“No need for thanks, babe.” He swatted my tender backside. “Now go. Stalling isn’t going to make it any easier to leave, and the sooner we go, the sooner we’ll be home.”
When he put it that way, it was hard to argue. At least he’d be with me so I wouldn’t completely lose my mind while at my parents’ place.
22
Jayden
It wasa good thing I made Chase put the address in my GPS before we pulled out of the driveway. I knew he hadn’t been sleeping this morning. Neither of us had slept last night because he couldn’t relax, and every time he flopped over, he woke me. Not that I’d tell him that. Thanks to the coffee waiting for me when I came down to breakfast, and a large travel mug Mom put in my hand as she hugged us in the driveway, I managed to stay awake for the three hour drive while my boyfriend snored in the passenger seat.
“Hey, sleepyhead.” Chase swatted my hand away and rolled toward the window. The GPS voice told me to take the next exit. We’d be to his parents’ house in under ten minutes. I wanted to check in with him before we got there, which meant I should have started waking him about twenty minutes ago. Chase was the early riser out of the two of us most days, but when he was emotionally drained, he was like a hibernating bear. “Chase, we’re almost there. Wake up.”
“Wha’?” He tilted his seat forward and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. I reached over, swiping the line of drool on his chin. “I slept the whole way?”
“You did,” I confirmed. He reached across the console and placed his hand over mine. “I figured you were exhausted, so I didn’t wake you. Of course, I can’t promise I’ll make it through the day without a nap.”
“Good luck with that.” Chase chuckled and scrubbed his hands over his face. “God, I can’t believe I’m actually bringing a boyfriend home for the first time. I probably should have given them a heads-up so they could get over the shock before we get there.”
“If you want to leave it at us being roommates, I’m fine with that,” I offered. And like every other time I’d made the suggestion, Chase scowled at me and shook his head. I turned my hand over so I could lace our fingers together. “I’m just saying that I want this to be as easy as possible on you. If that means being friends when other people are around so they can get to know me, then that’s what we’ll do. Then, you can call them once we’re back at Talbert, and you can let them know the amazing guy who spent his spring break with your family is a permanent fixture.”
“You say that now,” Chase groaned. “Maybe hold off on the declarations of undying love and affection until after you meet them. I’ll blow you every morning for a month if you don’t run out of the house screaming.”
“You’d blow me every morning anyway,” I pointed out. While there was still plenty of uncertainty about some sexual acts, Chase had discovered he really liked sucking cock. And since I wasn’t into sharing, mine was the go-to filling for his mouth. “In all seriousness, I love you, Chase, regardless of your family. And you have to put up with mine a lot more frequently than we’ll ever see yours.”
“True, but they’re cool. I’m pretty sure the only thing that would upset your mom is if she walked in on you banging me on the kitchen table.” I’d never tell him, but I doubted even that would faze her. She’d caught me getting a blowjob in the living room one night when I’d been in high school, and the only thing she’d done was give me shit about how I’d better not leave any stains on the furniture. “And your mom spoils me more than you do. What’s not to love?”
Mom and I were going to have a long talk about that. He wasn’t lying. Every weekend there was a new toy in the window seat, or a new cup Mom saw that she just couldn’t resist buying. It was weird to me. Kinky shouldn’t cross generations like that.
“The point I’m trying to make is, all of our families are insane, just in their own unique ways. I’m sure I’ll love your family for reasons that drive you completely bonkers, just like you love my mom even though it’s strange how she overcompensates trying to show how cool she is with my sexuality,” I explained. GPS directed me to take the next left and Chase held my hand tighter. His body was rigid in the seat next to mine. I gave his hand a squeeze. “How are we playing this? I’m good with whatever.”
“Let’s just rip off the bandage.” Chase gave a curt nod, as if confirming to himself that this was what he truly wanted. “If they don’t like it, that’s on them. I’m not stuck down here all week since you drove. Either, they accept us and we unpack the car, or they don’t and I spend some time with my brothers and sisters before we go home. Either way, I don’t want to hide you.”
I pressed my lips together to stop myself from responding. This was an argument we’d been having off and on since yesterday when I first mentioned coming home with him. At this point, I needed to accept that nothing I said was going to change his mind.
The moment I turned onto Chase’s street it was easy to see which was his family home. There was an army of kids, ranging from late toddlerhood to early teens, all playing in the front yard. They all turned and stared when I parked along the curb like Chase had instructed me. Before I even had the engine turned off, the door was yanked open and the noise was deafening. A girl, not much older than Willow, climbed into Chase’s lap, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. He looked over at me, his eyes pleading for help. I chuckled, unbuckled my seat belt, and gave the siblings a minute to say hello to their oldest brother.
“What’s going on out here?” A woman, who could only be Chase’s mom, crossed the lawn. I shit you not, she was wearing a 1950s housewife dress and apron. I’d seen the look on other people, but I didn’t think she put on the ensemble trying to be cute or fashion forward. If she did, she seriously missed the mark because her hair was thrown into a crude bun that was falling out.
“Chase is here!” One of the boys informed her before running back to the side of the car. My boyfriend still hadn’t been able to get out of his seat. Seriously, you’d think he’d been gone years, not a few months.
I chalked her lack of enthusiasm up to being tired from keeping all of these kids alive and fed. Her tired eyes narrowed when she saw me standing at the back of the car. Rather than approaching the child she gave birth to, she skipped the chaos and headed directly toward me.
Fuck.
“I didn’t realize Chase was getting a ride from a friend,” she said coolly. I swallowed hard, wondering what in the flying fuck I was supposed to say to that. Unfortunately, I took too long to respond, giving her time to come to her own conclusions. “Are you from the area?”
“No, ma’am. I live in Annandale.” That seemed safely truthful.
She sighed as she shook her head. “Well, of course you do now. But where did you grow up?”
“Um, Annandale?” What else was I supposed to say?
Chase finally broke free from the wall of children keeping him in the car. He gave his mom a quick peck on the cheek before sliding his arm around my back. “Mom, this is Jayden. My boyfriend.”
“I see.” She gave me a slow, down-up appraisal. I watched her, not daring to breathe, waiting to see if she’d find me suitable, and wondering what exactly she was looking for. “Well, lunch is just about ready. I wasn’t expecting two more, but I’m sure we can make it stretch.”
I glanced over as Chase slid his hand into mine. The journey across the yard was slow with the littlest of the kids wrapped around Chase’s leg. I wondered for a moment what it would be like to grow up in a family like this. I can’t say I’d have wanted as many siblings as he had, but maybe one or two would have been nice.
“Who are you?” One of the older boys asked me as he came down the front steps. They probably wouldn’t care for me thinking of them in vague terms based on their ages and genders, but I was totally screwed if there was a test to see if I could remember all their names after we were introduced.
