doorbell was going to ring and then it would be show time.
I knew it was coming, and yet I jumped when the melodic chimes echoed off the walls. Daddy—
Theron—drew me into a hug as he kissed my forehead. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
“I know, but—”
He pressed his index finger to my lips. “No buts. Do you want me to hang back while you answer
the door?”
“It’s your house. You should answer it.”
Daddy took me by the hand. Dammit, I was so screwed. There was no way I was going to
remember to call him Theron all weekend if I couldn’t even say it in my head. “We’ll both greet
them.”
“Ugh, fine.” He didn’t even let me hide behind him as he swung the door open, the big meanie. I
plastered on a smile as mom did her best to hug the life out of me. “Mom, Dad, hi! Where are Rose
and Alex?”
It bummed me out to not see my siblings standing on the porch with their eyes glued to their
phones. I needed them here to take some of the spotlight off of me.
“You’ll have to forgive my son. When he’s nervous, he forgets his manners,” Mom explained. I
buried my face against Theron’s back, pleading under my breath for him to put me out of my misery.
The meanie head laughed. “I’m April, and this is my husband, Edward.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you. Sam’s told me so many wonderful things about both of you.” Oh, he
was good. I mean, I knew he could be charming when he wanted to be, but I hadn’t realized how
awesome he’d be at the whole meet-the-parents thing. He took their overnight bag out of Dad’s hand
and ushered them into the house. “I’ll take this up to the spare room while Sam shows you around the
house.”
“Oh.” Mom’s gaze narrowed. Yeah, she was going to have questions. Great. “Thank you, Theron.
That would be lovely.”
Lovely?Mom was laying it on thick. The only thing she was missing was a posh British accent as
she kissed my cheek. I narrowed my eyes, silently warning her to quit laying it on so thick.
“You didn’t tell me things were so serious between the two of you,” she stage-whispered as she
took my hand.
“Oh…well, um,” I stammered, trying to figure out what to say. Our relationship certainly felt
