48. Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Matt
I couldn’t stop smiling as I held Riley’s hand, running my thumb over her ring finger while I drove us to my parents’ house. The muscles in my face twitched from how hard I smiled.
“I’ll come back out for the gifts later,” I told her as I jumped out of the car and ran over to open her door. I could hear the music inside from the driveway. Her hand gripped mine as I led her inside at an almost run.
“Mom, Dad, I’m home!” I announced shouting over the music.
Riley’s eyes widened as she took the decorations that covered the kitchen. It put my apartment to shame. Mom and Shelby had their backs to us peeling potatoes at the counter. Dad had the oven open sliding pans into it. All three were belting out "All I want for Christmas is You."
I reached for the speaker on the table and turned the volume down. “Mom, Dad, I’m home!” I tried again. I lifted Riley’s left hand showing off the ring. “And I have someone for all of you to meet.”
“You must be Riley,” My dad said, turning around first.
Shelby had us in a bear hug before I could register that she had moved from her spot at the counter. “Matt has not shut up about you for months. I can’t believe you’re actually here.” It had been hard for me to open up and share about Riley, but once I did I couldn’t turn it off. She was all I wanted to talk about to anyone that would listen. Shelby pulled back to look at us. I’m sure Riley was thinking the same thing everyone did when they first met Shelby.
“Wow, you and Matt are –”
“Please, please hold that thought. Getting told I look identical to my brother is not really a compliment,” Shelby interrupted her.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you too. Shelby, right?” Riley corrected herself.
“That’s me. Don’t tell Madison and Grace, but I’m Matt’s favorite sister.”
I reached over and patted her head. “Everyone already knows that, Shelby.” I reached for Riley’s hand again and held it up. “Is no one going to say anything?” This was a big deal, right? They should be more excited about this.
Shelby rolled her eyes and pulled us both into another hug. Mom and Dad smushed us in from each side talking so fast I couldn’t understand a word they were saying. All I cared about was that my fiancée was right here with me.
Fiancée.
The world felt so right. She said yes. This was real.
Months ago I swiped right on this beautiful woman and had the best date of my life thinking I would never see her again. Now she was beside me with my ring on her finger meeting my parents.
I pulled Riley to the walk-in pantry and grabbed two aprons off the hook. “Thank you,” I said, pressing a kiss against the top of her head.
“For what?” She reached for the ties around her waist. I knocked her hands away softly, pulling her against me and reaching behind her to tie them.
“Everything.”
I twirled her around to the soft music flowing in from the kitchen for a few moments, ignoring the instructions Mom was already shouting at us. “Better than I imagined,” I said against her lips as I kissed her one more time before letting her go.