“So, are y’all going to just stay in here all day or what?” His older brother, Connor, stepped farther into the room. “I mean, we’ve been waiting a good ten minutes for you.”
Pulling away from Paige, Andrew embraced his brother. “What’s up, bruh?”
“Nothing much.” Connor hugged Paige. “You look beautiful as always, Ms. Mills.”
Over the years, Paige had grown close with Andrew’s family. She’d even attended a few functions as his guest. He wondered if his family would embrace this new change in their relationship.
“Hey, Connor,” she said. “How are you?”
“I’m well. Why don’t y’all come into the family room. Mom has been asking for you all day.”
Paige slipped her hand in Andrew’s again and let him lead her to the family room. His mother was on the couch watching the end of her favorite game show. To his left, his younger brother, Damon, was sitting at the desk typing furiously on his laptop.
“Hey, family,” Andrew said.
Mom’s eyes lit up when she saw him. “Drew, you’re finally here.” She gasped. “Paige! You’re here, too.”
Damon stood. “What’s up, Drew?” He walked over to them and gave them each a quick hug.
They made their way to the couch. Andrew leaned down and kissed his mother’s cheek. “I told you I was coming.”
“Hi, Connie.” Paige hugged his mother. “You look beautiful as always.”
“Thank you. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too,” Paige said. “How are you feeling?”
“In some pain,” his mom answered. “But right now, it’s subsided a little. So I’m grateful for that.”
“Is there anything I can do for you?” Paige asked.
Mom waved her off. “Yes, have a seat. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about that last movie you starred in. I’m so glad she didn’t choose that other brother. He was crazy. Bipolarandan alcoholic. Goodness, I wanted to kill him.”
Paige laughed, taking a seat on the adjacent sofa. “You’re not the only one. People have been tweeting about him nonstop.”
Andrew stared at Paige as she chatted with his mom about movies and game shows. Even though she was nervous to meet Mrs. Fulton, Paige had hugged her anyway. She was everything people believed about her and more.She’s amazing.
Connor walked over to him and handed him a beer. “When did this happen?” his brother asked.
Eyeing him, Andrew said, “None of your business.”
“You brought her home, man.”
Andrew popped the top off his beer and took a long pull. “It’s not like she hasn’t been here before.”
“Never as your girlfriend,” Connor said.
His attention drifted back to Paige, who was now showing his mother something on her phone. Seeing the two women he cared most about enjoying each other’s company did something for him and made him want to have more moments like this. Forever.
Damon approached them. “Paige is still fine as hell.” He stared at Drew out of the corner of his eye. “Think she’ll finally give a brotha a chance?”
“You might want to stand down, Dame.” Connor snickered, shooting Andrew an amused stare. Taking a sip of his beer, Connor added, “Unless you’re ready for a beatdown.”
Andrew pinned his younger brother with an unamused stare. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Told you.” Connor shrugged.
Laughing, Damon said, “I had to try.”
