Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
COLE
I’m lounging in the living room with Lily under my arm and Hudson and Gage spread out on the sectional, all of us nursing our morning coffee and debating what to make for breakfast when three sharp knocks hit the front door, followed by two more. The pattern is so distinct it makes my stomach drop.
My eyes widen, and I shoot to my feet so fast I nearly knock over my chair. “Oh god.”
“Everything okay?” Lily asks from across the table, concern creasing her brow.
Hudson and Gage exchange a knowing look. “Brace yourself,” Gage tells her. The fucker’s lips twitching with barely contained amusement.
“Seriously, prepare yourself,” Hudson adds, trying not to laugh.
I barely register their words as I rush toward the front door, mind racing. I love my parents, but they’re a lot. Especially Mom. She has zero filter and even less concept of personal boundaries. The last thing I need is her scaring Lily off when we’ve barely started.
I get the door halfway open before Mom pushes it the rest of the way and wraps me in one of her bone-crushing hugs.
“My sweet boy! It feels like it’s been years!” She pulls back to study my face like she’s checking for signs of illness or starvation.
“Your vacation was only two months, Mom.”
“Like I said, years! Hudson! Gage!” she calls over my shoulder, already scanning the room for the guys.
Dad steps through the doorway behind her, his weathered face split by that wry grin I inherited. He presses a warm dish of cinnamon rolls into my hands and shakes his head. “Your mother made these this morning and wouldn’t let me have a single bite until she was sure you guys were fed.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I balance the dish carefully, the glass dish still radiating heat.
“Oh my goodness, hello there!” Mom’s voice carries that particular pitch that means she’s spotted something interesting. I turn to see her zeroing in on Lily like a heat-seeking missile. “I’m Carol, Cole’s mom and this is John. You must be—”
“Lily,” my girl says, standing and extending her hand with a polite smile that doesn’t quite hide her nervousness.
Mom completely ignores the offered handshake and pulls Lily into a hug instead.
“Lily! That’s right. You and your mom moved here when you were in elementary.
Oh! And you’re the sweet realtor who helped the Scrivener’s sell their house when they moved into that lovely senior center.
They couldn’t stop talking about how patient and kind you were. ”
Lily’s cheeks flush pink. “That’s so nice of them to say.”
I catch Hudson and Gage wearing matching smirks, clearly enjoying my suffering. Assholes.
“Weren’t you dating Matt?”
Lily swallows. “Uh, yeah. I was. We broke up.”
“His fault?” Mom asks with a sympathetic look.
Nodding, Lily sighs. “Yup.”
“Well, on to better things, hmm?” Mom keeps her arm looped through Lily’s, practically vibrating with excitement. “So tell me, sweetie. Are you dating one of these three? They’re single, you know.”
The color drains from Lily’s face before flooding back in a rush of crimson that spreads down her neck. She opens her mouth but no sound comes out.
Time to intervene. I clear my throat. “How was Bali? Did you get those pictures you wanted to show us?”
“We have some amazing shots,” Dad says, patting his shirt pocket. “Wait until you see the sunrise over Mount Batur.”
I carry the cinnamon rolls to the kitchen table. The sweet, spiced scent fills the air as I set the dish down and grab plates from the cabinet. “Everyone hungry?”
“Starving.” Gage pulls out chairs.
Mom practically drags Lily with her to the table, still chattering away about their trip. I serve everyone but Lily a warm roll, the glaze dripping down the sides, and settle into my chair.
“Don’t you dare forget to give her one,” Mom scolds.
“Oh, it’s okay. I’m lactose intolerant,” Lily says quickly. “Those look amazing, but I’d regret eating one.”
“I wish I’d known. Next time I’ll bring something for you to eat. How long will you be staying?”
“Can I see those pictures, Dad?”
Mom scrutinizes me, but she lets it go as they launch into their travel stories, Dad pulling out his phone to show photos of historical places and beaches and the villa they stayed in. For a few blessed moments, they’re wholly distracted, but I know it won’t last.
I lean close to Lily, my voice barely above a whisper. “Sorry about this. They can be overwhelming.”
She gives me a confused look. “Why are you apologizing? They’re nice.”
A pointed throat-clearing from across the table makes us both freeze like kids caught sneaking cookies before dinner. Mom squints as she studies us. That calculating look I know all too well has me bracing for what comes next.
“So you are dating her!” she announces triumphantly, pointing between us.
Lily stammers and flushes again. We really need to work on her poker face.
“I . . . we’re not . . . it’s complicated . . .” Lily trails off.
