Danielle
SUNDAY AFTERNOON, I was standing in Austin’s bathroom applying a little lipgloss when he walked into the room, his usual biker uniform nowhere to be seen. He still wore the jeans and cut I loved a little too much, but he had on a long-sleeved, soft T-shirt a deep blue that matched his eyes.
I smiled and tilted my head. “You look unbelievably hot, if not rather conservative.”
“Meeting your parents, babe. Want to be respectful.”
I slid my hands to his neck. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” He grinned and kissed me quickly. “Ready?”
I nodded and followed him out of the bedroom and grabbed my purse. He took my hand as we headed to the garage and opened the truck door for me before climbing in himself. We stayed connected as we drove to my parents’ home and it helped calm my excited nerves.
My parents lived in Felida, a place that used to be filled with farms and berry fields. Now it was filled with mini mansions, newer custom homes jammed close together, and some of the higher earning executives in the Portland metro area chose to live here. My parents’ home overlooked the river just off Lakeshore. I had been born in this house, as had my brother and sister. But the sad reality was, that unless I got my money back, I’d never be able to afford to live in the exclusive area.
Austin pulled his truck into the driveway and parked. He jogged to my side of the truck and opened the door, pulling me close and kissing me once I stepped out.
“Nervous?” he asked.
“Excited,” I said. “You?”
He grinned. “Once I meet your family, it’s forever, so, yeah. Excited.”
I snorted. “Even if you weren’t meeting them, honey, you’re kind of stuck with me.”
He kissed me again. “Even better.”
He opened the back door of the truck cab and grabbed the flowers he’d brought for my mother, the wine I chose for dinner, and then locked up his truck.
I took the wine and linked my fingers with his, tugging him to the door. My parents rarely locked the front door, so I pushed it open and giggled when I found my mom walking towards us. “Have you been watching from the window?”
She laughed. “I won’t answer that question.”
“Good idea,” I said, and pulled Austin forward. “Mom, this is Austin. Austin, this is my mom.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Harris.” He handed her the flowers.
“These are beautiful. Thank you.” My mom pulled him in for a hug. “You can call me Brenda. Come and meet the rest of our crazy crew.”
We followed my mom to the back of the house where the kitchen and great room were filled with my family. Elliot took over the introductions while I joined my sister and mother in the kitchen to help.
“Crap,” my mom said. “I’m one stick of butter short.”
“I’ll run next door and see if Missy can spare one,” I offered.
“Thanks, honey, that would be great.”
