“But this feels serious.” I violently rake my hand through my hair to get out the tangles. I didn’t even use conditioner. “Have you met any guys’ parents before?”
“A few times. My high school boyfriend’s parents for one, but try not to think of it as a big deal. Just think of it as dinner.”
Unease spreads through my limbs. “What if they don’t like me?”
“That’s what you’re worrying about?” She shakes her head. “Kady Sinclair, you’re amazing! You’re pretty, smart, funny, and one of the most loyal people I’ve ever met. They’d be crazy not to like you.”
“But I’m Richard Sinclair’s daughter.” I drop down onto Hale’s bed, briefly considering crawling under the covers andhiding here forever. “What if they saw me in the papers? The Blandon Pack and I have been plastered everywhere.” I can hear Hale talking on the phone, so I’m pretty sure he can’t hear me, but I lower my voice anyway. “What if they’re mad at me because I got their son’s whole pack locked up in jail for a night?”
A million different scenarios of how this could go wrong are racing through my head. Wouldn’t they prefer Hale to date a Rose Harbor local? A sweet girl who knows how to shear sheep and make cherry pies? Not someone with a media mogul monster for a father, who owns a feral cat, and who is so stubbornly independent that she doesn’t even know whether she’s capable of love?
“That was a misunderstanding.” I appreciate Delilah’s reassurance, but I don’t think anything could calm my frazzled nerves right now. “And you’re not your father, Kady. Just be yourself, okay?”
I nod, chewing on the inside of my lip so hard that I make it bleed.
“Aside from dinner, how is everything going?” She smirks. “Your hair looks different.”
“Frizzy is the word you’re looking for.” I finger the mop on my head, but I can’t stop a tiny smile from forming. “I’m having a good time. That’s all.”
“Kady?” I jump when Hale knocks on the door. “Are you ready to go?”
“You better go,” Delilah winks at me. “Have fun.”
“Thanks, Del.” I force a smile. “For everything.”
“I’m your number one hype woman, you know that.” She straightens, heading back to the mixer. “Text me later.”
I wave and hang up, feeling a little better than I did before.
Hale grins as soon as he sees me. “Nice shirt.” His plaid shirt drowns me, sitting around my knees, but it kinda looksokay with the rain boots. I’m sure I’ve seen celebrities in similar outfits at Coachella.
I roll my eyes. “Are we going or not?”
Hale seems really excited as we follow a rocky path up to the main house. He talks during the walk, but I struggle to pay attention to what he’s saying, anxiety gnawing at my insides.
“Wow.” The word unconsciously escapes me when I see the house. Unlike the small vacation cottage, it’s a mansion.
Before Hale can reply, his mom throws open the door and paces to greet us. She’s short, around 5′1′′, and I can instantly tell that she’s an omega. Arms outstretched, she smells like baked bread that’s just come out of the oven.
“You must be Kady!” She pulls me into a mammoth hug that catches me off guard. I’m not used to being hugged by people other than the Stellas.
She doesn’t break away for a while, holding on tightly and stroking my back. It’s been years since I’ve been hugged like this by an older woman, transporting me back to my mom’s comforting embrace, a place of safety. Her scent even reminds me of my own mother, who smelled like sugar-dusted cookies. Being in her arms instantly puts me at ease, my nerves dissipating as she pulls back.
“Pearl didn’t do you enough justice.” Hale’s mom looks me over, smiling warmly. “She said you were pretty, but you’re something else.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Valen.” I hope my face isn’t flaming red.
“Call me Winnie. Come in, come in. Let’s get out of the cold.” She waves her hands to beckon us inside before launching herself at Hale. “Mom’s can never have too many hugs.”
Their house is decorated similarly to the cottage, in hearty autumn colors. There are pictures all over the hallway walls, many of them Hale at different ages—Hale riding a bicyclewith chubby knees, Hale wearing braces in a middle school photograph, Hale holding his high school diploma.
Winnie notices me staring at a picture of a baby who looks like a flesh-colored potato with eyes.
“He was a gorgeous baby.” She pinches Hale’s cheek. I contain a laugh at the look on his face. I guess a mother’s love is also blind sometimes. “Always so handsome.”
“Mom.” Hale cringes, turning his head away. “Kady doesn’t want to see old photos.”
“Maybe later.” She winks at me. “Follow me through. I hope you’re both hungry. Food’s waiting.” She touches Hale’s arm, giving it a loving squeeze as she leads us to the dining room. “Your dad’s already at the table.”
