My lips part in wonder. Not only did he kiss me, but he’s also inviting me to meet his family? He’s making up for lost time. “Really?”
He shrugs, but his gaze holds steady. “We don’t have to go if you’re not ready. Itisfast.”
“I told you I’m ready.” I’ve had a year of cyberstalking to prepare for this day. It’s not fast. It’s surreal. Plus a weekly pizza night is the coziest thing ever, and I’m actually a little envious. “I’m not sure when I’ll get to introduce you to my family though. My parents moved to Salt Lake to take care of my grandparents. As for my sister, you threatened to arrest her.”
“True …” He slips away, puts his hat back on, and opens a gun case to clean up. “You think that will affect how your parents see me?”
“Nah. As grumpy as you are, you’re much more likable than Jewel,” I tease.
He chuckles and picks up the shotgun to resume his shooting lesson. “This is when you having an evil twin comes in handy. She makes me look good.”
By the time we clean up the guns and pick up the shells, it’s dinnertime. He gives me a slick liter of root beer to carry down the gravel driveway while he carries the ice cream for floats. I can’t have a float, but I don’t complain this time. I’m meeting the Zellner clan.
“So what are they like?” I ask.
He glances over. “My grandparents?”
“Yeah. And your parents.”
He slows. “My parents won’t be here. My grandparents raised me.”
“Oh.” I hadn’t known. Though he did talk about his grandparents a lot for a man with a mom and dad. “Are they … ? Did they … ?” How is a girl supposed to ask her boyfriend if his folks are dead?
“I never met my dad, and my mom took off when I was little. She had a drug addiction, and she died from an overdose while I was in the police academy.” He says this matter-of-factly. But it’s not a fact. It’s a story. One that should be filled with all the emotions.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s life.” He brushes off his statement as if it isn’t the saddest commentary I’ve ever heard on life. “So today you’ll meet Granddad, who is a strict rule follower except when it comes to the game of cribbage. He cheats if you don’t keep your eye on him. And Grams bakes a pie every day. In the summer, she’ll get up at four a.m. to bake because they don’t have air-conditioning.”
I love them already. Especially for being there when Karson’s parents weren’t. And my heart goes out to them as well. I assume it was their daughter who left Karson with them.
I smell the smoky campfire scent of a pizza oven before the old farmhouse comes into view, and I stop to absorb the details. It’s not one of those modern farmhouses that are so trendy right now. It’s better. This one is a giant white box with black shutters, a red brick fireplace, and steps leading to a wraparound porch. It feels like a piece of history. As if it holds the stories of generations past. There’s even a clothesline strung from the side of the house to a giant tree.
The front screen door slams and an elementary-school-aged boy charges out, ball cap on crooked. He has no shoes on, but that doesn’t slow him when he reaches the gravel. “Uncle Karson!”
I’d thought the grandparent thing was sweet, but I’d never imagined a nephew. I love nephews. They think everything is awesome.
The kid charges, and Karson has to lift the ice cream out of the way of his rambunctious hug. “Excited for dessert, huh?” he teases.
“Uh-huh.” The boy is all big white teeth, and dark eyes that keep sneaking peeks at me.
“Phillip,” Karson addresses his nephew. “This is Gemma. I was just teaching her how to shoot … and stuff.” His sparkling eyes lift to mine in a gaze more intimate than a kiss.
Oh no. I’m not going to be the only one with flaming cheeks here. “Your uncle is really good at shooting … and stuff.”
Karson gives the little headshake I’ve grown used to, only this time I look forward to possible retribution.
Phillip joins us on our stroll to the house. “I didn’t know girls liked guns. Wanna have a Nerf war?”
Time to shift years. I guess I could practice my Nerf skills for taking on Forrest and Daisy. “Sure.”
“Really?” The boy grins up at me, his front teeth reminding me of Chiclets, and there’s no way I could turn him down. Nerf guns are more my speed anyway.
Karson shrugs a shoulder. “Gemma, you don’t have—”
“Do you ride skateboards too?” Phillip interrupts.
Okay, I might have to turn down that invitation. I’m kind of fond of having my tailbone in one piece. “I—”
