When we finally pull back, breathless and smiling, his forehead rests against mine. “You’re getting pretty good at that,” he murmurs, his voice low and teasing.
“At what? Kissing you? I mean, I’d hope so. I’ve been doing it for months.”
He shakes his head against mine, laughing quietly. “No, playing piano.”
“Maybe I just needed the right teacher,” I whisper back, my fingers tracing the line of his jaw.
He chuckles, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead before reluctantly pulling away. “As much as I’d love to keep going, we need to get ready.”
“Do we?” I ask, batting my eyelashes at him. I don’t know who I’m kidding. I knew as soon as my parents asked me and Evan to come over for dinner it would become a whole thing. My parents have never met any of my boyfriends before, and I’ve been trying to convince myself and Evan that this isn’t a big deal.
“Yes,” he says, pressing his forehead against mine. “It’s going to be fine. You’ve already done the hard part and told them that you’re dating your arch-nemesis.”
“Arch-nemesis?” I echo, laughing. “Is that what you think you are?”
“Aren’t I?”
I shake my head. “More like enemies with benefits.”
“I like the sound of that.”
I’ve had more phone calls with my parents than I’ve ever had in my entire life over the past few weeks. They’ve been checking in every couple of days just to see if I’m breathing. I had wondered what life would be like after Christmas, but us playing a happy family and having weekly brunches and dinners was never in my vision.
We’ve never been that kind of family. Mom and Dad have always been too busy for it, and I got used to just spending time with my siblings and being a mom to all of them at times. Now walking into my house with a boyfriend andallmy siblings, even Alex, feels like I’m in an episode ofThe Twilight Zone. Alex flew back from London last week and is planning on staying here for a couple of weeks for some conferences. I know the real reason he came back was to check in with me, but after I told him myplan to apply for Lina Brown’s mentoring program, he eased off a bit.
That’s probably why it feels so out of character for Dad to trap Evan in a hug the second he walks through the door. I almost yell at him to get off, but Evan’s engulfed way too quickly, and my dad is at least twice his size.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” my dad says. I flash my mom a look to where she is standing behind him with her hands clasped together.
She steps up and rubs my dad on the back. “Okay, let him go, Gio. You’re going to suffocate the poor kid.”
He finally lets go, looking down at Evan. I immediately stand beside him again, but I don’t go to hold his hand. I know he’s probably freaking out in that tidy puzzle brain of his, and I don’t want to make him any more uncomfortable than he already is. His cheeks are a little pink, and the tips of his ears are red. He looks fucking adorable.
“Thank you. It’s really great to meet you too,” Evan says, straightening out his shirt. He gives me a small smile before looking at my parents, who are staring at him like he’s a rare animal in a cage at the zoo. “Scarlett has said nothing but nice things about you both.”
I exchange a look with my parents, and we all burst out laughing. This poor, sweet, innocent boy. I try to catch the air in my lungs, but I can’t stop the tears from falling. “You don’t have to lie to us,” Mom says. She reaches out to take Evan’s hands in hers like she always does to me, but when she notices the way he keeps pressing his thumb to each of his fingers, she holds back. “I bet some of the things she’s said about us have been nothing short of mean.”
“Which is completely justified,” my dad adds, offering me a sad smile. “But we’re trying to do better. We want to do better.”
He holds my gaze for a beat, and I can tell he means it. There’s a softness in his eyes, a sincerity that I’ve never seen before. If he’s going to try to make the effort to make things better between all of us, I’m going to have to meet him halfway. I’ve had to remind myself that things can get better if you let them. It also means I have to put in the work, and I’m willing to try.
I take in a deep breath. “Okay.Enough of whatever that was.” I gesture for Evan to follow me into the main living room where all four of my brothers are. With the amount of noise they make, you’d think a football team is living here. I point to Leo and Junior, who are playing a sports game that’s loaded up on the flatscreen. “That’s Leo and Junior. They probably won’t acknowledge your existence until dinner.”
“Perfect,” Evan says, sighing as he watches them yell at the screen. “It’s just like being at home with Miles and Xavier.”
I laugh, walking behind the couch and toward the bar where Alex is. He must have supersonic hearing or something because he turns immediately, shutting his laptop and sliding off the stool. “Scarlett! You’re here early.”
I shrug casually. “I’m always early.”
“You’re not,” Evan and Alex say at the same time. They slowly turn to each other, and my smile widens.
Evan holds out his hand to him. “Evan Branson. It’s nice to meet you.”
Alex shakes his hand firmly, nodding at him. “Alexander. It’s nice to put a face to the person who has been taming Scarlett.”
“Taming?” Evan guffaws, sliding his hands back into his pockets. “That is the furthest thing from what I’m doing.”
I grin. “It’s true. I cannot be tamed.”