I open my mouth to explain, but what the hell am I supposed to say? That we’re all falling for her but she doesn’t know it yet? That she’s living with us temporarily but we’re hoping to make it permanent?
Gage saves us both. “Actually, we’re all dating Lily.” He shoves a bite of cinnamon roll into his mouth and grins at me and Hudson with puffy cheeks.
Leave it to him to drop a bomb and then carry on like nothing happened.
The words hang in the air for exactly two seconds before Dad starts chuckling. “Well, thank God. I was worried someone might break up the trio.”
Mom claps her hands together, her face lighting up like Christmas morning. “Oh, this is wonderful! Honey, this is so much better than that awful girl Cole brought home that one time. Remember her?”
Dad wrinkles his nose. “Unfortunately.”
I wince, remembering Sierra and her constant complaints about everything from my job to my friends to my relationship with my parents. She’d lasted exactly three weeks. Outside of that, I’ve been too busy to really consider dating, and my mom hasn’t let me forget that she wants grandchildren.
“Now, Lily, sweetie,” Mom continues, leaning back in her chair with an angelic smile that I know means a full interrogation is coming. “How are they treating you?”
“They’ve been wonderful,” Lily says, the genuine warmth in her voice makes something tight in my chest loosen.
“Good. And how did this all start?”
Lily glances between the three of us, clearly trying to figure out how to navigate this conversation. “Well, it’s still pretty new.”
“How long has my son been keeping this secret from me?” Mom demands, shooting me a glare that could melt steel.
I hold up my hands innocently. “Mom, we literally just figured things out ourselves.”
She sniffs, unconvinced. “I raised you boys to share important news with family.”
Technically, she didn’t raise Hudson and Gage, but we’ve been friends long enough she’s like a second mom, especially to Gage.
Dad leans back in his chair, studying us with those keen eyes that miss nothing. “Leave them alone, hon. They’re adults.”
“I’m just asking questions!” Mom holds up her hands before turning back to Lily. “Are you happy, sweetheart?”
The question catches Lily off guard. She blinks, considering it, and when she answers, her voice is soft but sure. “Yeah. I am.”
Pride swells in my chest. She’s happy. Here, with us. That’s exactly where we want her to stay.
Dad pushes back from the table, groaning slightly as his joints protest. “Well, this has been lovely, but I need to get that oil change done before this arthritis decides to act up worse. Boys, you mind giving an old man a hand? These fingers don’t work like they used to.”
I give him an exasperated look. He probably doesn’t even need one, but he knows Mom isn’t done so he’s giving her an excuse to hold Lily hostage. These two are trouble. I start to protest, but Hudson is already standing. “Of course. Let’s get to it.”
Gage rises with them, but I linger. “I’ll be right out,” I tell them, glancing at Lily. The thought of leaving her alone with Mom makes me nervous. Not because Mom’s mean—she’s not—but this is a lot. What if Lily’s uncomfortable?
Mom waves me away. “Go on, Cole. Lily and I will be fine. Won’t we, dear?”
Lily nods, appearing completely relaxed. “We’ll be okay.”
“You’re sure?”
“He’s so sweet, isn’t he?” Mom murmurs.
I give her a look that I hope screams stop, for the love of god, stop. “Lily?”
She’s biting back a grin, playfully nudging me. “I swear it’s fine. Go help your dad.”
“Okay.” I spare my mom one more warning glance. “Be nice.”
Hand on her chest, she says, “I am always nice.”
“Uh-huh,” I say with a shake of my head, but I get up anyway. “Don’t embarrass me.”
“I’d never,” Mom vows.
Rolling my eyes, I head to the door, shoulders tense until I hear Lily’s light and airy giggle. I exhale in relief. Well, thankfully, Lily isn’t miserable.
Despite my parent’s unannounced visit, a smile tugs at my lips.
In all my scenarios about how they might react to learning about us and Lily, I never imagined it would be this easy.
This accepting. When I brought Sierra home, Mom had been too polite.
She’d made all the right noises, but I could tell she didn’t approve.
Probably because Sierra had complained constantly about my job, my friends, the amount of time I spent with my parents.
She’d wanted me to choose—her or everyone else I cared about.
But Lily fits. She barely knows them but already she talks to my parents like they’re old friends, answers Mom’s rapid-fire questions with patience and humor.
Dad glances at me as I stop in front of the truck. “All good?”
“Yeah,” I say with a nod. “Better than expected.”
We watch Hudson and Gage working on the oil change for a few silent moments before Dad clears his throat.
