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He walks past the girls, going to his parents first, giving his father a hug and then bending to kiss his mother’s cheek. I’ve met them before, so I don’t know why I’m so nervous about this. Oh, that’s right, because now it’s different. I’m not just his friend’s wife. I’m now the woman he’s with. I refuse to use the word girlfriend at this age. “Hi, honey,” his mother says softly while she hugs him. “You look good.” She smiles at him while he moves from her to Zoe, kissing her cheek and hugging her in the same way he did his mother.
“Hi,” Zoe greets cheerfully, “look at you.” She puts a hand on his cheek. “He’s glowing.”
“I’m not glowing,” he jokes before hugging Viktor. “Hey.” The two of them share a look before Viktor slaps his shoulder and squeezes.
“He’s not glowing,” Viktor says, “it’s just the look of love.”
He shakes his head and laughs. “I guess that might be it.” He smiles at me and the girls, who are standing in front of me.
“I’m sorry.” I finally get my words together. “Let me take your coats.”
“I’m in love with this house,” Zoe says, turning to see the window. “It’s even more stunning than the pictures.”
“Isn’t it?” I say, walking to her as she hands me her jacket. Christopher takes it out of my hands.
“I got it, baby,” he says, grabbing the jackets and placing them on the stairs. I look over, seeing his parents share a look when both of their eyes go up, then they try not to smile.
“It smells amazing,” Caroline states when she catches me staring at her.
“We made lemon muffins,” Luna shares, jumping up and down, “and I did the icing.”
“Well, then, I’m sure they’ll be amazing,” Justin says, awkwardly standing at the front door, not sure where to go.
“Please come in.” I shake my head. “I’m so sorry.” I laugh nervously. “Welcome,” I say to them with a huge smile.
“I want to see this kitchen,” Zoe states. “From the picture, it looked out of this world.” She walks into the house. “Oh, it’s stunning.”
“Isn’t it?” I smile as I’m running my hand along the granite island.
“Come and see the couch,” Luna says to Justin, taking his hand.
“I want to see the couch too,” Viktor says. Rain smiles and grabs his hand, and they pull them into the family room.
“Would you like some wine or maybe a mimosa?” I’m about to say something else when I feel Christopher behind me, his hand gripping my hip.
“Baby.” He bends down. “Relax.” He kisses my neck right in front of his parents.
All I can do is stare at him, the stare turning into a glare. “Christopher,” Caroline says, “stop making her nervous.”
“I’m not making her nervous.” He points at himself. “You guys are all making her like this.”
“Christopher,” I hiss, then look at his mother. “I’m not nervous.”
“Well, at least one of us isn’t.” Caroline laughs, pulling out a stool. “When I met Justin’s family, I think I shook like a leaf.” Caroline puts her hands on the counter in front of her, folding them together. “They were just?—”
She looks over at Zoe, who also pulls out a stool. “We were a lot.” The two of them laugh.
“It’s silly since we know each other. We’ve known each other for years,” I finally say, “but it’s a different hat.”
“That’s a great way of putting it,” Caroline says, the softness in her eyes helping me relax a bit.
The doorbell rings, and I look over at Christopher, who looks at me. “I’ll get it,” he says, rounding me and heading for the front door.
“Sorry, we weren’t expecting anyone else.” I look at them and hear voices and laughter from the front door before I see Matthew walk into the room, slapping his hands together. “Couldn’t let you guys have all the fun.” Max follows him into the room, shaking his head behind him.
He walks over to Caroline, kisses her cheek, and then hugs Zoe. “Heaven forbid we have something where you aren’t invited to.”
“Heaven forbid,” Max repeats behind him. “You would have thought you guys were keeping state secrets when he found out.”
