AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Parker gives me an unimpressed look, but it’s ignored when his mom opens the cake container.
She lifts the top cover and her mouth falls open. “Oh, Kylie, this is sublime. You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble for us.”
“It’s no problem,” I insist. “I enjoy baking for other people.”
She places the lid back on. “I already can’t wait for dessert.”
“Is there anything I can do to help with dinner?” I offer.
“No, you’re our guest,” she replies. “You two can watch TV with the boys.”
Parker smirks. “Hard pass.”
When Parker wanders into the dining area, I follow and notice the gallery-style wall of photos adjacent to the head of the table.
“Oh, wow,” I murmur, zeroing in on a particular photo. “Was that your dog?”
Parker moves to the photo wall with me. He smiles, tapping the framed photo of him and Kurtis, sitting either side of a golden retriever. “Yeah, that’s Gus.”
“He’s a gorgeous dog. I can see why seeing Brandy gave you a jolt.”
“Yeah, it was surreal.”
I pan across the array of family photos. Some are clearly professional photo shoots, like the holiday-themed images, and others are candid, like ski trips and birthday parties.
“It’s so nice you have all these photos on display,” I say in awe.
Parker shrugs. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Hello everyone,” Mr. Kelly announces, moving into the dining room from the rear.
“Hi honey,” Mrs. Kelly calls from the island counter. “How was work?”
Mr. Kelly huffs, smiling as he sets his briefcase on a dining chair and flicks his keys onto the table. “It was work,” he jokes, and then double takes at me. “Oh, Kylie. Hello there. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“Hi, Mr. Kelly.”
He looks me up and down. “How are you?”
“I’m good, thank you. And you?”
Mr. Kelly grins. “Very well. Wow, Parker, how’d you manage to land such a stunner?”
I hope he’s ready to totally trip when Parker’s with Yvette.
Parker smirks. “It took a lot of convincing.”
Mr. Kelly chuckles. “And what’d he do to win you over, Kylie?”
“Just by promising a spring break that would change both our lives,” I say, stifling a laugh.
“Big call, son,” Mr. Kelly says. “Hope you’re putting in your best effort.”
Parker folds his arms. “Trying to.”
Mr. Kelly brushes back Parker’s hair and kisses his forehead. “That's all you can do.”
Parker leans into his dad, and I could just melt.
