“Seriously, how can you be thinking about sex at a time like this?” I scold him as he opens the front door.
“How can I not? It was fucking hot, sweetheart,” he whispers low in my ear as my eyes connect with a woman who looks older than I originally thought and much more polished than I wished. I step out from Hetch’s arm, the moment too real for me to handle, and distance myself from him. Hetch doesn’t seem to mind. Instead of tucking me back into his arms, he folds them over his chest and directs his stare down at his much shorter mother.
“Mom. Kota,” he simply says, before his sister blurts, “I told her to knock.”
I think I’m going to be sick.
Twenty-Three
Hetch
“I told her to knock,” Kota blurts, throwing Mom under the bus. I don't bother to comment. Keeping my stare on my mom, I force her to address me first.
“I’m sorry, Liam. I wasn't expecting you to have company.” Her words are hesitant, unlike her vibrant self, but she doesn’t cower away from my stare.
“We were on our way to lunch, and I saw your truck out front. We thought you were working on the house.” She steps up into my space and I drop my brashness long enough to lean down and give her quick hug.
“Knock next time,” I tell her as she steps back and gives me a flustered nod. She then turns her attention to Liberty.
“Hi, I’m Brianna. Liam’s mom. I'm sure you feel every bit embarrassed right now, but don’t, he is my son after all.” She tries to put Liberty at ease, but I'm not sure it works.
“Mom. Just stop.” Kota puts a hand on Mom's arm, ready to pull her away at a moment’s notice.
“No, it's okay.” Liberty finally speaks up. “I'm so embarrassed to meet you like this.”
“You’re telling me. But hey, at least we didn't walk through the back door.” She attempts a joke. Kota snorts, while I hold in my laugh. Liberty must not get it at first until the ball drops.
“Oh, God!” It finally clicks. Her embarrassment travels over her skin in a perfect shade of red. “Well yes, I guess there’s that. I'm Liberty, by the way, and it’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Hetcherson?” She doesn’t sound so sure, but Mom doesn’t seem affected by it.
“Please call me Briana. And this is my daughter, Dakota.”
“Yes, we’ve met.” Kota offers Liberty a small wave.
“You've met?” Mom looks taken back, before turning her questioning eyes on my sister.
“Only briefly a couple weeks back.” Kota smirks at Liberty, obviously replaying the scene over in her head.
“Yeah, it was almost as awkward as this meeting.” Liberty chuckles, relaxing a little.
“What? Are you kidding me? It was awesome. That sassy mouth of yours laying into Liam. Girl, you and I are going to be great friends.” Kota winks, only confusing Mom more.
“What am I missing?”
“Nothing,” both Liberty and I answer right away, making Kota laugh harder.
I know this is quite sudden. Meeting my family isn’t something we have discussed, but now it’s happening, I’m enjoying seeing her squirm a little.
“Okay.” Mom looks between us like we’ve lost it before dropping it. “Have you guys had lunch? You should join us.” It’s not worded as a question because she knows I would say no. Instead, it’s a careful encouragement. One I won’t agree to if Liberty isn’t okay with it.
“Ahh, no. We haven’t,” I answer, searching out Liberty for her reaction.
Meeting my family is one thing, subjecting her to lunch with them unprepared is another.
“Well, you should come. We’re heading to Naples,” Kota persuades this time.
“You hungry?” I ask Liberty, trying to get a read on her.
“Yeah, I could eat.” She doesn’t seem stressed or put out by the change of plans. So I agree, telling Mom and Kota we will meet them there.
“You should ride with us, Liberty.” Kota smirks at my scowl. She’s enjoying this way too much.
“We will meet you there.” My tone doesn’t leave room to argue.
“Oh, Liam. This is way too much fun.” Kota laughs, following Mom back to the car. Only once they’ve left, and I’ve locked the house up do I ask Liberty if she’s really okay with this.
“We don’t have to go if you don’t want.” I pull her against my chest and cup her face with my hands.
“Are you kidding me? Why wouldn’t I want to have lunch with your mom right after she saw you eating me out?” she sasses.
“I’ll call her, tell her we aren’t coming.” I step back and reach for my cell.
“No, seriously, don’t. It’s okay. I want to go. They seem nice.”
“Nice? Woman, tell me what you really think in another couple of hours.” I grin, knowing full well how my mom and sister can get.
My mom will have her telling her life story in less than half an hour, and Kota will have made plans by the end of lunch, excited she made a new friend.
My family is crazy.
But so is Liberty.
So I know even before they do, they will be smitten by the end of lunch.
Oddly enough, this doesn’t frighten me.