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I laugh and let her push me out the door. When she starts to close the door in my face, I stop it with my hand.
“Asher…” she warns.
I grin as I lean down and give her a quick kiss, then let her close the door. Chuckling, I turn and make my way to the dresser and pull out another shirt before going to the kitchen for a beer.
I just tip the bottle to my lips when I hear the doorbell. Setting my beer down, I walk to the door and open it. My mom rushes forward, just as she does every time I see her, and envelopes me in a hug.
“Hey, Mom,” I greet her when she pulls back.
“Hey, sweetie,” she says and moves to the side to let my dad enter.
“Dad,” I say, and give his hand a shake.
“Something smells good.” He moves straight for the kitchen. My mom rolls her eyes, but follows behind him. The man would eat a live cow if given the chance.
As she’s passing by me, she whispers, “Prepare yourself.”
Before I get a chance to question her, shouts come from outside. Seconds later, I’m barreled backwards. A head of beautiful blonde hair buries itself in my chest. Kia looks up at me with blue eyes, filling with tears. My stomach cramps at the sight of the pain she’s obviously feeling.
“Please tell him to let me go, Uncle Ash,” she wails, before burying her head back in my chest.
“I’ve already given you my answer, Kia, and that’s final,” Owen says, coming in after his distraught daughter, his jaw ticking.
I have a feeling I know what this is about, and Kia confirms it when she whips around and faces her dad. “But I don’t understand why!” she cries, stomping her feet. I have to hold back my chuckle at her tantrum. “I’m sixteen. All my other friends are allowed to go out on dates. Why can’t I?”
“Because no daughter of mine will go out with the likes of that boy,” Owen thunders, causing Kia to wince.
“You don’t even know him,” she whispers and wipes her eyes. “If you’d just give him a chance, I know you’d like him.”
Owen drops his head and gives it a shake, before lifting his eyes back to Kia’s. “I know his type, Kia. I used to be his type.”
Bea walks up before Kia can have another fit. She goes to her daughter and pulls her into her arms. She looks over to her husband with accusing eyes.
He sighs, but doesn’t give in. “I’m sorry, but my answer is still no.”
Kia cries louder against her chest and Bea leads her away. Owen faces me and runs a hand through his hair.
“I take it she’s still going on about this new boy?” I ask, just as my younger brother and Nessa walk through the door.
“Yeah. She just doesn’t get it. I’ve been in this boy’s shoes. I used to be just like him.” He looks off toward the kitchen where his wife and daughter are. “Until I met Bea.”
Owen used to be a hothead, causing problems when he was younger. Before he met Bea, he had been in jail a couple different times for theft. I can understand why he doesn’t want his daughter to become involved with someone that reminds him of himself. I know I sure as hell wouldn’t let any of my girls.
“Give her time. She’ll learn that you’re right.” I slap his back.
“Uncle Ash!” I look down at the little chestnut haired girl with big brown eyes.
“Hey, squirt.” I get down to my knees so we’re eye to eye.
She pulls something from behind her back and holds it out to me. “I made you something in art class.”
She places a glass figure in my hand. It takes me a minute to figure out what it is. When I do, I break into a smile.
“It’s beautiful, Nessa. Thank you.”
She leans over and kisses my cheek before scampering off toward the kitchen, where everyone else is. I stand, making sure to be careful with the fragile glass in my hand.
“Hey, bro,” Alexander says, slapping my back.
