"You should bring him," she says. "Let the girls see you two together. It'll be good for them to see what a healthy dynamic actually looks like."
"You think?"
"I know." She grins. "Plus it'll be hilarious watching Madison grill him."
I text Ethan.
Lily: Change of plans. Book club tonight at seven. They want you to come.
Ethan: Do they now?
Lily: Consider it your initiation into the group.
Ethan: Should I be nervous?
Lily: Terrified.
Ethan: Perfect. I'll bring wine.
At 6:55, Ethan and I pull up to Madison's apartment building. He's carrying two bottles of expensive wine and wearing dark jeans with a gray sweater that makes his eyes look impossibly blue.
"Ready?" I ask.
"As I'll ever be." He takes my hand. "Lead the way, sweetheart."
Madison answers the door with Ty at her side. He's tall, built like he spends his free time in the gym even though we know he doesn’t have time for the gym with his job, with kind eyes and an easy smile.
"You must be Ethan," he says, extending his hand. "I've heard a lot about you."
"All good, I hope."
"Mostly," Ty says with a grin.
We enter to find the apartment already full. Holly and Justin are curled up on the loveseat. Amber and Emily have claimed their seats. Maya and Chloe are setting out snacks.
All eyes turn to us when we walk in.
"Everyone," I say, squeezing Ethan's hand. "This is Ethan. Ethan, this is everyone."
He handles the introductions with the same calm confidence he brings to everything else. Shaking hands, making small talk, charming each of them effortlessly.
"Wine?" he offers, holding up the bottles.
"God yes," Holly says. "Pour generously."
We settle in, me tucked against Ethan's side on the couch, and I can feel the girls watching us with interest.
"So," Madison says, taking a sip of wine. "Ethan. Tell us about yourself."
"What would you like to know?"
"Everything. But we'll start with the basics. How are you treating our girl?"
Ethan's arm tightens around me. "Like she's the most important person in my world."
"Good answer," Amber says approvingly.
"How do you handle the age gap?" Emily asks gently. "That's got to come with challenges."
