“Yeah, I still can’t believe you used the iconicSnakes on a Planeline for your movie quote.” She chortled. My sister had been at that interview too, so she’d witnessed the whole thing.
She’d quotedBring It Onand got the job. I’d quoted Sammy boy and got slack jaws of astonishment from all—myself included.
“Great, now I’m even more nervous.” I scowled. My mouth tended to get me intoa lotof trouble when I felt jittery, and right now, I felt every bit as jittery as that day I did my best Samuel L Jackson impression—f-bombs and all—in front of two managers and ten other interviewees.
I didn’t evenlikethat movie, but I blurted the line out anyway.
Good times.
“Look at it this way, you can’t do much worse than that interview.” She grinned, picking up her purse from my bed. “Text me and let me know how it goes. I need to go home and sit on Elliot’s face or something.”
“Ew.” I laughed. Shaking my head, I headed to my closet, my eyes quickly landing on the brown ankle boots. I snatched them, following Kelsey into the living room, tugging them on as I went. “Well, you have fun with that.”
“Leave the Sammy quotes at home, okay?” Kelsey joked as she waited beside me in the hallway while I locked up.
22
End Piece
Alaric
“So, tell me a little about her. What’s she like?” Mom asked, turning on the tap to wash the lettuce. She glanced up at me, flashing me a knowing smile.
My mother was naturally intuitive, and I was never able to hide things from her. Before I even had a chance to tell her about Gwen myself, she sensed something was different in me.
Then Sawyer flew down the porch steps, loudly declaring that I had a girlfriend and she was coming for dinner before Mom had even gotten out of her vehicle.
“She’ll be here soon,“ I pointed out, arching a brow. Mom gave me a look, one that I knew meant I wouldn’t be getting out of it so easily. I smiled, shook my head, and continued rubbing the dry herb on the steaks. ”She’s funny, beautiful, smart, and talented. She’s writing a book.”
“Really?” Mom smiled, her eyes softening while I spoke about her. “How did you meet?”
“At a bar. I was watching my realtor’s band play a gig, and she was there.” I told her, washing my hands.
Tig let out a rumbling bark to let us know someone had pulled into the driveway. I dried my hands on a towel and tossed it onto the counter.
“She’s here!“ Sawyer shouted with excitement, racing past me down the hall with her braids flapping behind her. She opened the door and flew onto the front porch. I followed behind her, shaking my head and chuckling at my daughter’s exuberance.
Gwen stepped out of the car, tucking a bottle of wine beneath her arm. Her brown boots crunched against the gravel, and she wore her dark hair in long waves down her back. She looked refreshing and gorgeous, and I couldn’t help but press a tender kiss to her lips when Sawyer’s back was turned.
“Come meet Grandma!” Sawyer exclaimed, grabbing Gwen’s free hand and tugging on it, leading her the rest of the way inside.
Tig was occupying a lot of space in front of the door, his tail wagging happily. He licked at Sawyer’s face when she passed, and she let out a giggle, dropping Gwen’s hand to push Tig’s face away.
“Hi. You must be Gwen. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Mom said, smiling warmly and extending her hand. Gwen took it, shaking it with a shy smile.
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Petersen.”
“Please, call me Barb.” Mom laughed. “Oh, is that wine?”
“Sure is.” Gwen nodded, holding the bottle out to her. After grilling me needlessly, I’d told Gwen what her favourite wine was.
“You’ll have to have a glass with me,” Mom said as four of us—and Tig—headed back to the kitchen.
I took Gwen’s hand and tugged her back to me. She caught herself, hands splaying against my chest. “You look beautiful,” I told her, loving the colour that stained her cheeks.
“Thanks,” she murmured, her eyes dropping to my chest and lower before she stepped back, giving herself distance we both seemed to need. If she continued looking at me that way, I’d have a hard time keeping my hands to myself. Already, I was struggling.
“Big glass or a little glass?” my mom called out, effectively dousing the moment.
