Page 51 of The Virgin Playboy

“Obviously we can tell that now, but leaving the church rocked our family a bit. I'd say it took us until like two years ago to fully recover from it,” his uncle admitted as Graham uncomfortably smiled, like he wanted to be anywhere but this conversation.

“I don't know, religion did give Graham good values, but being with him, that curiosity that's usually discouraged in organized religion, to me, makes him a better human. I hope it's not held against him that the best parts of him were actually shaped by the LDS Church. He's just walking and using his own path with them.”

“See, this is why I love you,” and I suddenly l felt it was good that his mother hadn't ridden with us, because of how obvious our physical relationship was, being around us for less than ten minutes.

Graham was very affectionate, something I thought he would cool down on in front of his uncle, but he never robbed himself of an opportunity to kiss me, which he did a lot during our very long scenic drive.

New Zealand was literally everything Graham had described, times ten. I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to leave a place so green.

Graham was like a dog with a bone every time we passed a damn body of water that I almost wanted to throw him out the car and sacrifice him to the sea, his eyes were glued to that damn window.

But even a rich scenic view couldn’t have prepared me for when we actually did reach the Walker family home. I would have been impressed with a house that could comfortably accommodate a family of six, but the private property we pulled up to could’ve fit a family of twenty, plus staff.

His uncle offered to grab my luggage from the trunk as I just stared at Graham in disbelief until he acknowledged me. “What?”

“Nigga!” I said in an accusatory tone.

“Wow, I've literally never heard you say the N word before, so this must be more than you expected.”

“A mansion, though?” I doubled down.

“Sometimes I think, because I say I live on an island, you expect me to have been raised in some shack near a beach. Or because my family owns a dairy farm, you were expecting a rustic barn or something.”

“Well, I sure as hell wasn't expecting no mansion. With all this space and room, how would your folks even know if we were up to no good?” I joked.

“Trust me, my mother's got the hearing of a goddamn whale. That woman could hear a pin drop two-thousand leagues under the sea. The minute she hears rocking, expect to be asked to paint the house. I'm speaking from experience. There was no sneaking girls in my room without her lurking. I'm trying to save us some embarrassment.”

“I'll just have to be open to constant surprises. I'm sure there's more to come,” as we stepped out the car, greeted by more family, who I assumed to be his eldest and youngest sisters.

“Jaq, this is my older sister, Wilhelmina,” as she shook my hand, admitting how nice it was to finally meet me. “And this is Kylie. This is Payton,” as individually they singled each one out.

“Graham, the pictures you sent didn't do her justice. She's so pretty.”

“Oh, I like this one,” singling out the older of his younger sisters. “And it's a lot coming from someone just as captivating.”

“Graham, you have to meet Kaiwhare, she's so cute!” Payton, his youngest sister adorably bragged.

“I'm trying to see everyone, but I thought Dad would be here,” as he looked around like he was expecting him to walk out at the mention of him. The car with Mārama pulled up, and he asked again if his father was working.

His sisters hadn't been good at hiding it, but thankfully his mom was able to keep it together to explain his absence.

“Graham, we wanted to tell you, but didn't want you worrying the entire ride. It's why I was relieved to take a different car. I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to keep it for long. Your dad has been having some health issues⁠—”

“Excuse me, health issues?” Graham interrupted.

“He just hasn't been feeling himself for a while. We've got him round the clock nurses⁠—”

“Mum, how bad is it?”

“It's…good that you're here. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you.”

“Wilhelmina, how bad is it?” He turned to his sister, hoping for a clearer answer. “Geez, you guys don't tell me anything. Dad's flipping sick, and nobody thought to tell me?”

“Graham, can you blame us? Last time we pushed you, you left for your New York,” his mother defended.

“But I would have gladly put my issues to the side to be told my dad's freaking sick. I'm not a monster just because I'm no longer practicing.”

“We know, baby, it's just now's not the time to pick a fight. We'd rather you spend this time being with your father,” Mārama admitted, as Graham stormed into the house looking for his dad.