could really be cousins but maybe like half cousins, is that even a thing?" Graham pondered. "Or is that just a step cousin?"
"That actually came up in class. A step cousin would be if your aunt married another man and he had kids already so you're technically not related to them. A half cousin is if you share one grandparent not both. And then you can also get into removed and degrees of removal, with generations and I just get lost." Aubrey explained.
Graham laughed, "You knew more than me. Having only one living relative that I know of makes it a bit more difficult to imagine a huge family tree."
"Do you know what happened to your parents?" Aubrey asked. "If you don't mind me asking."
"I'm fine with you asking, it's been years and I honestly don't really even remember my parents since I was so young. I was staying at a friends house because my parents had a Christmas party or something and were getting home late. The house caught fire that night that they didn't get out. It was a total loss so I don't have anything from my parents or the first few years of my life." Graham explained. Aubrey nodded and Graham was glad she didn't say anything so he could continue, "My dad was an only child and my mom had one sister, my Aunt, she took me in and raised me. She never married so it was just the two of us. She was great when I was a kid but not as good with a teenager, but she tried."
"Thank you for telling me, you seem to be doing well despite your traumatic childhood." She winced, "Probably not the best thing to say. However, I do think some parents are naturally better with younger kids and some are better with older kids. My dad was great when I was young and my mom was when I was a teenager, so I feel I had the best of both worlds."
"I am doing well though so I'm not offended. It is in part to my housemates, they have helped me overcome some of my issues and we're more like brothers now. To be honest one of the reasons I'm so driven in my schooling is because I want to show my Aunt I can do it and become successful. She didn't want me to leave the farm and tried to convince me to stay. I am glad I didn't listen to her. I would have been miserable staying there." Graham trailed off.
"Was it that bad?" Aubrey asked.
"No, but staying there would have been. I never liked farming, not like my friend Chase. He loves it. I endured it. I'd hate to have to go through life enduring my occupation. I love what I am learning and can't wait to do it in the future. It fascinates me, and I love seeing the patterns and analyzing them. But childhood was a bit lonely sometimes, I think my Aunt did a good job being a single mom. Like I said the last few years were more strained, I think partly because I was wanting more freedom and she wanted me to still be like 5 and obey everything she wanted me to do." Graham laughed, "Of course, I didn't and it just drove us apart. Now it doesn't help that we don't see each other much anymore. I'm going for a few days during Spring Break, but that's not what I usually do, and she might come for my graduation. That'll be it until Christmas."
"So you didn't go home for the summers?" Aubrey asked.
"Not after the first one. It is just easier to stay here and a lot more fun!" Graham answered.
The waitress brought the check and Graham paid. He took her hand before she was able to put her glove it and the walked to her apartment. The tingling sensation that crept up his arm from that gesture was more than he'd felt with any other person in his life and he loved it. He loved the feeling of her hand in his, her soft skin touching his hand.
As they reached her apartment, Graham felt nervous. He really wanted to kiss her but wasn't sure if he should. He wasn't sure of her feelings toward him and didn't want to assume she was feeling the magnetic attraction he felt. He also just wanted to embrace her for a long time and hold her close.
Graham decided to start with a hug, he pulled her close and held her. After a minute he tilted his head back and looked at her. As Aubrey gazed up at him he saw the desire in her eyes and leaned down to brush his lips against hers. He'd intended it to be a short and sweet kiss. But once their lips touched he didn't want to pull away. Neither did she by the way her had found it's way to his neck and held him close. Graham relaxed and enjoyed it.