“Um, no, I’m fine,” Ray said.
Ray glanced at Sloane. “But you know that Sloane was shot, right?”
Sylvia finally glanced at her son. “Oh, I know!” she said. “But it was just a graze, wasn’t it? Are you okay, sweetheart?”
“I’m fine, ma,” Sloane said with a shake of his head, a wry smile on his lips.
Luther cleared his throat.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Ray said. “Dad, this is Sloane’s mother, Sylvia. Sylvia, this is my dad, Luther.”
They shook hands and while they talked, Sloane pulled Ray into his side. “You okay, babe?” he asked.
She nodded. “Just a little tired. I can’t wait to get home and have a bath.”
“Come on,” he said. “We’ll go now.”
She nodded, grateful.
Sloane turned to his mom and Ray’s dad. “Ray’s tired and wants a bath. I’m taking her home.”
“But of course,” Sylvia said. “Sloane, you be sure to bring Ray over to dinner again soon.”
Her father, who did not like to be outdone, said, “And I expect you both for dinner at our house, too. Ray, you have yet to introduce Sloane to your mother.”
“Um, okay, sure dad,” Ray said.
“And maybe we can have a big family get together after that,” he said. “With Sloane’s family.”
Sloane was staring at her father wide-eyed as if wondering if he’d been body snatched and Ray had to admit, that had been the first time in her life that her father had suggested such a thing, and she’d had boyfriends before that they’d known about. It made Ray hopeful that her father was accepting of her relationship with Sloane. She certainly hoped that was the case, because Sloane was it for her now, and she wanted them all to get along.
They said their goodbyes then headed over to Ray’s car. After they got in, she gave a last little wave to everyone, then they headed home to her condo.
“Wow, it’s been one hell of a day,” she said.
Sloane reached over and put his hand on her knee. “Let’s try not to repeat it ever again, okay?”
She smiled across at him. “That sounds like a plan. How’s your shoulder?”
Sloane shrugged. “I’ll live. How’s your cheek?”
“Stings a little, and the skin feels tight, but I’ll be okay—though I feel like I need a vacation to get over the past week.”
Sloane grinned. “How do you feel about Alaska?”
Ray chuckled. “I was thinking more like Cabo or the Bahamas. You know, sun loungers and cocktails?”
When Sloane winced, Ray threw her head back and laughed. “What, you don’t like lounging in the sun?”
“Babe, polar bear shifter,” he said, pointing to himself. “You know, the big white animal that lives in the snow and ice?”
She pursed her lips to keep from laughing. “Oh, right. I forgot.”
“How do you feel about a week in each place?” Sloane asked.
“That would work,” she said with a nod.
“If you play your cards right, I might even show you how I fish.”
