It shouldn’t be prying, even if it felt that way. Lina traced her finger over the glove compartment door. “My mom died when I was nineteen.”
Dillon shook his head, his eyes serious and sad. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was really unexpected. A heart defect she didn’t even know about. It had always been the two of us, so I felt like an orphan, even though I was technically an adult. Someday I’d like to search for my dad, maybe see if I have half siblings. They have those DNA tests now.” She wasn’t ready to tell him she’d already bought the DNA test and sent it in. The wait to get the results was excruciating. But that was her own worry. She bit her lip, looking out her window and hoping he’d just forget she’d said anything at all.
Dillon’s hand slid into hers, giving it a comforting squeeze. No, he wouldn’t be forgetting that she didn’t have a family. That she desperately wanted one. Man, she hated being a downer, even for the length of a conversation. Time to talk about other things.
“So, let me prep you a little on who you’ll meet tonight.”
“Okay.” Dillon glanced at the street sign up ahead. “A left here?” His hand casually left hers to move back to the steering wheel, and she missed its warmth.
“Yep.”
“You mentioned an Ashley.”
“Yes, she’s my coworker, but also my former roommate. She’s married to Chase. And they’re raising his three siblings together.”
“Oh, wow. How old are the kids?”
“Um, the youngest, a boy, is ten, I think. His sisters are twelve and seventeen or there about. And Ashley and Chase are expecting their first baby. So, it’s a weird, full house, but they’re some of the best people you’ll ever meet. It’s their house we’re going to.”
Talking like this, Lina had a strange sense of deja vu, except she was the one prepping Dillon, rather than the other way around.
She pointed out Ashley and Chase’s house, and he parked behind Shaun and Paige’s truck. Excellent. Those two always made life more interesting.
Dillon jogged around quickly and got her door, but he didn’t reach for her hand as they walked up. She reminded herself there was no need to pretend here. They were back to gym buddies.
Paige and Shaun were the ones who answered the door, not hiding their curiosity one bit as they looked Dillon over.
“Hey, you two.” Lina threaded her arm through Dillon’s, as if to protect him. “Stop staring at him already. Dillon, this is Paige and her husband Shaun. Paige is Ashley’s sister.”
Dillon shook both their hands, and then more people descended on them, blocking the doorway. Shaun’s mom, Annie, and his stepdad, Craig, were on their way out, and Annie stopped to give Lina a hug. “We have to start going to Zumba again. I have a feeling Ashley will use maternity leave as an excuse until the kid’s eighteen, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t go, right?”
“I heard that,” Ashley said, parting Paige and Shaun like they were the Red Sea. She reached out to hug Lina. “And yes, I’ll keep popping out kids if it keeps me out of Zumba class. The world doesn’t need my dancing.” After pulling out of their hug, Ashley shook Dillon’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Dillon. Now, everybody move out of the doorway so they can come inside. Fake boyfriend or not, he gets pie and ice cream like the rest of us.”
Dillon glanced at Lina, and they both laughed. It looked like they’d have to make room for more dessert after all.
***
Dillon felt a little out of place and overwhelmed, though he hoped he was hiding it well.
Lina had claimed the piano bench for them to sit on before leaving him in the living room. Ashley, the pregnant one who hated Zumba, and her sister, Paige, each took an elbow and dragged Lina off to the kitchen, laughing merrily as they caught up on each other’s news. There was a lot more talking going on than dessert prep. Lina waved the ice cream scoop in her hand as she explained something about the Newlywed game they’d played earlier. She caught Dillon watching her and gave him a wink.
So, this is what Lina must have felt like upon stepping into a house full of people she’d never met before. Lina was always outgoing and clearly comfortable in her own skin, but here she was relaxed.
“Hey, I’m Chase. Nice to meet you.”
Dillon looked away from the girls and up at the guy standing in front of him. He put out his hand to shake. “Ashley’s husband, right? Thanks for having me over.”
“No problem. And I apologize for anything my wife might say to you tonight. From what I’ve been told, she gave Shaun over there quite a mouthful when he started dating Paige.”
Shaun looked up from the Battleship game he was playing with Chase’s younger brother on the coffee table. “Hey, don’t get me in trouble, man. Ashley and I are friends now. But yes, she will definitely give you a hard time, Dillon. She’s very protective of her sister. And Lina. Like alpha-of-the-wolf-pack protective. But you didn’t hear that from me.”
Shaun glanced over his shoulder where the three girls were coming out of the kitchen with dessert, and he hopped up to help his wife, earning him a quick kiss and a playful swat on the butt.
Lina rolled her eyes as she passed by them and headed straight for Dillon. “Will this work?” she asked, handing him a tiny slice of pumpkin pie with one scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. “I didn’t want to give you too much.”
“Perfect.” He scooted over as much as possible to make room for her on the piano bench, and Lina sat down next to him with her small bowl, ice cream only. She leaned against him while they ate. He adjusted so her elbow wasn’t digging into his side, but otherwise didn’t mind sharing the small space.
