“I assume you and Lauren both explained to them the whole throuple thing?”
He nods. “Yes, and they’re fine with it. Natalie did have to explain it a bit to the boys, but they didn’t really give a crap, to be honest. Brody’s taken them under his wing and is currently showing them how to defeat some boss on his video game.”
“Your nana?”
He huffs out a laugh. “Is old, yes, but not old-school.”
I gulp hard.
“If you hide out in here any longer, they will send out a search party, Marcus. Dad’s been drooling over the turkey since he and Mom walked in the front door. Everyone is refusing to dig in until you get your sexy ass out there.”
“They didnotsay my sexy ass,” I huff.
He smirks. “Nah, that was my own addition. It’s true though. This dress is”—he mimes a chef’s kiss—“M-A-G-N-I-F-I-Q-U-E.”
“Thank you for the boots, by the way,” I tell him.
“You’re welcome. Can you walk in those heels, though? That’s the true question.”
“I’ve done some practicing…”
He chuckles. “And skimming your head off a few doorframes, I presume.”
I laugh. “Yeah, that too. You know what the best part about them is though?”
“What’s that?”
“In them, I’m—six se-ven,” I sing-song.
He presses his lips together and rolls his eyes. “Trying to be trendy might work for Brody, but not me. Enough stalling,Marcus. Let’s do this.”
He stands, holding out his hand. I take it and together we make our way to the bedroom door. When he opens it and we step out, I hold my breath.
“Marcus! There you are!” Caleb’s mother, Maria, coos.
She eyes me up and down, and I swallow hard. Then, she pulls me in for a hug, which is awkward at best given our giant height differential. Caleb’s shorter stature is genetic. To alleviate the strain on my back from bending, I squeeze her back and lift her off her feet.
“My gosh, have you grown eventallerover the past decade?!” she asks when I set her back down on solid ground.
“You’ve shrunken a bit, Maria,” Caleb’s dad, Ned, says. He comes over and gives me a hearty clap on the shoulder.
Maria narrows her eyes at her husband. “You hush. Hehasgotten taller, and he’s wearing those gorgeous heels. My gosh, Marcus, are thoserealsuede?”
“I think so. I’m not sure, actually. Caleb got them for me,” I note, feeling a lot lighter now that I’ve stepped out and no one is laughing in my face.
Maria winks at Caleb. “Got your momma’s good taste in shoes, baby.”
“I’d give you a hug too,” Nana Wilmot chimes in, “but I’m afraid my old bones can’t handle being picked up and treated like a ragdoll these days. Guess you’ll just have to toss down some ibuprofen after you get over here and bend down to give me a smooch.”
Natalie, Caleb’s sister, clucks her tongue and bats at her grandmother. “Nana, stop badgering everyone for kisses you old hussey.”
Nana blows a raspberry at her. “Cut it out, you know I mean on the cheek.” She turns her attention to me. “Well, what are you waiting for? I’m not getting any younger!”
Natalie gives me a playful look and whispers, “Don’t let her slip you any tongue.”
“Stop picking on your nana,” the guy at Natalie’s side, I’m guessing this must be Danny, chimes in. Sure enough, he greets me on the way over to give Nana her kiss. “You must be Marcus. I’ve heard so much about you today. Pleased to meet you; I’m Dan—or Danny, Dan-o, Dan the Man… Whatever you want to call me, really.”
“Nice to meet you,” I reply, holding out my hand for him to shake.
