“Good. You can come to my parents’ with me.”
“I can’t just crash dinner at your parents.’”
“Not crashing, attending. Trust me, the more the merrier, especially when the more is you.”
“Berklee, your phone’s blowing up. Your mom has called three times,” Maggie says through the door.
“I’ll get it.” I climb out of bed, slide into my jeans and open the bedroom door, just enough for my arm to snake out and reach for the phone. I don’t want to risk anyone seeing her still lying naked in her bed.
“Why, Berklee, what nice ink you have.” Maggie laughs, placing the phone in my hand.
“Thanks,” I say, shutting the door and twisting the lock before she can try and weasel her way in.
I toss Berklee the phone and then head to the bathroom. Once I’m done, I find her still on the phone. “Mom, I kind of have plans today.”
“Tell her yes. Whatever it is, yes,” I whisper in her ear.
“Sure, okay fine. Yeah, I’ll be there in an hour.”
“I’m going with you,” I say, kissing her neck.
“Uh, I might have someone with me.” She’s trying to keep her voice from giving away the fact that I’m kissing her. “Yeah, uh, Crew. He, uh, might come with me.” She’s quiet and then says, “It’s complicated, Mom. I can’t answer that.” She listens again. “Okay see you soon.” She drops her phone to the mattress and sighs.
“What’s complicated?” I ask immediately.
“This.” She points her finger back and forth between the two of us. “What was I supposed to say to her?”
“That we’re dating.” I don’t see what’s so complicated with that.
“Is that what we’re doing? I’m still kind of processing the last twelve hours.”
“Yes.”
“She invited me over for lunch. It’s been a while since I’ve been there.”
“I’ll call my parents and move our plans to later today so we can do both.”
“Are we really doing this? Are we taking each other home to the parents? Isn’t this crazy to you?”
“The only thing crazy in this situation is the fact that my girl is naked and I’m about to push her off to the shower instead of sliding inside her heat.” I climb out of bed and pull her with me. “We’re doing this, babe. You and me. We’ve been skirting around it for weeks and it’s happening. Now go get ready. We don’t want to be late. I still have to swing by my place to shower and change.”
“I could—”
“Nope. Not letting you out of my sight. Not giving you the chance to second-guess this.” I pull her naked body close. “We.” Kiss. “Are.” Kiss. “Doing.” Kiss. “This.” I smack her ass. “Shower, woman, before I take you back to bed.” She actually looks like she’s contemplating what the right decision is, and I throw my head back and laugh. “Go.” She grins, turns and runs for the shower.
While she’s gone, I finish getting dressed and check my e-mail. Next weekend is the grand opening of Club Titan, and no matter how much I want to just get lost in her, I can’t. I have other responsibilities.
“You sure about this?” she asks, pulling my attention from my phone.
She’s wearing tight pants and a long sweater, her wet curls hanging over her shoulders. “You ready to go?” I ask, ignoring her question.
“I need to dry my hair. You didn’t answer me.”
“That question doesn’t deserve an answer. I’m in this, babe. You and me. Never been more sure about anything.”
She looks a little worried but turns back to the bathroom to finish drying her hair.
Fifteen minutes later, she’s stepping into the room, soft curls now dry. “Ready,” she says, going into her closet and grabbing a pair of boots. Sitting beside me on the bed, she slides them on. They’re sexy as fuck, reaching up to her knees. “What are we going to tell them?” She points to her bedroom door.
“Why do we have to tell them anything?”
“You spent the night.”
“I did, and it’s none of their fucking business what we did in this room, behind that closed door.”
“Crew, they’re my friends. More like family.”
“Then tell them the truth, that we’re together.”
“Maybe we should keep this just between us for a little while. You know, just until you’re sure.”
I pull her onto my lap and lift her chin with my finger, forcing her to look at me. “Baby, I’m sure. Nothing and no one can change my mind on this. I want you, and we are happening. I don’t want to hide how I feel about you. I don’t want to have to control myself when I’m out in public with you. I want to touch you whenever I want, kiss these soft lips when the urge strikes.” I place a chaste kiss on her lips to bring the point home. “No hiding.”
“Okay,” she agrees. She still looks unsure, but I’ll prove it to her. I’ve had more time to accept the fact that we’re more, officially, than she has. I need to remember to give her time to catch up.
I grab her hand and bring it to my lips, placing a kiss on her wrist. Her shoulders relax a little.
“Okay.” She goes to the door and turns the lock as I follow close behind her. Maggie and Barry are both in the living room. “We’re headed out. Be back later,” she calls out to them.
“Where you headed?” Barry asks, looking over his shoulder from where he sits on the couch. He’s watching us with an expression I can’t quite name. I step a little closer to Berklee and place my hand on the small of her back, close enough to get my point across but not too much to freak her out.
“Mom and Dad’s for lunch,” she gives them the honest answer. That’s my girl.
“Tell them we said hi,” Maggie says from the recliner.
“Will do,” Berklee calls out, then leads me out the door.
CREW IS READY in ten minutes. Men have it so easy. Is it too much to ask that he take his sweet-ass time so I can freak out in private?
He insists on driving and, of course, I’m in the middle of the seat. I would love to say that his caveman ways piss me off, but then I’d be lying. I want everything he’s offering.
“Just pull in behind Dad’s truck,” I tell him when we reach my parents’ place. He parks and hops out, offering me his hand to help me down just like he always does.
“I’ll be good, promise.” He kisses my forehead and links our hands together, leading me to the front porch. Not one ounce of apprehension with this man; he knows what he wants and doesn’t let anything stand in his way.
I don’t bother knocking, just walk right in. “Mom, Dad, we’re here,” I call out.
“In the kitchen, sweetie,” Mom calls back.
I take a deep breath and head that way, my hand still held tight in Crew’s. “Mom, Dad, you remember Crew,” I introduce them again like an idiot. Of course they remember him. We just sat when them at the game two days ago.
“Of course we do, dear,” Mom says. “Come on in and sit down. It’s ready. I just make pulled pork sandwiches and those homemade steak fries you love.”
“Crew, good to see you, son.” Dad offers him his hand.