“Your girl’s something special.”
“Yeah,” I agree, looking at him. “She really is.”
“Good with your mom too.”
My smile widens a little more. “A hefty feat.”
He chuckles then gives me a stern look. “Don’t talk bad about your mother.”
I hold up my hands in surrender and his features soften instantly. He loves mom so much he’d defend her against the whole world. I’ve always wanted to find a relationship like what they have. My focus shifts to the house.
Maybe I finally have.
While Hudson and Gage wrap up the oil change with Dad supervising, I head inside to check on Lily. The familiar scent of fresh coffee greets me as I step through the front door. I follow the rich aroma to the back deck where Lily and Mom are sitting in the lounge chairs.
Steam curls up from their mugs while they chat like old friends. Lily’s face is flushed from laughing, her green eyes bright with whatever story Mom’s been sharing. The sight makes my chest tighten in the best possible way.
“Mind if I join?” I plop down beside Lily who grins at me, the smile full of pure fucking mischief. That look. Oh god. I know that look. My gaze cuts sharply to Mom. “You told her about the naked lawn mowing?”
“Of course not.” Mom’s face is the picture of innocence right before she bursts into laughter. Lily joins her, covering her mouth with both hands as giggles spill between her fingers.
I rub the back of my neck, heat crawling up from my collar. “In my defense, I was nine and I was sleepwalking.”
That only makes it worse. Both women dissolve into helpless laughter, Mom wiping tears from her cheeks while Lily doubles over. Her red hair catches the afternoon sunlight, and even though they’re laughing at my expense, I can’t remember ever being happier than this exact moment.
Dad appears at the sliding door, his weathered face softening as he takes in Mom’s tear-streaked cheeks and bright smile. He crosses to her with that same look of adoration he’s worn for as long as I can remember.
“Come on, honey, let’s leave these kids alone for a while.” He extends his hand to help her stand, then plants a passionate kiss right on her lips.
“Dad!” I complain, turning my head away. “God, I need to bleach my eyes.”
Lily wraps her arms around my waist from behind and rests her chin on my shoulder. “Oh please. They’re sweet.”
“You hear that?” Mom beams at Lily like she just found her new favorite person. “She likes me better than you.”
I breathe out. “That’s debatable.”
Dad threads his fingers with Mom’s and starts leading her toward the house. “Come on, sweetheart, we have plans. Or did you forget about our date?”
Lily and I follow them through the house toward the front door.
“Never,” Mom swears, giving everyone a wave. “Lily, I’m calling you this week. We have so much more to talk about.”
My stomach drops. “Mom, no.” There are too many more embarrassing moments from my childhood.
“Oh yes.” She winks at Lily. “I haven’t even gotten to the story about the time you got your head stuck in the banister.”
“Or when he tried to dye his hair green,” Dad adds helpfully.
“Or the phase where he only wore superhero underwear to preschool.”
“Mom!”
She chuckles. Dad leads her out, and the door closes behind them with a soft click, leaving us in sudden silence. I turn to face Lily, searching her expression for any sign that my family’s chaos has scared her off.
“Are you okay?”
She nods, that same mischievous glint still sparkling in her eyes. “Never better. Feel like mowing the lawn?”
I groan, letting my head fall back. “You’re never going to let me live that down.”
The front door opens again and Gage and Hudson tromp in, wiping their hands on shop rags.
“Did Carol tell her about the naked mowing?” Hudson asks, reading the situation with frightening accuracy.
“Oh, she told me a lot more than that,” Lily confesses, grinning wickedly. “Apparently Cole had quite the adventurous childhood.”
Gage chuckles while Hudson shakes his head like he expected nothing less from my mother. I pretend to hate every second of this torture, crossing my arms and scowling at the lot of them. “You’re all dead to me.”
The truth is, watching Lily fit so seamlessly into the chaos, seeing her laugh until her sides hurt with the people who matter most to me, fills something inside my chest I didn’t even realize was empty.
She belongs here. With us. With me.
The realization hits like a freight train, stealing my breath and making my heart pound against my ribs. I’ve never felt anything close to this before. A bone-deep certainty that she’s it for me. That whatever this thing between us is, I’ll do everything in my power to keep it.
Keep her.
Lily catches me staring and raises an eyebrow. “What?”
“Nothing.” I reach for her hand, tangling our fingers together. “Just thinking.”
“Dangerous territory,” Gage observes dryly.
“Shut up,” I tell him, but I’m smiling as I squeeze Lily’s hand.
Yeah, I’m going to keep her.