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I pull into my mom’s driveway, turning to Declan as I kill the engine.
“Are you sure that you’re ready for this?” I ask as the front door bursts open and my mom bounds down the front stairs.
“I’m sure,” Declan says, giving me a quick kiss before he climbs out of the passenger side.
“Hey, Mrs. Livingston,” Declan says as he helps me out of the driver’s side.
“Hey, Mom!” I call, closing the distance between us and wrapping my arms around her full waist.
“Hey, munchkin! How was your trip?” She eyes Declan for a minute before she leans in and whispers to me. “And what in the world are you doing with Declan Mason?”
“Mom, I want you to meet my husband. Declan, this is my mom, Linda.”
My mom is speechless and I look nervously between her and Declan. She recovers fast and opens her arms to him.
“Welcome to the family, Declan,” she says with a grin.
“Thanks, Mrs. Livingston.”
“Oh, please. Call me Linda…or Mom,” she says with a wink, ushering the two of us into the house.
Eloise and my other friend Madelyn are both in the front sitting room. They’re both practically bouncing in their seats, waiting to see us.
Eloise lets out a whoop, leaping off of the couch and bounding over to me.
“Emma!” she shouts, wrapping me up in a tight hug.
Madelyn joins us a few seconds later and I laugh, hugging both of them back.
“Hey, guys,” I say when they finally let me go. “Have you met Declan?” I ask, pointing over my shoulder.
They both say hi to him, looking back to me with raised brows. I blush, knowing that I’m going to need to tell them everything later.
We spend the afternoon with my mom and my friends. Mom feeds us lunch and we hang out, talking about the trip, Vegas, and the wedding. We still need to go see Declan’s family, so we leave before dinner.
I hug Eloise, Madelyn, and my mom goodbye before we head back to my car.
“I’m surprised that you’re alright with this,” I say to my mom as we stand on the front porch.
“Well, I do wish I had been able to attend your wedding, but I’m just happy that you’re happy, honey. You look in love. More confident, and there’s no denying that Declan loves you, too. He barely takes his eyes off of you,” she says with a chuckle.
“Yeah, he’s pretty great.”
“I’m sure that Taylor and her terrible friends didn’t take it well,” Mom says and I grin.
“Not at all.”
“Good,” my mom says, giving me one last hug before I head over to the Beetle.
We drive across town to his parents’ house and spend the rest of the night with them. They surprise me by taking the news just as well as my mom did. I think they’re just thrilled that he settled down with a local girl and therefore know he’ll be moving back here soon.
We promise to visit again before Declan has to leave for his NFL summer camp.
“Turn here,” Declan says as I drive us over to my apartment downtown.
I turn, slowing down as we pass by the Austen estate. It’s this big white house with a wraparound porch and a picket fence. It’s right on the water, too, and has always been my dream home.
“I’ve always liked this house,” Declan says and I look over to see him watching my face.
