Paige and Lauren exchange a look.
As if they can sense we’re talking about them, I suddenly hear the heavy footfalls of my parents' two yellow labs as they run through the house to get to us. When they come running around a corner, Gizmo lets out a screech and jumps from Rylee’s arms and zooms off into the house to hide.
Rylee watches him go and chuckles. “I guess he’s not a fan.”
“Sorry about that,” I grumble, kneeling down to pet the dogs. “We can put these two in their kennels… ”
“It’s okay,” Rylee assures me. “Gizmo will be fine. Once he gets used to things, he’ll come back out and likely stalk the dogs to assert his dominance.”
I can’t help my grin as I look up at her. “Yeah, I can totally see him doing that. This is Duke and Duchess, by the way.”
“Hi, cuties,” Rylee coos, kneeling next to me to scratch the dogs behind their ears.
“I didn’t think you were a dog person.”
She shoots me a grin. “I’m definitely a cat person, but I can appreciate good boys when I see them.”
I smile, but then remember that we’re not alone and look up to find my sisters watching us with mischievous grins on their faces.
Oh, fuck me.
“Duke! Duchess! Come back here!” My mom’s voice rings out and the next moment, she rounds the same corner the dogs appeared from and stops when she sees us all gathered in front of the door.
“I’m so sorry,” she gasps. “I was trying to put them in the backyard, but they got excited and got away from me.”
“It’s okay, Mom,” I assure her, moving in to give her a hug. Her petite frame is so similar to Rosie’s that I have to bend way down to engulf her in my arms.
“Oh, my boy!” she exclaims. “It’s so good to see you!”
“Hey, Mom,” I reply, happiness washing through me at seeing her again. Pulling back from our hug I smile down into my mom’s bright green eyes before turning to Rylee, who’s stood up as well. “This is Rylee.”
There’s a moment of silence as the two regard each other and I feel like my heart stops. I want Mom to like her… need them to get along. More than my sisters, I need my Mom to accept Rylee and be willing to welcome her into the fold.
A moment later, Mom’s eyes light up and she brings Rylee into a tight hug.
“Oh, my goodness! You’re gorgeous.” She pulls back and looks Rylee up and down, beaming from ear-to-ear. “When Zander told us he was bringing a girl home, I could hardly believe it. We’re so glad to have you here!”
I release a long breath of relief. Oh, thank God…
“I’m glad to be here, Mrs. Caldwell,” Rylee replies.
“Please, call me Michelle,” Mom insists. “Come on inside, my dear. I’ve got dinner on the table. You must be famished.”
Rylee nods, grinning. “I’m starving.”
Mom hooks her arm through Rylee’s and leads her further into the house. My sisters and I move to follow, but Rosie pokes me in the side with another giggle.
“Zander’s got a girlfriend,” she whispers in a sing-song voice. “Zander’s got a girlfriend.”
“Shut up,” I hiss. “You’re being so awkward.”
Rosie laughs and Paige softly says, “We’re just teasing, Zander. Rylee seems really great. Of course, it’s only been 5 minutes, lots of time for some terrible surprises?—”
“Shh!” I whisper.
Paige laughs. Lauren elbows her.
“She’s wooed the dogs and is now busy charming Mom,” Lauren nods. “She’s a keeper.”
