Jennifer's mother was not the type of woman who was easily impressed.
Mother's eyes narrowed slightly as she sized up Rolly.
"I heard you're a cook now," Mother said, tone sharp but curious.
Rolly blinked. "No, I'm working at Pandora Corps."
Mother's brow lifted. "As a cook?"
"Section chief," Rolly clarified evenly.
"Oh," Terrence's mother drawled, "your mother must be so proud."
Rolly's mother came over now. "What's this, Rolly? I thought you said you had work?"
Rolly just smiled. "The meeting just ran long."
"So your son is in Pandora Corps?" Terrence's mother asked testily.
Rolly's mother sighed. "Don't remind me. He is too busy flying everywhere. I don't know what kind of work needs a man to fly every other week."
"Oh, a high flyer, huh?" Mother asked.
"What's the point of being a high flyer when you can't even greet your mother at a party?" Rolly's mother scolded.
"Sorry," Rolly apologized.
Rolly's mother shook her head. "Already 40, and still not married."
Jennifer's mother shook her head too. "My Jenny too."
Rolly's mother eyed Jenny. "At least your Jenny is still so pretty. My boy is too fat. That's why no woman wants him."
Wait, did Rolly's mother not know her son was Ronan the Dragon? The dragon among men. The guy women secretly watch videos of and sigh over? (Come on, Jennifer couldn't be the only one!)
"Actually, Mom." Rolly took Jennifer's hand. "Jenny and I are dating now."
WHAT?
Jennifer wasn't sure where the combined shout came from. She was too conscious of the large, warm, calloused hand that was holding hers.
She had never considered her own hands as soft or dainty, but when she looked down at their joined hands... she felt her face turn hot.
"Yes!" Jessica decided she had to help her sister out. "Mother, don't you remember Jenny said her boyfriend was coming? Tada!"
"Yes!" Elsa announced. "Mom, isn't this great! Rolly's been crushing on Jenny for years!"
Rolly winced. He wasn't expecting his sister to announce that part.
"A section chef at Pandora Corps?" Mother considered it.
Rolly added, "I've just been transferred to the HQ at PAU recently."
Mother's eyes immediately lit up. "Oh! My Jenny is living there now. Aren't you, Jenny? That's the university just down the street."
Jennifer nodded politely. "Down two streets," she corrected, keeping her voice neutral.
Mother, never one for subtlety, beamed at her daughter. "Jenny, you should show Rolly around your city! Take good care of your boyfriend, help him settle in."
And then to Rolly's mother, "Oh dear, my Jessy is getting married this year too! I don't think I can take marrying off two daughters in a year!"
"We just started dating, Mother." Jennifer tried reason, but she was too late.
"Next year," Rolly's mother compromised. "You know these two aren't young anymore."
Jennifer wanted to say something. Anything to stop the madness. But Rolly smiled at her, his eyes twinkled, and he tugged her hand to leave with him.
"Alright, next year," he promised their mothers. "Meanwhile, I'll work hard to make her happy every day."
Wth.
But Jennifer didn't think Rolly had to work that hard. She was already so happy she couldn't stop the smile on her face.
The rest of the party felt like a dream... Maybe Jennifer had one too many champagnes, but Rolly held her hand a lot, and they laughed together a lot, and met a lot of old friends.
Some had kids.
Some grew fat (but no one could beat Rolly. Jennifer wasn't sure why, but she was so proud of him for that. He wasn't even her boyfriend).
A couple had awakened too.
Flynn had a super sense of smell.
Hank had quickened reflexes and the ability to sense danger.
"Like Spider-sense," someone tried to explain.
They had been working in Pandora Corps' Search and Disaster (SAD) for the last 20 years.
It was all hush-hush because, you know, until last weekend, the Pandora Box, Awakeners, and alien portals were just an online game.
But now the cat's out of the bag, no thanks to the portals opening all over the world.
It had started near PAU, but now it's happening across multiple countries.
"It's gone crazy," Flynn said. "The system broke."
And then they laughed as if a computer game had glitched.
Was no one worried about the end of the world?
No, they were more curious about Rolly's awakened power.
"Guess," Rolly smiled.
"Is it something to do with eating?" someone asked.
Jennifer had found the best thing about being Rolly's date was that you could eat as much as you want and still look like a small eater.
"Rolling," someone joked. "He'd just roll over the enemies."
Rolly patted his stomach. "The monsters just bounce off this."
And everyone laughed, and the guys took turns patting his tummy too. They thought it was a hoot.
And then someone suggested a reunion tomorrow since so many of them were in town this weekend.
A hotel venue was volunteered. Someone was working as a manager there. "I have some privileges."
It was a five-star hotel with ballrooms and meeting rooms known to host political summits, royal diplomacy, and celebrity events alike.
"But we're just using one of the smaller lounges."
"Maybe we might meet celebrities!" someone gasped.
Jennifer was too drunk on champagne, cake, happiness, love. She didn't know which, but when Rolly asked her, "Wanna go?"
Jennifer beamed. "I'll go if you go."
Rolly smiled. "Okay."
Okay. Music to her ears.