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“Hey.” I stopped short of the massive oak-and-glass double front doors. “We’re in this together. You know that, right? No matter what happens, we’re going to deal. Together.”
“We’re a team.” He offered me a tentative smile. “And you promise? Even if my family is insufferable?”
“I’m going home with you, not them.”
“Thank goodness for that.” The real Avery cheeky grin was back. “Okay, let’s do this thing. And don’t think I’ve forgotten about that reward.”
“Counting on it.” I was still chuckling when we entered the spacious foyer to meet his parents by the spiral staircase where they’d positioned themselves, the picture-perfect hosts. His mother was small and blond, like Avery, in a shimmery teal dress, while his father had Avery’s piercing eyes and the padding a lot of ex-football players put on their big frames after playing.
Avery did an admirable job handling the introductions, which, as predicted, went fine, if a bit stiff.
“Malik. How nice to meet you.” His mom said my name carefully like she’d had to practice it in her head a few times. She had a plastic smile, the kind where the world could be burning and she’d still be politely passing out appetizers, bland expression never faltering.
“Thank you for having me. This is a lovely home.” It was more a sprawling celebrity mansion, but I’d been around the mega-rich enough over the years not to overtly stare at the opulent surroundings.
“It is. I couldn’t imagine anywhere else for our engagement dinner.” A tall, slim blonde who had to be Megan swept down the stairs, followed by a beefy Black man in a tailored tan suit with a pocket square that matched her strappy pink dress. “I’m Megan. And this is Jaden.”
“Jaden Ivy.” I stuck out my hand, decidedly more enthusiastic about this round of introductions. “I was in the stadium last year when you set the single-season rushing record. Damn, man. You can run. Word is you’re gonna challenge for all the career records.”
“If I can stay healthy, my brother. God willing and all that.” He returned my handshake with a hearty grip. And unlike his future in-laws, his grin didn’t seem at all forced.
“You watch football?” Avery’s famous dad sounded more than a little suspicious, but I merely laughed.
“Not like my bloodthirsty mother. She’s the real fan. Took her to the game when she was in town last fall.” The football game had actually been Lacey’s idea, but probably the less said about my ex-fiancée, the better. “Mom likes the distraction of having a game on. Football. Rugby. Aussie rules. The more hits, the better while she’s grading or writing.”
“I like your mom already.” Megan had a bubbly voice and the sort of inner light that made it easy to see why she was Avery’s favorite.
“What was your sport?” Jaden asked me with the easy assumption of someone surrounded by professional athletes all the time. “You look like you could have played some mean defense.”
“Malik has a black belt in Aikido and was an intelligence officer in the navy. Worked with the SEAL teams.” Avery’s braggy tone was too cute. “Not my SEAL team, but ones out of Virginia.”
“Way to namedrop that you’re a SEAL.” An older, taller, broader version of Avery entered the foyer behind us with a woman with an alarming resemblance to Avery’s mother, but younger, right down to similar cut and color dress. “I still say I could take you one-on-one, little bro. Heard you had some big news.”
“Brian…” Avery’s mother made a noise not unlike an alarmed parakeet.
“What?” Brian had back-slapping hugs and handshakes for everyone, including me. “How’s it going, man?” His grip was crushingly tight, like someone who had arm-wrestled at plenty of frat parties in college. He gestured at my cane and black walking boot cast. “And what are we doing making you stand around on your bum leg?”
“Let’s find you a seat.” Next thing I knew, Megan was escorting us past the foyer into an epic living room with ocean-view picture windows and a patio beyond.
“Avery!” A female voice squealed from one of the sofas as Tiffany turned around to greet us. She patted the space next to her. “And, Malik! Come sit here.”
More greetings, more hugs, and I took a seat next to Tiffany, not at all surprised she’d wrangled an invite from her connection to Megan. Avery moved like he was going to sit as well, but Megan steered him away, pointing him toward an impressive bar set up along the far wall, complete with a bartender in a white shirt and black tie.
“Avery, go get your boyfriend a drink. We’re doing a signature MegDen cocktail over at the bar with ginger, organic honey, and melon.”
“Sounds lovely.” Honey plus liquor was not usually my favorite, but I could try it, especially given how friendly Megan was trying to be.
