I must have told Carly a dozen times that lunch with my parents was no big deal, but when I stopped by to pick her and Trent up Sunday, she was a raving lunatic.
“Too slutty?” she asked, wincing as she opened the door to reveal her outfit.
She wore a button-down sleeveless jean summer dress that showed a tiny bit of cleavage and stopped just above her knees, and her red cowboy boots. Her hair was down in big curls that made me want to run my fingers through it, and her makeup was lighter than what she usually wore at the bar.
“You don’t look slutty at all. You look beautiful.”
She didn’t seem to hear me. “The dress is too short, but I don’t have anything longer. Maybe I should see if I can borrow something from Jess.”
She turned away, but I grabbed her wrist, forcing her to hear me. “Don’t change a thing. Not for them, not for me, not for anyone. I want you to be comfortable in your own clothes, sweetheart. Besides, you could walk in there wearing a string bikini and my mom would love you and invite you for the holidays. Of course, we probably wouldn’t make it to the restaurant because I would be ravaging the fuck out of you, but if we did show, Mom would love you.”
She cracked a smile. “You’re such a perv. Always angling.”
I glanced down at the front of my jeans. “Are you checking out the angle of my dangle?”
“Ohmigod.” She threw her head back, swearing at the ceiling as she went back into the apartment. “Come in. I gotta grab Trent.”
Patting myself on the back for distracting her and putting her at ease, I leaned against the wall and waited. Seconds later, Trent came barreling around the corner, shouting my name. The kid was like a puppy, so damn excited to see me that it made me feel like I must be doing something right. I held out my hands and he leaped right into them.
“Stop running in the house,” Carly said as she joined us. “I swear, one of these days you’re going to fall and break something.”
Probably, but which boy didn’t? “You two ready to go?” I asked.
At her nod, we took the elevator to the parking garage and headed out. Carly was wringing her hands as she stared out the window. I reached for the hand closest to me and intertwined our fingers to get her to stop. Her hand fit perfectly in mine, and the warmth of the connection was helping my nerves, too. She looked at our laced fingers but didn’t pull away, and after a few minutes, her shoulders relaxed.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“I found a steakhouse that’s recommended for kids. They have burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, and all that. I’m sure we can find something Trent will eat.”
Her eyes softened, and she looked away. “You’re always doing that… always including him. Making sure he’s taken care of.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” I asked, confused. “He’s with us.”
“Most people don’t pay attention to what he needs or wants. They don’t planincludinghim, they just plan and expect him to fit into what they do.”
“Who are these people?”
Carly clamped her mouth closed.
“Well, in my big family, we revolved around the kids. Plans were made around sporting events and school functions. Us kids were included in everything. You’d think my parents would have been relieved to see us grow up and leave so they could do their own thing, but they’d build a giant house and make us all move in with them if we’d allow it.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Her eyes were misty. “It must have been great, growing up in a big family like that.”
“It was… crazy. But yeah, it was a good childhood.”
“Am I going to meet your mom and dad?” Trent asked from the back seat, sounding almost as nervous as his mom.
I couldn’t imagine being a kid without grandparents. Stopping for a light, I turned so I could see him. “Yeah, T-man, you are. I can’t wait to show them how awesome you are.”
Carly gave my hand a squeeze.
“What was that for?” I asked.
Her eyes had gone soft again. “Thank you,” she said. “For everything.”
Carly
WASP’S PARENTS WERE waiting for us by the hostess desk. I knew it was them at first sight, because the family resemblance was striking. Wasp had gotten his dark blonde hair, grey eyes, and warm smile from his mom, but his height, build, and the shape of his face came from his father. They both hugged him, and then looked my way expectantly.
