“You started cursing more, huh?” I sniffle, wiping my nose on my sleeve.
“Lexington, oh myGod…” he cries softly. “It’s really you.”
I nod and chuckle with tears tumbling down my cheeks.
I can see the moment it finally sets in that there’s another human standing next to us, smiling and wiggling in eager swoon. My dad’s eyes shift between me and Ren. He blinks and his head tilts, lips parting.
But then something crashes and someone screams.
That would be my mother. She just dropped a bowl.
“Mom.” I go to her, because she’s frozen in obvious shock.
More hugging, and crying, a bit more hysterical this time.
It takes minutes on end to calm my mother down—again, understandably. To be fair, we’re all losing our shit a little. But once we compose ourselves, my dad grabs a broom to sweep upthe glass and salad from the foyer while we all stand around, gawking at one another.
“I’m hallucinating,” Mom says, though she’s smiling, wider than I remember seeing on her,ever. And she won’t stop touching me; running her fingers along my cheek and my shoulders. “There’s no possible way this is real… I know I did a lot of drugs back in the day, but still…”
Ren snorts, and I huff, shaking my head.
“Mom… jeez,” I grumble admonishingly.
“Sorry,” she sighs while my dad chuckles. Her eyes finally leave me, springing to Ren. “I have so many questions, but I guess the first one is… who’s this?”
My face is red in an instant. I feel it happening, the way the flush rises before I can eventhinkof responding.
Swallowing down the awkwardness of never having done this before, and never having expected to do it, I clear my throat.
“This is… Warren Xavier,” I croak, lashes fluttering at him. He’s just standing there, patiently waiting for me to spit it out. “He’s my, um… We’re… uh…”
My mom and dad exchange a look in between staring at me,alsoeagerly anticipating.
“So… here’s the thing…” I shift in place.
“Take your time, babe.” Ren smirks. “It’s not a race.”
“Ugh.” I roll my eyes. “This is my fiancé. We’re getting married…” I sneer at him, to which he beams. “A decision I tend to regret every time he opens his mouth.”
Ren’s eyes widen, and he presses his lips together. I can tell he’s struggling not to voice one of his standard perverted comebacks, being that he’s trying to make a good impression and all. It’s adorable, and it eases my nerves greatly while I smirk wickedly at him.
Guess we found a way to shut you up, huh, you beautiful pest?
“Oh my God!” My mother squeals, startling me. Her hands are clasped over her chest, and she’s actually bouncing. “Lexington!”
“Son, that’s fantastic,” my dad chuckles.
He looks so happy for me… They both do.
Honestly, I’m not sure what I expected, but on some level, I knew they’d never be angry or devastated or anything. They’re not those kinds of people at all.
They crowd around me and Ren, pulling us into a group hug that has me chuckling and shaking my head in humility. But only because my parents are embarrassing as hell, and I never thought I’d actuallymissit, but I definitely did. My heart is bustling.
“I can’t believe it…” Mom sniffles. “You’re here, alive,andengaged.” They pull back, smiling wide. Mom wipes a tear from my cheek. “I never gave up hope, baby. I knew you were alive, I justknewit.”
I give her a look overflowing with too many emotions. There’s so much I need to say, and so much I want to know.
My dad clears his throat. “We were just sitting down to lunch. Come on. We can eat and talk. Are you boys hungry?” He looks animatedly between Ren and me. “Baked chicken and rice… I’ll whip up a new salad!”
