Never Tied Down (The Never Duet #2)

“Oh, my gosh, hi,” Kalli opened her arms to Halah.

I watched as my baby sister hugged Kalli, and something inside me shifted, was nudged right into place. Something that had been off-kilter for so long I hadn’t even realized it. In that moment, watching Kalli hug my sister, surrounded by my whole family, I knew it was the first time of many, and that brought me peace.

“Ri-Ri told me you were pretty, but he didn’t do you justice,” my sister said as she pulled back and looked at Kalli. I agreed. There was no way to tell someone how beautiful Kalli was. I could talk about her for hours, describe every single freckle, but I’d never be able to tell anyone how devastatingly beautiful she was. It was something you had to see to understand.

“Your whole family is beautiful,” Kalli murmured on a breathy whisper. She wasn’t wrong. My mother could have played an Arabian princess in an old fifties black-and-white movie, and my sister was more attractive than I’d like to admit. It was hard to grow up with her as my baby sister, especially in her teen years, because I wanted to punch in the face of every guy who even looked her way—which was a lot.

“Hey Hala-balloo,” I said, hugging my sister, relieved to finally lay eyes on her. “I’m so glad you decided to come home for once.” She pulled back and slapped my arm.

“You should talk.”

“No fighting,” Ma said, coming to stand between us, one arm around each of our waists. “My babies,” she said, her voice soft and quiet. “It’s been too long.” I looked at Halah and she rolled her eyes, but more in a loving than sassy way. We both knew our mom would be emotional if we were in the same room together—it’s the way of mothers. After a long embrace, Ma pulled away and headed into the kitchen, which was only divided from the dining room by an island. “Riot, Kalli, are either of you hungry?”

“We ate on the road,” I said, sitting down at the table.

“Oh,” Ma said, her voice deflated.

“But I’d really appreciate something to drink,” Kalli said, reading my mom like a freaking book. Ma needed to fuss over us. Kalli walked to the island and even though she was just a few feet away, I wanted her back by my side.

Ma took great pleasure in getting Kalli a glass of water and I watched as Halah joined her at the island, both of them sitting, seeming to start up a conversation.

“She’s a looker.”

I turned to see Pops nod toward Kal. I couldn’t help the grin that spread over my face.

“Yeah, I know.”

“She important?”

“Yeah.”

“Then treat her right, son. Give her the world and treat her right.”

“On it, Pops. Got it covered.”

“You happy? With her, I mean. She makes you happy?”

“Yeah.” My dad had always been present, always been involved, but we’d never had a serious talk about someone I dated. That was largely due to the fact that since I’d moved out, I’d never brought a woman home, but even in high school, all I’d ever really gotten out of my father was the safe sex talk, followed by the “respect women” lecture.

He nodded at my response. “Don’t let her go then.”

I laughed a little and rubbed my hand over the stubble on the underside of my chin. “Noted.” I didn’t bother telling my dad that I’d already let her go once before, holding out hope that she’d return. Luckily for me, she had. I didn’t have any intention of doing it again though. Once was more than enough for me. I was in this for the long haul. It was going to be forever this time.

“Riot,” I heard my mom call from the kitchen. “Are you sure you don’t want a sandwich?”

“Your mother wants to feed you. Humor her,” my dad said under his breath, making sure it was low enough she couldn’t hear him.

“Sure, Ma. I’d love a sandwich.”

Eventually the women moved to the dining table and my mom brought me a sandwich. I ate it, even though I wasn’t hungry, but I didn’t mind because Kalli sat right next to me and took bites when I offered them to her. I had one hand on her thigh under the table, one hand on the sandwich Ma had made for me, and my eyes on my little sister. The evening couldn’t have ended any better. Or so I thought.

After about an hour of small talk, Kalli and I made our way out to the car, promising we’d be back early enough the next day to help set up for the big party. I could tell my mother and sister were anxious to get Kalli away from me, to talk to her about our relationship and find out more about her, but I pried her away, telling them I was exhausted.

I wrapped my fingers through Kalli’s as soon as we were back on the road.

“Your family is really nice.” Her voice was soft again, thoughtful.

“They seemed to like you a lot.” She turned her head toward me and smiled.