“Why don’t you ask your boyfriend to join us?” her father says.
Her mother huffs and rolls her eyes to the sky. I guess Rose did find his balls and reined his wife in. At least somewhat.
“What?” Eden asks. “Really?”
“Really,” her dad says.
“And then he’ll see we’re too normal for him and will leave you the hell alone,” her mother says.
Ignoring her, I stare at her husband.
“Serena, we talked about this,” he says as if he’s exasperated.
Serena throws both hands in the air in defeat. “Fine. Nobody’s going to blame me when this blows up.”
“Thanks a lot, Mom,” Eden says.
I take Eden’s hand in mine and kiss the back of it.
“Well, I don’t like it,” Serena Rose says. “But I’ll keep my opinions to myself. If you and your special friend want to join us.” She gives me the side eye before she gestures toward the house.
“Special friend?” Eden says. “What are we? A couple of lesbians?”
An involuntary chuckle wants out, but I suppress it.
Serena Rose takes a few steps closer and points at her daughter’s face. “If only you were a lesbian, because you wouldn’t be with him if you were.”
“Stop pointing in her face, Serena.” Sheriff Rose finds his balls and puts his wife’s hand down.
She’s lucky he did it before I had to.
“Sorry to disappoint,” I say, trying to sound as bored as I feel. “But, I’ll stay,” I say with fake sincerity. “Thanks for the invitation.” My girl wants this bubblegum shit, that’s what I’ll give her. Then, I’ll take her home and fuck her until she goes blind.
It’s a warm day, and we follow her parents to the backyard. I’ve never been back here before, and it looks like a garden. There are tables and chairs, and several adults and kids running around.
Eden stops walking and looks up at me. “Are you sure?” she asks. “I would never make you stay if you don’t want to.” She puts her hand on my chest and looks into my eyes.
I believe she would never force me to be here, but I also know she wants this type of shit. I’ve never had family, so I don’t want or need this, but it’s different for her.
“I want to be here with you,” I assure her while I stroke her cheek. That’s the truth, and my reward is the way she’s looking at me right now. No one has ever looked at me like that before, and I don’t know how I’ve ever lived without that look. Or this woman. “Forever,” I add.
“Forever? Well, let’s hope this barbecue doesn’t take that long.” She slaps my chest and giggles as we resume our walk.
There’s a woman who looks like Eden’s mother. She stares at me with wide eyes. Then, her eyes roam my body.
“I’m Betina but everyone calls me Aunt Betty. I’m Serena’s little sister.” Unlike her unfriendly sister, Aunt Betty gives me a real smile. She offers me her hand, and I take it. “Serena’s fit to be tied,” she whispers. “But I told her to chill. Come on. Let me introduce you.”
The introductions go from shock to disbelief, but are not unfriendly. Not until I get to Sylvie Rose Gaston, who looks at me as if I’m a cross between the devil and a demon.
She’s holding a baby, and she shields his face from me.
“Mom and Dad can’t be serious,” she hisses at her sister.
“Mom and Dad are,” Sheriff Rose says. “Knock it off, Sylvie. This does not concern you.”
“Dad, my kids are here,” Sylvie says. “Youronlygrandkids,” she reminds him.
“Well, no one has ever accused him of eating little children, so relax,” her dad snaps. “Not everything is about you.”
