36. Claire
36
Two Weeks Later
I hold my side as laughter tears through me again as I talk with Leif’s mum, Freya. His whole family is here tonight, celebrating the opening of Parlour Tricks Beauty.
I had my first official ‘meet the parents’ dinner last weekend.
I almost threw up in my handbag the entire drive over there, but as soon as I stepped through the door, the nerves dissolved.
Leif’s mum was on me like a pig in mud, ecstatic that her son had brought a girlfriend over.
She demanded to know everything about my life, and in turn, shared everything she could about Leif. That he’s always been a proud family man, a doting protector to his sisters, giving and loyal to his friends, a hard worker and a kind man.
Basically, all the things I had assumed myself, but made me fall a little harder hearing all the ways his family saw him.
The love within Leif’s family is unlike anything I’ve seen. They’re the kind of family you see in movies.
They joked and laughed with each other, passing affection around like candy. They truly enjoyed each other’s company, and I found myself wanting to linger in their soothing love. Snatching it for myself.
Later that night, when Leif was asking me how I felt, I told him how lucky he was to have such a big and loving family.
I cried when he told me he and Lex were my family, and he’d share his with me, but if I was really set on a big one, he’d make me one. Then he fucked me silly.
Leif’s dad, William, joins us with a big smile on his face, waving behind him before focusing all his attention on his wife, wrapping a firm arm behind her so he can pull her into his side. I’ve not had much experience witnessing loving, functioning couples. But these two are a shining example.
“What are you doing?” Freya asks, words laced with playful teasing.
“Rejoining you, my love.” And he says it with all the devotion a person could possibly muster when talking to the one they share their life with.
After spending some time with Leif’s parents, I understand where Leif’s love language comes from. He’s all about touch and words, and for a girl who previously had no faith in love, it does a lot to settle my mind and heart. I never have a moment to doubt Leif’s intentions, he’s always there showing me.
“I thought you left to get me a drink, yet your hands are empty.”
William nuzzles into Freya’s cheek. “My hands are full of you, love.”
Freya raises one unimpressed eyebrow at him, making me muffle my laugh behind my hands.
“Sorry.” He places a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Be right back.”
William makes his way through the crowd but when I turn back to Freya, she has a look full of admiration in her eyes.
“You’ll have to teach me your ways,” I say. “Having a man run around for you like that, as if you’re doing him a favour.”
“That is the key, dear.” Her bright blue eyes, the mirror image of Leif’s, look at me with earnest. “You ask just enough of them to make them feel needed, you do things for them that make them think they need you and then…” She stops to look around, as if she’s about to drop an exclusive. She leans in close to whisper in my ear, “Then you do something you would normally ask them to do, and say, ‘It’s alright, I did it myself.’ I remember William going on a fishing trip with his friends one weekend when Leif was about five. I’d been asking him to help me move the furniture around in the living room for weeks already, and when he came back after those three days, I’d done it myself. I still laugh over the fright in his eyes when he saw I’d managed it without him. I told him the neighbour’s son helped me. Nine months later, the twins were born.”
I burst out laughing, holding onto Freya’s arm.
The slight Swedish lilt in her accent as she tells her stories makes them all the more funnier. She’s direct in her words, but the tone is so musical that you know anything she says is never meant with malice. She’s mastered the role of being an independent woman and a proud matriarch. She’s a woman I’m fast finding myself looking up to with every moment spent with her.
“It sounds like trouble over here.” A warm, firm hand comes around my waist, pulling at my stomach so my back meets the hard planes of my boyfriend’s chest as he stands behind me. “Hey, Bombshell.”
“Hey, Lover Boy.” I smile over my shoulder up at Leif.
He holds a flute of champagne up in front of me. “I noticed you didn’t have a drink, and the toasts will start soon,” Leif says.
“My darling, Claire,” Freya says, fondness glittering across her features. “I have nothing to teach you.”
“Should I be concerned?” Leif says in my ear.
I turn over my shoulder to look at him with a smile.
“Oh my god, hide me.” Our little love bubble is interrupted by Lex cramming herself between us. Leif lifts his arm to accommodate her.
“Why are we hiding you, Lex?” he asks.
I love how much the two of them get along. They’re both such down to earth people. And early risers. Ew.
But Lex’s confirmation that Leif is a good guy makes my doubt ease.
I’m trying to lean into my gut, telling myself that it’s so easy to jump in with Leif because he’s the one. But years of running and avoiding don’t go away overnight.
Leif is patient, though. He lets me leap and retreat as I need, his arms open wide, welcoming me into his safety net. He shows me how to trust and have faith by being open and vulnerable with me. He reassures me every step of the way.
There’s only one step I’ve been avoiding. Introducing him to my mother, which is happening tonight.
“Caleb is here,” she squeaks. “Why is Caleb here?”
“Well, he is Heart City royalty. Pretty sure he could get himself onto any guest list,” I say.
The guilty look on Leif’s face suggests otherwise. “I may have mentioned it to Mason.”
“Who’s Mason?” Lex asks.
“His brother.”
“How many brothers does he have?” I speak over my shoulder at Lex, still nestled in between Leif and me. “Didn’t you meet his whole family at the signing party you went to?”
She scoffs. “I was a little thrown by the sight of my one-night stand, dressed to the nines with a blonde goddess on his arm. Forgive me for not remembering names.”
Leif quickly bobs behind Lex’s shoulders. “Shit, he just saw me.”
“Way to let down the team, Lee.” Lex scowls at him.
“Why don’t you just be a big girl and go talk to him,” he sasses back.
“We haven’t spoken since the incident.”
“When you told us all he had a pretty dick?” Leif asks.
“Oh, babe.” I laugh “I forgot to tell you about the other thing that happened.”
“Don’t you tell him!” Lex shrieks.
Leif looks over her head, making a face at me that says, you’ll tell me later . I wink at him right as Caleb, and, I’m guessing, Mason Heart, join us.
I recognise him from The Wayside, the one with different coloured eyes, always behind the bar, pissing off the tattooed grump, Gage. Leif lifts his arm from around us to shake hands with the guys.
“Mase, Caleb, this is my girlfriend, Claire, and the owner of Parlour Tricks.” Mason pins those dual-coloured eyes on me, a big goofy grin on his face as we shake hands in greeting, but Caleb’s eyes never leave Lex.
“And I think you both know Lex,” he says.
“Hello, Siren,” Caleb rasps, and I can feel my friend stiffen behind me.
I move myself away from her to stand beside Leif, leaving Lex front and centre to Caleb’s attention. Not that the man couldn’t find her through a sandstorm.
My hand finds her back in silent support. I know she’s got a crush on the guy, but they work together now. She’s gotta be able to speak to him.
She’s been the pillar of strength for me with Leif, and in every step of my life. It’s time for me to be her guiding light now. “Show him who’s boss, honey,” I whisper.
Her shoulders straighten, and I feel the air fill her with resolve where my palm rests on her exposed shoulders. “Hello, Mason. Caleb.”
Mason’s eyes ping pong between his brother and my best friend. “Is it just me, or is it tense as fuck in here?”