“Thanks for theride, Harm,” I called.
“You’rewelcome,” he called back.
“Where’s thefire?” I asked as she nearly pulled my arm out of its socket.
“New recruits,”she whispered.
“Okay, honey,calm your tits.”
She pausedbriefly and fluffed up her boobs. She was ample in that regard, so she startedto spill out of her V-neck T-shirt. “I willnever.”
I chuckled, followingher through the little lobby area, then into the great room. It was alreadyfull of our family and friends.
My mother made abeeline for me, pulling me in for a tight hug. “Hey, honey. How’s my girl?”
“Good, Mama.” Ileaned back and took her in. “Good lord, you’re supposed to be getting old,woman. Why do you just get prettier?”
And it was true.She was in her fifties and looked closer to thirty, her blonde hair still long andher face still void of wrinkles. She currently wore a pair of skinny jeans anda Harley-Davidson long-sleeved T-shirt with a pair of knee-high boots. Icouldn’t stop a laugh, considering the fact we almost matched. I glanced aroundthe room, and no surprise, my dad’s eyes were locked on us and started his waytoward us as we hugged.
She narrowed hereyes. “What do you want, Ducky?”
I laughed.“Nothing. But I reserve the right to keep that compliment in my back pocket fora later date.”
She cupped myface. “I’m so proud of you and acing your finals, baby.”
“Not sure I acedthem.”
“Of course, youdid. With how hard you work? How could you not?” She wrapped her arm around myshoulders. “You’re a rock star.”
I leaned intoher. She was my biggest fan. She always had been, and I didn’t know what I’d dowithout her.
“Thanks, Mama.”
“Hey, babygirl,” Dad said once he reached us, leaning down to kiss my cheek.
“Hi, Daddy.”
“Any issuesgettin’ here?”
“Harm deliveredmetout de suite, safe and sound, as you can see,” I sassed.
“I see thatFrench degree is payin’ off,” he retorted.
I smiled. “Speakingof that… do either of you care if I skip the walking ceremony in June?”
“Hell, no,” Dadsaid.
“Not at all,”Mom said.
I sighed inrelief. “Oh, thank god.”
My parents laughedand Dad pulled my mom against him. “You kids go have fun. I’ve got plans foryour mom.”
“Ew, gross, waytoo much information,” I complained.
Dad pulled heraway, his hand squarely on her ass and I rolled my eyes turning to face mybestie again.
“Did you get thehot neighbor’s number?” Teagan asked.
