Wilder nods and returns the smile. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Yes, I agree. That’s a very admirable thing to do. If it’s calling to you, you follow it. I’ve always told my baby girl that,” my father says as he looks over at me, his eyes soft. “Let me know if you need any help. I have a few contacts within the city and Mid-City. I’d love to help.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that,” Wilder says. His fingers thread with mine under the table, and he squeezes tightly.
And for the first time today, I feel some of the tension beginning to slip out of him.
After that conversation, dinner passes uneventfully. My parents love the roast Wilder made—thankfully, the Crock-Pot pulled through for him—and now Mama and I are drying the dishes we just washed while he and my father are sitting in the living room, chatting about hockey.
Mama’s shoulder bumps against mine as I finish a bowl. I turn to her and see that she’s smiling.
“He’s handsome, Maisie Grace.”
My cheeks heat. “Mama!”
“What? He is.” She laughs, setting her dish towel onto the counter in front of her. “I could tell how nervous he was.”
“Yeah, he was very nervous. Which is not really at all like him, but I know he wants to know you both and for you to approve.”
Mama’s eyes soften, and she reaches for me, gathering me into her arms. “It’s not that we don’t approve of you dating, honey. It’s just that we’re your parents, and we worry about you. It’s our job.”
I nod.
“I don’t know him well enough yet to say that he’s good enough to deserve my daughter. My baby girl. But he seems like a nice man, and it’s clear that he cares about you. That’s enough for me and your daddy to give him a chance.” She squeezes her arms tight around me, and a sense of relief and comfort hasmy shoulders sagging. “If he makes you happy, then that’s what matters to us, sweetheart.”
My heart squeezes in my chest, my stomach flipping excitedly. It’s not just that I wanted them to approve of Wilder; it’s that I wanted them to see me for the woman that I am now.
Not the girl they’ve always known.
She pulls back to look at me, and her lips turn into a small, teasing smile. “But don’t think I didn’t notice that toothbrush in the bathroom that wasn’tpink.”
Oh shit.
That’s just Wilder’stired of forgetting it when he stays here more than his own apartment toothbrush.
Not that I’m going to be saying that to my mother.
“Actually, Mama, I think I hear Daddy calling me from the living room.” I wiggle out of her arms and toss her an indulgent smile over my shoulder.
“Mhmmm. We’ll be talking about that later, young lady.”
Yeah, I have absolutely no doubt about that.
CHAPTER 60
WILDER
“Okay,that went…shockinglywell? At least I think so,” Maisie murmurs softly, burrowing her face against my chest.
I tighten my arms around her and drag in a deep inhale of her hair. She always smells so fucking good, especially when she’s fresh out of the bath and her hair is washed using that sweet vanilla shampoo.
Once her parents left, we showered and fell into bed. I didn’t realize how fucking exhausted I was, probably because I spent the majority of the day freaking the fuck out that I was meeting her parents for the first time.
And fighting with that stupid fucking Crock-Pot.
Emotions are draining as fuck.
I’ve never met anyone’s parents before. Obviously, never a woman I’m in love with because I’ve neverbeenin love until now.
