I don’t remember discussing this, but the joint calendar doesn’t lie. It’s a sacred tool for any marriage. I may be young, but I realized that quick.
The difference is that most people don’t fear dinner with the in-laws the way I do. Because Spencer Crews may just be the reason that I lose it all.
18
HADLEY
Pride hits me as I watch little girls in tutus and bumblebee wings wobble back to their parents after having performed to a crowd ofawwsandohs. We performed in the outside theatre here in Lake Spark for the summer festival. I somehow knew the little kids would be the ones to steal the show. The teenagers on their ballet pointe shoes performing elegantly to aMidsummer Night’s Dreamtheme didn’t really hold a candle to the cuteness overload of bumblebees twirling.
Still, I made sure we performed five numbers of various dance genres to please the crowd on this weekend mid-afternoon. One of my girls was sick, so I had to fill in on the dance front too. I was kind of hoping to have stayed choreographer today, because I didn’t want my dance company to feel like I was stealing their thunder. I did my best to stay in the back.
A pair of hands that I’ve become accustomed to and that blaze excitement at every touch sneaks up around me and winds around my waist. Like always, I sink into Connor’s touch. What a wild contrast to before Vegas.
“These are for you,” he murmurs against my cheek before placing a respectable peck on my lips. His other hand holds out a single peach-colored rose. “Well done.”
I gladly take the flower and feel my cheeks blush at the same time. Sweet Connor is, well, cute, but strangely eerie in a wonderful way. I’m not used to him this way, but it’s nothing to complain about, especially when my eyes trail up to watch him lift his sunglasses off his eyes. Gosh, he is extra sexy when he’s been sitting in the sun all day.
“Thank you.” My eyes travel back to the rose that I twirl between my fingers. “I’m all done here. Dancers have been returned to their respective owners,” I joke.
He raises a brow and a gleam that melts my panties graces his face. “Including you? I’m on board with being your respective owner.”
I chuckle at his ability to send us on a train of dirty thoughts. “Easy there. My parents are somewhere around here.”
“I know. I was sitting with them. We were thinking instead of going out for dinner that maybe we just pick up some takeout from Catch 22 and head to our house for dinner. Sound good?”
“Perfect. I wasn’t really in the mood to sit in a restaurant all night.”
He brings his arm around my shoulders, and we begin to walk side by side. “Cool. I’ll call them with our order, and we can pick that up on the way back. Your parents will grab the wine.”
“You bet we will,” my mother announces. My parents and little brother walk toward us with bright smiles on their faces.
I’m quickly met with hugs. “You were magnificent as always out there,” my dad mentions.
“So beautiful,” my mother adds.
The compliments stop when I look at my brother who is busy on his phone. It only makes me smile, though. I bet this was his idea of the worst Saturday ever. Ashton is at that funny age where you’re no longer a kid but hate being a teenager.
“Thanks for your kind words,” I tease him.
He glances up from his screen with a scowl. “I didn’t say anything.”
“I know,” I deadpan.
“Hey, can you help me with my biology project later? Won’t take long,” he requests.
I shake my head that we fly past into new subjects. “Sure,” I promise.
“How about we meet in an hour or so?” Connor suggests while he studies his watch.
“Sounds good,” my father agrees.
“I’ll send you the alarm code in case you get there before us,” Connor adds.
My eyes whip to him with an awkward look plastered on my face. “Do we really want them to have the code?” I mumble, knowing my parents can hear, and they’re entertained.
My mom gives me a fake unimpressed look. “You mean so we can unexpectedly show up at random times and ruin your newlywed phase?”
“Yeah, I think you guys can wait a few minutes. It’s lovely weather,” Connor comments.
