Chapter 46
46
NICKY
“K nock, knock!” I loudly announce my presence as I saunter through the side door to my parents’ home.
Better safe than sorry. I’d rather not walk in on any naked surprises under this roof. I would die on the spot.
I texted Mom on the way, to see if Ronan and I could stay the night here. That way we can be present at Grammy’s family dinner tomorrow evening. Technically, we could have driven back to Starlight Falls and returned in the morning but I just feel the need to be close to my family tonight.
Thankfully, Ronan doesn’t seem to mind. He follows me into the house, earning a playful swat from me when he sneakily pinches my ass.
Even though I told my mother we didn’t need anything special except a place to sleep, when we arrive, snacks and drinks are spread out on the kitchen table for us.
Ronan says hello, and then, it’s like I’m suddenly forgotten about.
Like, hello. What daughter?
My mom is absolutely enamored. She's so impressed by Ronan. I’m quickly starting to see that all the food she set out ahead of our arrival was not for me at all. It’s for the big-time hockey stud that’s visiting her home tonight.
We haven’t even been able to make it out of the kitchen, since we walked in. Mom grins at Ronan. “Would you like another whiskey, dear?”
“Oh no, I shouldn’t.” Ronan pats his belly. “Got to stay in hockey shape.”
She giggles—seriously, giggles—as she skips over to take his empty glass to the sink.
Meanwhile, Dad is a bit more wary of the newcomer. Much like my overbearing brothers, my father has always been protective of his only daughter when it comes to guys. And even though I’ve been careful to keep my little schoolgirl crush hidden, my father is sending off some serious Dad vibes about Ronan.
“What’s your ten-year plan?” he asks gruffly when Mom goes upstairs to change for their date night.
“Oh, sorry, sir?” Ronan frowns.
“What are you going to do with yourself after hockey?” my father clarifies. “You can’t play hockey forever, right? So what are you going to do if you have a career-ending injury or when you retire?”
“I, uh, erm…” Ronan fumbles.
“ Dad . Stop,” I beg, rolling my eyes. “Don’t you need to go get ready, too?”
With a sneer, he reluctantly heads out of the kitchen to join my mom.
When I asked about coming over, my parents already had plans to go out. They’re getting all dressed up for their weekly date night, and then they’re going to spend a night at a guesthouse just outside of town.
Even though I’m still sort of in my anti-romance era, I think it’s all very sweet.
Nowadays, Mom and Dad take their date nights very seriously, something I never saw them doing back when they were married the first time. But I think that’s part of what makes their relationship so strong now. They work at it. They focus on each other. Whatever placeholders were in their lives during those fifteen years when they were split up are long gone now. These days, my parent are in the right headspace for rewriting their love story.
In any case, them having a date night tonight works out nicely, meaning that Ronan and I will have the house to ourselves.
I’m having all sorts of sexy ideas about bedtime with Captain Brighton.
Just when I think we’re in the clear, Dad shows up in my bedroom doorway, wearing a crisp suit. Ronan and I are standing in my childhood bedroom, and I’m embarrassing myself by showing him my old yearbooks off my bookshelf.
Dad clears his throat, demanding Ronan’s attention. “Follow me, please.”
After shooting me a worried glance, Ronan follows my father out of my bedroom. I tag along to keep the peace.
But Dad doesn't go far. He just crosses the hall and opens the bedroom door across from mine. “This is where you will sleep,” he tells Ronan, swinging open the door to the room that serves as Sparkle’s princess suite.
It’s all pink butterfly decals on the wall and mermaid-patterned ruffled sheets on the itty bitty bed.
My father turns to me. “Ronan is to stay in his own bedroom.”
“Dad. You don’t…It’s not like—”
He shakes his head, cutting me off.
That’s when it becomes clear to me that there’s no point in lying. The entire family knows that something is going on with Ronan and me. Even though I keep trying to hide it, even though I can’t quite figure out how to label it.
“I don’t need to hear it,” Dad says, his eyes on my guest. “My roof. My rules. No funny business with my only daughter. You hear me?”
Ronan’s throat bobs. “Yes, sir.”
I roll my eyes.
Back when Dad and I used to work together, he acknowledged me as an adult. Now that I’m back home for one night, I’ve suddenly reverted back to being his little girl. He’s ridiculous.
When my parents are all dressed and ready to go out, Ronan and I walk them to the front door. Dad goes out to start the car, and Mom kisses me on the cheek, promising to see us at family dinner tomorrow night.
“Have fun!” She waggles her brows at me, whispering on her way down the driveway. “And no hickies!”
“Mom!” I shake my head.
Good lord. My family is giving me whiplash tonight.