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“Yeah. Looks like Zee drove down.” He had an edge to his voice.
Okay, she’d met his brother. Now she’d meet the folks. Would they be more like Mikah, confident and friendly? Or like Zee, uptight and a touch smug? Not that she knew his brother. They’d met for all of five minutes, and in all fairness, she’d been pretty drunk. Hopefully, he hadn’t shared that with Mom and Pop.
Piper hopped out, and her shoes crunched on the salted ice. Bitter wind whipped through her coat, stole her breath, and her every thought. Too cold, freezing, death imminent, get back in the car. Fly home.
Mikah came around to her side, carrying both the bags.
Seeing winter whiteness from the heated car seat had been intriguing. Touching the unbearable icy weather was something else. Why would anyone live this far north? Up ahead had to be warmer, so she followed him up the walkway. The house helped block the wind, brr.
Mikah stuck his thumb on the lock and let them into the warm home.
Inside the foyer, his family members were pulling on their coats and clearly heading out. Piper recognized Mikah’s brother Zee with Francesca from the bar. The older couple had to be Mikah’s parents.
Why would anyone willingly go out in these temperatures? She’d find the nearest fireplace and huddle there until spring.
Mr. Czerski pulled Mikah into a hug. “Hey there.”
His mom embraced him next.
Mikah nodded to his sibling and Francesca. “Didn’t know you’d be here.”
Zee shrugged. “Why wouldn’t we be? Dad’s going to show us the new community boat dock.”
Mikah’s lips pinched, and he held out his arm to Piper. “This is Piper Amvehl.”
“Oh.” His mom covered her lips. “You said work colleague. We assumed you meant a guy.” She blew out a breath and threw her gaze around the expansive foyer. “You can take the couch in the studio. Lily’s home too, you see.” His mom winked at Francesca and Zee. “And as these two dears aren’t married yet, of course they still need separate rooms. Mr. and Dr. Czerski this time next year. Can you believe it?”
Francesca raised her hand. “I can.”
Piper shrugged out of her coat, which felt like it was covered in cold. Mikah hung it on the hook beside his own. She shivered. “Thanks.”
His mom eyed her casual travel outfit and glanced at the better-dressed Francesca, who wore a silk blouse with loose-fitting trousers underneath a designer wool coat.
Piper’s outfit came up lacking. Their handbags on the entry bench each cost more than her car.
His mom smiled in welcome. “Mikah, show Piper around, give her time to get refreshed.”
“Thanks for having me.” Almost sorry she was wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt, but not really, Piper shook his parents’ hands with her freezing one. “Nice to meet you.” She did the same for Francesca and Zee. “Nice to see you again.”
Francesca looked blank. “Oh, yeah, you were the girl at the bar when we stopped by to say hello to Mikah.”
Okay. A normal person could get away with that just-connecting-the-dots look. But if Francesca was sharp enough to be in medical school, which had now been mentioned twice, she had enough acumen to remember a face from a few weeks ago. Piper didn’t call her on her B.S. “Did you decide on a residency program?”
Mrs. Czerski gasped. “Please don’t say you’re still considering Austin, that would be ridiculously far, from your parents and us. Absolutely not, dear girl.”
Francesca patted her shoulder. “No decision made.” She gave Piper a light glare like she’d spilled a secret and scared Mrs. Czerski on purpose. “Whatever I decide, we’ll all decide together, as a family.”
“Seizing the first offer is a rookie move, like my middle bro here. He signed with the farthest state he could drop to because they offered first.” Zee sounded jovial, but the jabs weren’t hidden.
Francesca grabbed her purse. “What do you do for the Snowers organization, Piper?” Her face tightened. “Are you one of the girls? Er. Pep dancers.” Francesca made it sound like the team’s dance squad was made of dollar-bill pole-spinning strippers.
Piper felt her head nodding, and had a tremendous desire to say, Yes, I am a team dancer. Just to see Francesca’s bitchy reaction. She forced the urge down. “I work part-time while I’m finishing my master’s degree.”
“In history,” Mikah added.
“Of course, she’s not a dancer,” Mrs. Czerski sounded relieved.
OMG. Who had Mikah brought home before her? And what was so wrong with being on the dance team? They weren’t even dating, so his parents needed to dial back the judgment.
