I let out a breath. “Your family’s here.”
He knitted his brow. “Okay. Was there an emergency?”
“I don’t know. I think they’re just shopping.” Or hunting. For me.
He glanced at the door. “Did they ask to see me?”
“No. I ran here before they could say anything.” I wiped my sweaty palms on my thighs. They probably thought I was hiding. Sending out their golden boy would be a nice peace offering.
He placed his hand on the center of my back and led me to the computer to punch out for a break. “Let’s go say hi, then.”
I dragged my feet. “I can’t take a ten yet. Andre assigns them. I’ll just wave from the display.”
He frowned and rubbed my waist. “Are you trying to avoid them?”
I shrugged. An imaginary choker tightened around my neck. “I’m just not sure how well they should get to know me. You don’t want me influencing the babies, and Shelby seemed not so jolly.”
“That’s not because of you. My family is… Here, come with me.” He strode ahead to push open the doors to the main floor, blasting light on our faces. “Hey, weirdos.”
“Zack,” the kiddos cried, thundering toward him.
“And Nicole?” May shrieked and tugged on a woman I hadn't met.
“Hi.” I closed the door and stayed halfway behind Zack, hoping he made a nice linebackerandquarterback to protect me from projectile cousins.
Joon repeatedly pushed at various parts of Zack to spar with him. “Can we see the warehouse?”
“No,” he said, his hands up to block the shots. He was immovable as always.
“Why not?” Joon complained.
“We’d have to put a box over your head to sneak you in. You might get shipped to Canada by accident.” My boyfriend playfully tapped the back of his cousin’s head.
Joon blinked and screwed up his brow. “Canada?”
“Where the geese live,” his mom explained.
May pouted at the door. “I don’t want to hang out with geese.”
“They’re poopy and mean,” Joon agreed.
“You two’d fit right in,” my boyfriend said.
“Zack.” I laughed and nudged his arm. The audacity of this man. “Be nice to your cousins.”
Shelby mustered up some cheer. “Canadians can be nice, eh? They have maple syrup. And snow.”
Zack’s mom, Coral, nudged the kids toward the warehouse door. “Go on. It’s cheap world travel.”
“Noooo.” The kids clung to the woman I hadn’t met yet.
She offered me a tired smile. “Hi, I’m Zack’s aunt, April. The family has told me a lot about you.”
“Good things, I hope.” The stupid joke stuck in my teeth like gum on the bottom of a shoe.
Coral patted Zack and me as if to push us together. “Of course good things. All good things. How are you?”
“Fine, thanks. Just working.” I gestured to the sales floor.
