“Honey,” she cuts off my rampant thoughts. “You love kids; you always have. And kids love you,” she says softly. “I’m sure you’re freaked. Honestly, I’d be worried if you weren’t.” I listen to her pull in a deep breath. “I don’t know what will happen between you two, but I wanted you to know we like him.”

“Mom.” I sigh, worried she is mentally planning a wedding and preparing for more grandkids, even older ones she can spoil rotten—

“I liked him, honey,” she says, and my chest gets tight, because she’s using the tone she always uses when she really wants me to hear her. “Honest to God, it was a little scary how much he reminded me of your dad when we first got together.”

“What do you mean?”

“At Cobi’s wedding, I saw the way he was looking at you before he approached you at the bar. I saw the look on his face when he finally got your attention, and then—” She pauses. “—I ummm… saw you two together outside.”

“What?” I squeak.

“I promise I wasn’t spying,” she says quickly. “I just noticed you were a little off balance when you snuck out the back exit, so I followed you just to make sure you were okay. By the time I got out there, you were with him, and… well, I could tell you’d be okay, so I left.”

“Oh my God,” I whisper, now completely humiliated.

“It was sweet the way he was holding you,” she says dreamily.

“April was cozied up to a guy all night. Did you think that was sweet?” I ask, wanting to change the subject.

“Your sister is a different breed of woman, honey, and your father and I have come to terms with that. I don’t know what kind of man she’s going to end up with, but we’re praying he’ll be the kind of man who knows how to deal with her.”

“She needs someone to deal with her,” I mumble, still annoyed she called not only our sisters but our mom to let them all know I was going on a date. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s on the phone right now with our cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, letting them know the news.

“Don’t be mad at her. She’s relieved that things are working out after what happened.”

Oh my Lord, I thought this couldn’t get worse, but I was wrong. “She told you?”

“She was upset.”

“I cannot believe she told you what happened,” I hiss. I didn’t mind her sharing with our sisters, or even our cousins who have the same X chromosomes, but our mom?

“She felt like it was her fault.”

It was her fault. Okay, it wasn’t, but still, in my head it kinda was.

“It doesn’t even matter, since you’re going on a date with Gareth tonight,” Mom reminds me, sounding happy once more.

As much as I want to argue, I know it will be pointless. And really, I just want to get off the phone and try to relax before I have to start getting ready. “You’re right, it doesn’t matter.”

“Exactly,” she says, and then adds, “Have a great time tonight.”

“I will.” Hopefully.

“See you at breakfast.”

Wait… what? “What?”

“We’re all meeting you for breakfast in the morning,” she says, and I blink at the ceiling, wondering how it would feel to be in a family that didn’t care at all about what I was doing or who I was going out with.

With a short shake of my head, I realize I probably wouldn’t like it much. My family might be insane and a whole lot in my business, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

“I guess I’ll see you in the morning.” I sigh.

She laughs then says what she always says when we’re hanging up. “Love you beyond each and every galaxy, beautiful girl.”

“Love you more than that, Mom, and tell Dad I love him just as much.”

“He knows, but I’ll tell him anyway,” she promises, and I know she’s grinning, because I can hear it in her voice. “Have fun tonight, and be safe.”

“I will.”

“Until later, honey.”

“Until then.” I pull my cell from my ear and glance at the clock. I see I still have an hour to read before I need to start getting ready, so I turn my phone on silent so I won’t be interrupted, pick up my Kindle that’s resting on my lap, and flip it on. I proceed to get lost in a story that’s filled with adventure, magic, and romance, and while I read, I try not to think about my boring life. I try not to wonder what would happen if I had an adventure of my own.

Still, I think and wonder until I look at the clock and realize that Gareth is going to be here in less than a half an hour and I’m going to be late for our first date.

Six

Gareth

I SIT UP on my weight bench then lean forward, placing each of the fifty-pound weights in my hands on the ground at my feet, when I hear Max shout, “Dad, we’re home!” over the music I have playing.

I get up, turn down the radio, and shout back, “I’m in the garage!” listening to the sound of footsteps on the hardwood floors get closer. “Did you guys have fun?” I ask Max as he jumps through the open doorway with his brother, my twin sisters following close behind.

“Of course, they had fun,” Sejla says as I pick up my weights and place them on the rack where they belong.

“What is that smell?” Selma asks.

“It’s called sweat.” Max laughs.

“It’s gross. You need a candle or something in here,” Selma waves her hand in front of her face.

“It’s a gym. It’s not really supposed to smell good,” Mitchell informs his aunt with a smile, and I chuckle.

“Well, boys are gross,” she says with a disgusted expression.

“What are we doing tonight, Dad?” Mitch steps up onto the treadmill and turns it on before proceeding to walk backward.

“You boys are hanging with Grandma for a few hours tonight.”

“Are you working with Grandma B? Can I come to watch?” Max asks, and I shake my head.

“Where are you going then?” Mitchell asks, studying me.

Fuck, it shouldn’t be so fucking hard to say I’m going on a date, but it is, since it’s not something I’ve ever had to tell them before. “I have a date.”

“A date? Like… with a girl?” Max asks, and I hear either Selma or Sejla laugh, but I’m not sure which one, since their laughs are almost as identical as they are.

“Yeah.”

“With who?” Mitch questions, and I look at him.

“December.”

“Miss Mayson?” His brows knit together over his eyes.

“Yeah, you okay with that?” Shit, I don’t even know what I’d do if he says no.

“That’s cool.” He shrugs.

“You’re going out on a date with December Mayson?” Selma asks, and I look at her.

“Yeah.”

“Wow.” She looks at Sejla, and they share a look that I’ve learned over the years is actually a full-blown conversation.

“Who’s December?” Max asks, glancing at everyone in the room with a look that states he’s feeling left out.