If Leaf had one thing he’d thought he wouldn’t have to do anymore at this point in his life, it was meeting the parents.
Chapter Sixteen
THE PARTYwas scheduled on a Saturday, so they flew into LAX on Friday. Curiously, Angel wasn’t on the same flight, but then Dev hadn’t coordinated with him at all.
They’d always bought their parents separate presents, even on Christmases and birthdays. They were—or rather, had been—almost like a single unit, but still two very different people. It had only made sense that they bought different things as soon as they had the money to do so.
After Leaf and Seth had learned that Dev and Angel’s mom gathered different kinds of glasswork, they’d introduced him to an artist friend of theirs, Erica, who did sculptures and window hangings. They had visited her workspace in the mountains, where she lived. The dogs had had a blast, and even Weasley—who they just couldn’t leave at home—had had fun, climbing trees and such.
Dev had been like a kid in a candy store. He decided then and there to put Erica’s business card with the present, because his mother would surely want something else from the remarkable young artist.
In the end he chose a large window hanging with a peacock motif. They packed it up together, and Dev could see Leaf’s expression at the amount Dev paid for the piece.
They had sent it to Anaheim beforehand, hoping it would make it there in one piece and on time, which it had. The call from his mother to tell him something had arrived and could she open it had made him laugh. He’d told her to wait, because it was a present.
For his dad, he’d gotten some pricey circuit-board cufflinks. There were a lot of crappy ones out there, but he’d gotten expensive ones made of titanium, so he was pretty happy about his purchases.
Then again, his parents had everything. Thoughtful presents like this were what made them the happiest.
THE FLIGHTwas in the afternoon, so Dev napped, sandwiched between Seth and Leaf, who were both holding one of his hands and not caring at all when they got weird looks. It made him feel warm and fuzzy inside.
The rings would be nice when they’d arrive. Seth and Dev had been together for a decade and hadn’t thought they needed rings. Now they were all doing it because they wanted visible proof of their love and commitment to the three of them as a unit. A family. The fact that Seth and Leaf wanted it with Dev seemed a little bit unreal, but he’d take it.
WHEN THEYdrove through the checkpoint to let them into the gated community where his parents lived, Seth and Leaf both gawked a little.
The old man in the booth noticed Dev and gave him a wide grin. “Well, isn’t it the other young Rice,” Herman said, obviously delighted.
“Hey, Herman, did my brother already arrive?”
“Two days ago now. I hear there is a big party tomorrow. I’ve asked for backup for the gates, just in case.”
Herman made it sound like a police operation, and Dev hid his amusement. If the old guy wanted some excitement, he could have his illusions.
“I hope everything goes peacefully,” Dev said, and waved at Herman, who opened the gate for them.
“This is where you grew up?” Seth asked, looking a bit thrown.
“Yeah, I told you we had money.”
“These are several-million-dollar houses, Dev,” Leaf said dryly.
Dev rolled his eyes and drove the rest of the way to his parents’ property.
It was a sprawling sort of place, almost Spanish-style, with terracotta and such. He parked the car in the driveway—a large round one—and got out.
“Look, it’s a big house, but they’re not… they’re good people, okay?” he said as they gathered their bags from the car.
“Hey, sweetheart, we never thought they weren’t. We’re just surprised. Anyone who raised you couldn’t be a bad person.” Leaf grasped his free hand, and Seth pressed his own against Dev’s lower back.
“Let’s go meet the parents,” Seth said.
“And my brother, apparently,” Dev grunted.
Yeah, none of them was exactly eager to see Angel.
With their garment bags and carry-ons, they made their way to the front door, and Dev rang the bell. He was about to comment that he did have a key but seemed weird using it, just as the door opened and his mother stood there, looking radiant as ever.
“Devil child!” she cooed and enveloped him in a hug that was like being swallowed by motherly love. She was five feet five inches tall if that, and she had curves many younger women would’ve killed for.
