Sloane
“Are you sure that this is a good idea?” Ray said, wringing her hands for the third time in as many minutes. “Perhaps we should wait a little while before we do this.”
Sloane let out a throaty chuckle. “Babe, if we wait any longer my mother is likely to track you down herself. Trust me, it’s for the best that we meet them all now and get it over with.”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, so Sloane put his finger to her lip then pulled it down again, releasing it.
“Will you quit worrying? It’s going to be fine. I promise.”
“What if they don’t like me?”
“Are you kidding me? You’re my mate. They’ll love you.”
Ray didn’t look convinced.
Sloane pulled out his key then used it to unlock the front door of the home he shared with his family, and no sooner had he pushed it open than his mom was rushing up to greet them. She took one look at Ray and then burst into tears.
“She’s so beautiful,” she sobbed.
Ray blinked.
“Ma, you promised you wouldn’t do this,” Sloane said around a sigh.
“I’m sorry,” she cried. “It’s just that I’m so happy. I wish your father could have been here for this day.”
She reached out, grabbed Ray and pulled her up against her chest, hugging her tightly and crying harder.
“Ava!” Sloane shouted. “Will you come and get Mom? She’s crying all over Ray!”
Sloane heard his brothers laughing from somewhere in the house and vowed to kick their asses at his earliest convenience. Just as his sister appeared at the door that led to the kitchen, Sloane’s mother let go of Ray.
“No, it’s all right,” she said with a hiccough. “I’m okay.”
Sloane rolled his eyes just as his sister stepped forward.
“Ray, this is my Mom, Sylvia, and my sister, Ava. Guys, this is Ray.”
Sloane smiled proudly, his chest puffing out like a damn peacock.
“Pleased to meet you,” Ray said, right before his mother grabbed her and hugged her again.
“My daughter,” she said, then started crying again.
Sloane sighed. It was going to be a long day.
“You know, I just realized that your names are reversed,” Brody said, walking out of the kitchen with a sandwich in his hand.
Their mother let Ray go then turned around and hit Brody upside the head.
“Ow,” he groused with a wince.
“What did I tell you about making a sandwich? We’ll be having dinner soon.”
“But I’m starving,” Brody whined.
“What do you mean about our names being reversed?” Sloane asked as they all made their way into the living room.
“Well,” Brody said. “It’s obvious. Ray’s got a man’s name and you’ve got a woman’s name.”
