“Hey, we’re here,” I said, kissing his temple.
Sucking in a deep breath, he blinked slowly. “Wow, it feels like we just got in the car.”
“I think you were so stressed you zonked out.”
“Mm.”
I tilted his chin up and kissed his lips. “I know meeting the parents is a big deal for a lot of people, and maybe it is a big deal, but to me it feels like the most natural thing in the world. I just… I think you need to meet them, but it’s your call. We can turn around and leave if it’s too much.”
Still moving slow, he lifted his shoulder. “Maybe I’m too overwhelmed to do my usual worrying, but it doesn’t feel that weird to me. It’s not like I’m meeting them for the first time. I remember them being nice, back when we were in school.”
“True. But you’re sure you’re good?”
“I am.” He looked around as he stretched into another yawn. “Can’t believe Canyon Lake is only an hour away. It’s like a completely different place.”
I grinned, happy he’d been willing to go through with this hasty plan. “We’ll eat brunch on their back deck, which overlooks the lake. I’m hoping the view will make you feel better.”
He nodded and sat up, more awake. “Sounds like it might. Let’s go in.”
We got out of the car, and by the time we reached the front door, Mom was already opening it. “Augustus! It’s so nice to see you again. Look at you, all grown up.”
Walker flushed, and Mom was immediately charmed.
“Is that them?” Dad called from the kitchen. “I’ve got our brunch fixings ready.”
He walked out of the kitchen in a floral apron—again, so lucky I got my fashion sense from my mother—carrying a tray loaded down with various delicious breakfast and lunch items. Mom went ahead of him to get the door to the deck, and he set the tray on the table while I grabbed the carafe of fresh coffee.
“Wow,” Walker said as he followed me onto the deck. “You were right about the view. I do feel better.”
The lake sparkled in the sunshine, and the trees went on for miles, as if Mother Nature were putting on a show just for him.
“Hope you like your coffee strong,” I said, pulling out a chair for Walker.
He looked at the chair and gave me a shy smile.
“What?” I asked, nudging him. “Never had someone pull your chair out for you before?”
He shook his head. “Not gonna lie. That was really sexy.”
Mom chuckled, and heat rose in my cheeks. “Just sit down.”
Grinning, he complied. Mom and Dad sat across from us, and we passed around food until everyone’s plate was piled nice and high. One of the things I loved about my parents was that they knew not to intrude, even when they were curious.
After the first round of coffee, Mom brought out the mimosas, which barely held any orange juice at all. By the second mimosa, Walker’s smile had eased.
“Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh. What a treat to attend a family meal that doesn’t devolve into crying and finger-pointing.”
They laughed along with him, even as they sent me sad looks. Mom reached out, grabbing Walker’s hand. “Are you all right? You look a little… haunted.”
Walker glanced at me. “Did you tell them what happened?”
I shook my head. “Told them there’d been a confrontation, but I didn’t give them the details. I figured you should decide what you want people to know.”
He turned to them, the line reappearing between his brows as if he was searching for traces of judgment. He wasn’t going to find any.
After a pause, he said, “When I first moved into my own place, I gave my mom a key in case of emergencies, but then she started letting herself into my apartment whenever she wanted. I asked her to stop, more than once, but she ignored me. That became a bigger problem this morning when she walked in on me and Oz.”
Mom put her hand over her mouth. “Oh my God. Were you two in the middle of…”
