Page 181 of My Undead Love Life

My entire body froze as Micah let us go. I turned to see Mom at the edge of the clearing with Dad beside her. Mom had one hand pressed over her mouth. Dad looked like someone had struck him.

My vision blurred completely. “Mom,” I breathed.

Her knees nearly buckled. Dad caught her elbow, but she was already moving.

“Mom. Dad.”

She reached me first. Her arms came around me so tightly it almost hurt. I buried my face against her shoulder and sobbed, the sound tearing out of me before I could stop it. “You’re here,” she cried. “My baby. You’re here.”

Dad wrapped his big arms around both of us. “We thought we lost you, peanut,” he said. His voice broke on the nickname. I hadn’t heard it in months.

“I’m okay,” I sobbed. “I made it back. Tori made it back. You’re all here.”

“We’re here,” Mom whispered into my hair. “We’re all here.”

Dad kissed the top of my head. His beard scratched my forehead. I had never been so happy to feel anything in my life. None of us let go for a long time.

Eventually, Mom pulled away far enough to look at me. Her hands moved over my face, my shoulders, my hair. “You’re too thin, and you have more white in your hair.”

“It’s been stressful.”

Dad gave a wet laugh. Then, his gaze shifted over my shoulder. He saw Keith and pulled him into a hug. Keith hugged him back. “We mourned you,” Dad said roughly.

Keith shut his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Mom joined them, crying again as she cupped Keith’s face. “You brought her back.”

Keith’s gaze found mine as they pulled apart. “Not by myself.”

Everyone’s attention finally shifted toward Mad, Luck, and Oxi. They stood several steps beyond us.

Luck looked like he didn’t know what to do with his hands. His shovel was strapped across his pack, and his mismatched eyes were shining in the firelight. Oxi had gone completely still. His gaze moved over the treehouses and the family wrapped around me. Mad stood slightly in front of both of them. His axe hung at his side, but his shoulders remained tense. His golden eyes tracked the clearing, entrances, platforms, and weapons before returning to me.

I wiped at my face and laughed shakily. “I…um…”

Tori looked at me.

I glanced over my shoulder at the three men. “I need to introduce you to my three new boyfriends.”

A very noticeable silence settled over everyone. Luck’s eyes widened. Oxi closed his eyes briefly. Mad’s expression remained completely neutral.

Dad looked from me to Keith, who shrugged with a smile. Then, from Keith to the other three. “Three new boyfriends,” he repeated.

“Dad.”

“Plus Keith?”

“Yes.”

He counted quietly on his fingers.

I groaned. “Please don’t.”

“That’s four.”

“I know how counting works.”

“Well,” Dad said slowly, “that’s a lot of son-in-laws.”