Reagan laughed ruefully. “Yeah. You’re right, I guess I am.” She stood up from the bench and looked back at Callie. “Now, please tell me you’ll come over and help me figure out what to wear tonight? Chase is meeting my parents and I think that will be a big enough deal, they don’t need to find out about my tattoo as well. So, we need to choose an outfit that will cover it.”
Callie stood as well, and linked arms with Reagan. “Let’s go. I love you, Reagan, I always will.”
“Love you too, Cal.”
Chapter 13
Chase ran his hands anxiously down the front of his shirt as he waited outside for Reagan. Despite his earlier confidence, he had to admit he was nervous about tonight. Even if it had only been a week since their official first date, this was different. He had never been in a relationship that was serious enough to warrant meeting the parents, and from what Reagan had said in her text messages earlier it would be more than just mom and dad. Gammie was going to be there, and Reagan’s brother Simon had driven down from Seattle. The only one missing would be Daniel, who had a work event he couldn’t get out of. He just hoped they all appreciated the ‘tattooed musician look’ as much as Reagan did, and that he looked presentable enough. He had no idea how formal Reagan’s family would be but at the end of the day, her opinion was the only one that really mattered. So, if they couldn’t handle him in jeans for Sunday night dinner, then that was too bad. Chase was not about to go and buy chinos just for the parents.
“Hi, Chase.”
Reagan’s soft voice distracted him from his musings. He looked up and felt like a cartoon character as his jaw dropped. She stood in front of him, beautiful in a flowing peasant skirt and a short-sleeved blouse that skimmed her torso, showing off those curves that drove him wild. Reassured by her casual look, Chase felt himself relax. He reached for her and tugged her into his arms. With his hands clasped behind her back and hers wrapped around his neck, he bent down to press a soft kiss to her lips.
“Hey, Red. You look incredible.”
Reagan’s eyes were closed, a stunning smile on her upturned face. The sunlight glinted off her fiery hair, making it glow with shades of amber and gold highlighting the deep auburn. She blinked her eyes open and Chase felt his heart stop at the depth of emotion he saw reflected in her gaze.
“We had better get going so we aren’t late,” she murmured.
“Yeah if I don’t stop holding you soon, we won’t be going to dinner. That’s not exactly the first impression I want to make with your parents.”
He reluctantly pulled away, then turned to open her door to the car. Once she was in and the door was closed, Chase walked around to his side. He had to pause before getting in and discretely adjust a certain part of his anatomy that had reacted strongly to embracing Reagan. His physical attraction to her had not diminished at all from the night he had first laid eyes on her.
The drive to her parent’s home wasn’t long. They had moved away from Salem, where Reagan had grown up with Callie, and now lived in the Beaverton suburb of Portland.
When he pulled up at the rancher style home, Chase raised his eyebrows at the number of vehicles parked in the driveway, many of which were very well-maintained vintage cars.
“Hey, Red, is this some surprise party you didn’t tell me about? I thought you said it was just your family.”
Reagan laughed at his obvious confusion. “It is, I promise. Just my parents, Gammie, and Simon. My dad likes to restore old cars and apparently, he’s showing off his collection to you today.”
Chase turned to her and asked, “Is that a good thing?”
Reagan’s expression turned teasing. “That depends on how well you know your automotive history.”
Chase’s eyes widened, then narrowed again as he grinned. “I guess I can try to make my high school shop teacher proud, twenty years later. He loved vintage cars and may have taught me a thing or two.”
Reagan patted his arm reassuringly before she took his hand. “You’ll do just fine, rock star.”
Reagan opened the front door and walked inside, pulling Chase behind her. He took in the warm and welcoming vibes of the house; the family photos decorating the wall. It felt so unfamiliar to him, so unlike the foster homes and group homes he had spent much of his childhood in. A brief pang of regret mixed with envy and longing swept through him. If his mom hadn’t died, what would his life had been like? Would he still have started a band; would he have discovered music at all? Or would he and his mother have eventually settled down in a home like this, instead of the tiny one-bedroom apartment they had shared while she worked two jobs to keep food on the table. He would always admire his mom for everything she had done for him, from getting clean to doing her best to provide for him. Still, experiencing a real family in a real family home was a new thing for him.
Reagan was filled with an ease that he had never seen before. It was as if by coming home she had shed her protective layer and was fully relaxed and safe to be herself. He was fascinated by this, as the difference was subtle, yet undeniable. Her smile was a touch bigger, her movements more natural. Her entire being had exhaled all stress and pressure the moment she walked through the front door of her family home.
“Mom? Dad? Simon? We’re here!” she called out as they walked down a short hallway that opened into a large family room. A glass sliding door at the back of the house was open and voices filtered in from outside. Then, the doorway was filled with a tall, slender man who had an easy smile. He was sharply dressed, yet still casual in khakis and a polo shirt. Chase quickly determined this must be Reagan’s brother, Simon.
“Hey, sis, we’re out back. Dad just got back from picking up Gammie, so we’ve just poured a glass of wine and I’m filling them in on life up in the wettest city on earth.” Simon folded Reagan into a hug as he spoke, then with his arm around Reagan’s shoulder, focused his gaze on Chase. “And who is this handsome man?” he asked teasingly.
Chase smiled and put out his hand. “Chase McCormick. I’m guessing you’re the big brother I’ve heard so much about.”
Simon startled Chase by taking his hand and tugging him into a group hug that squished Reagan in the middle. Chase didn’t hesitate to join the embrace, earning a squeal from Reagan when he tickled her side and a laugh from Simon.
“In the Grant family, we hug. Deal with it or you might as well leave.” The elderly female voice came from behind Simon, and when Chase looked, he saw a petite woman, leaning on a cane with a welcoming smile on her face.
“You must be Violet. Reagan has told me so much about you.” Chase started to walk over to the woman who had clearly been such a positive influence on Reagan.
“You’ll call me Gammie, young man, that’s what family does,” was her stern reply, before she too pulled him down into a gentle hug.
“Okay, Mom, don’t scare the poor man.” This voice was deeper than Simon’s, and gently chiding. “I’m Lewis, this is Betty. Welcome, Chase.” Reagan’s father didn’t immediately go for the hug, instead opting for a handshake. Chase complied, aware that this was probably the family member he’d have to work the hardest to win over.
