“I love you, too, Zhuri.” I tease my thumb over her full, bottom lip before kissing her one more time, as there’s a knock at my door. “Looks like your family just got here.”
She takes my hand in hers as we walk over toward the door. “What makes you think it’s my family?”
“You’ve met my brother, right?” I chuckle. “If Bodhi is invited over, he doesn’t bother knocking. They’d already be inside.”
I squeeze Zhuri’s hand as I swing the door open and see five people staring back at us.
I know Nia and Nova already. The man with his hand on Nova’s shoulder must be Ty, Z’s brother-in-law. And the other two must be her parents.
It seems that Zhuri gets her height from her dad and her looks from her mom, because aside from being at least seven inches taller and thirty years younger, she and her mother could be twins.
“I’m so glad you guys came!” Zhuri says excitedly, throwing her arms around her parents before bringing them all inside. When the door falls shut behind us, she runs through the introductions. “Cameron, these are my parents, Harriet and Andre. You’ve already met Nia and Nova. The man beside them is Ty.”
“It’s really nice to meet everyone,” I say, nervously shoving my hands in my pockets.
Nia steps in front of me, trying to look intimidating.
“What are your intentions with my baby sister, Kovacic?”
“Nia…” Zhuri groans, throwing her head back in exasperation.
I have to try hard to not let my smile slip. I’ve met Nia before, so I know how unserious she is. It’s impossible to take her as a hard ass.
But I do at least answer her question.
“I plan on loving your sister as long as she’ll let me.” My eyes meet Zhuri’s, and her deep brown eyes are endless pools of affection right now. “Forever hopefully.”
Nia stares me down but nods her head. “You pass.”
Harriet sighs. “I’m sorry about her. We’re excited to finally meet you, Cameron.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” I smile.
Ty smirks at me. “It’s nice to meet the man my sister-in-law complained about for a decade.”
“Ty!” Zhuri yells while I laugh.
“Z, I think everyone in both of our families knows we didn’t get along before. It’s not like it was a secret.”
“But you treat her well now, right?” Andre asks.
I fight my smirk because Zhuri’s dad doesn’t need to hear about all the ways I treat herwell.
Zhuri sighs before walking back over to me and taking my hand. “He treats me very well, Dad. I’m very happy.”
“That’s all we want for you, Z,” Harriet smiles, and Andre squeezes her shoulder.
“Are you my uncle now?” Nova blurts as everyone around us laughs.
“Nova Star,” Zhuri chuckles, “we just started dating.”
I bend down a bit to whisper to Nova. “That’s true, but you can call me your uncle if you want. I’m going to marry your aunt one day, and that will make me your uncle.”
When I stand back up, Zhuri looks at me with the brightest, sweetest smile.
My whispering may have been louder than I intended, but I won’t complain about my girlfriend hearing all of my intentions with her.
She already knows I want forever with her; I might as well make sure she knows exactly what that means.
