And Mom was right.
It was always worth going all out for love.
Totally.
My hyperventilating this time, as I idled in Gabe’s driveway, waiting for the garage door to go up, wasn’t all good.
This was because his parents’ car was parked behind the man-mobile.
Sure, I could do the meet-the-parents thing when a lot of people were hanging around and drama was ensuing.
No one there to provide a buffer?
Eek!
Since I already ran and hid once, and I didn’t think that was a good look the first time, with no other choice, I drove in next to the Jeep, hit the opener so the door would close, and got out.
When I made it to Gabe’s kitchen, I saw his mom futzing around, as moms had the tendency to do (I swear, I never knew where anything was in my kitchen, medicine cabinet and even makeup stash after Mom stayed, and as such, I was currently bracing for that very inevitability).
She was doing this while the two dudes were out on the deck in Gabe’s square of a backyard, drinking beer illuminated by strings of some kickass outdoor lights.
“Oh, hey there, Willow,” his mom greeted.
I saw Gabe clock me, put his hands immediately to the arms of his (also kickass) deck chair, but I shook my head.
He looked to his mom then me and back again, before he settled in, though he didn’t seem committed to this decision.
“He’s protective of you,” Shelby said, bringing my attention to her.
She’d seen that Gabe was coming to rescue me from a one-on-one with his mother.
“I had a bad boyfriend before him,” I shared. “And no, it isn’t a thing.” I told her when her face closed down. “Though, I don’t think it’ll come as a surprise to you that it’s Gabe’s way to be protective. But Kevin was a jerk. Kevin was a mess. And Kevin is very gone, and now I’m with Gabe.”
I moved to the island, swung my purse off my shoulder and put it on the counter.
“My mom says, there are a lot of frogs but only one is the prince,” I concluded.
Shelby’s expression cleared entirely, and her pretty green eyes lit, because she knew I knew I’d found my prince.
“Your mom is smart,” Shelby murmured.
“She is,” I agreed. “And Gabe’s has a gift for interior décor. He told me you got that butterscotch chair for him. It’s totally rad.”
She smiled, dipped her head to the side to acknowledge the compliment and asked, “How’d it go with your friend?”
“We had to put a lot of oomph in our pep talk before we left, and that’s after we had to force our way in the front door,” I said.
Shelby’s eyes got wide.
“But she didn’t even have to open her mouth to apologize before he picked her up and carried her into his house. So we’re thinking good things,” I finished.
“That’s great,” she replied on a smile.
“Luke talked to me,” I announced.
Now she seemed confused. “He did?”
“About why you guys came down.”
