“Decker told me she has a little rat problem,” Andi said with an easy smile.
My mom laughed. “Sweetheart, the rats are the least of her problems.” My mom sighed as she took Andi in. “You are absolutely adorable. Isn’t she adorable, Decker? Like a country bunny that you just want to hug.” Then she went in for the kill, enveloping Andi in a big hug. Andi’s eyes widened in surprise before she returned the embrace a little awkwardly.
“Oh, ummmm thank you. Although where I come from we shoot bunnies, so it’s nice to know you cuddle them here.”
My mom laughed as she pulled Andi into the house.
“Mom, what’s Daniel doing in town?” I asked, hoping to get a straight answer from her.
“Oh some engineer’s course thingy, it went right over my head, but he’s only here for the weekend.”
“Yep, the wife only let me come for the weekend, and I’m busy with lectures both days. I think she’s worried you will corrupt me with strip clubs again if I stay too long.” Daniel tossed me a beer from the fridge. I handed it to Andi who took it with a grateful smile. Nothing like a little liquid courage to help get a girl through meeting the parents. “A woman who drinks long necks, my dream come true,” Daniel sighed, holding a hand over his heart. My gaze moved back to Andi, and my head followed her movement, tilting to one side as she leaned over in front of the oven to inspect what was cooking inside, teasing me with a spectacular ‘almost’ view of her ass. Someone clearing their throat caught my attention. My dad stood beside Daniel, both of them wearing smirks. Busted.
“Dad,” I said, matching his smile. He shook his head and gave me a hug.
“Decker, good to see you’re taking such good care of your best friend’s cousin. Bradley will be most impressed with the hospitality you’ve shown Andi.” I’d been in the house for less than a minute, and I’d already been thoroughly chastised right under Andi’s nose.
“Decker has been amazing, Joe, and I’ve already told Bradley. I could never have completely uprooted my life and plonked myself in the middle of a big, scary city without Decker’s help. I have no idea how I assumed I could do it on my own.”
My mom and dad both gave Andi a dreamy look, and Daniel couldn’t help but raise his ring finger and not so discreetly rub his chin with it.
“What’s for dinner?” I asked, quickly changing the subject.
My mom jumped to attention and began clanking pots and pans. “Shepherd’s pie, garden vegetables, and garlic bread.”
My mouth was already watering. “Could you boys set the table? It’s almost ready.”
Being back in my parents’ house like this was almost as if I had never left. I knew where everything was, and Daniel and I moved around the kitchen with ease, throwing things at each other accompanied with the occasional your momma joke that Mom, justifiably, took offense to. Andi sat at the breakfast bar, watching with fascination. The only thing missing in this scene was my other brother, Drew. The three of us together would have destroyed Andi, she would have run fast and far away from the crazy Steele household. My heart broke a little when I remembered Andi was an only child. She wouldn’t have had family meals like this. I quickly understood the look of sorrow and wonder that consumed her. I gave a tug on her hand and drew her over to the large dining table, sitting her between my mom and me.
“Rub a dub dub…” said Daniel, sitting in front of his full plate.
“Thanks for the grub,” I finished for him, grabbing my fork, digging right in.
“So, Andi, Dad tells me you own a book store,” Daniel somehow managed to get out of his mouth stuffed with food.
“I do. It’s been officially open for almost two weeks now.”
Daniel swallowed his food before speaking again. “You do know the only reading Decker does is scripts, and trust me, the scripts are real easy to follow,” he said with a smirk.
“Not at the table,” my mom growled.
“I’ve heard he’s quite the star,” Andi said with a wink, but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Daniel looked a little surprised. “You know about the porn?”
Andi looked a little surprised herself as she looked around the table. “Ya’ll know about the porn?”
“It’s okay, Andi, we know about Decker’s career. While we don’t love what he does, we do appreciate that he at least does it well,” my mom said with sarcasm.
“It’s disturbing that your bare ass has graced my bedroom TV screen,” Daniel grumbled, pointing his fork at me.
I shrugged. “Hey, I’m not the one watching porn while trying to entertain a lady,” I said in my own defense. “Maybe you need to up your game if you need a little skin flick assistance.”
“Boys!” my mom snapped.
“Isn’t the kitchen table a sacred place? Perhaps we shouldn’t be using the word porn so much at a sacred place,” my dad muttered.