25. Will
WILL
Priestley’s been complaining that the gas station hoagie I made him eat gave him rabies since the second we hit the highway.
“Rabies? That’s dramatic, Rosie. And impossible.”
“Seriously, if I start foaming at the mouth—”
“Shut it, silly.” I turn the stereo up on our victory playlist and hit the gas.
This is the first time we’ll be seeing my family as an official couple. My ma is so excited she sounded like she was gonna burst when I spoke to her on the phone.
I hope Priestley is prepared for the level of attention he’s gonna get from my relatives. I hope he knows it’s all gonna be good. That these people are welcoming him and are happy to see us together.
I take Priestley’s hand, thinking about what he’s been missing out on all these years.
“Love you,” I say, lifting his knuckles to my lips to kiss them.
He tries to hold in the coy smile but fails.
“You get cornier the farther from Princeton we get.”
“Can’t be letting my peers see how corny I am, can we?”
“No, you’re right. Though Professor Moreno definitely knows something’s going on between us.”
“Yeah, but I think she approves.”
He shuffles in his chair. “So, about the sleeping arrangements at your parents’ house….”
“You’re in the basement.”
I let myself enjoy the disappointment on his face before I fix it.
“But Ma fully expects me to sneak down there after everyone goes to sleep.”
He smiles before smothering it. “I would prefer it if your mother didn’t know what we’re getting up to of course, but it’ll have to do.”
“Can’t spend one night away from me, Rosie?”
He looks at me through his dark lashes and my heart stutters at how beautiful he is.
“No,” he says, this time there’s no hint of humor in his voice. “I can’t.”
“Damnit, why do my family have to be so eager to see me?”
He laughs, throwing his gaze out of the window again like he hasn’t just got me all riled up.
I start to get excited to see everyone as I enter the familiar neighborhood and look for somewhere to park Priestley’s car. I still can’t believe he let me drive it all the way here.
Dad comes to the door as soon as I switch the engine off.
“Hey, son, Priestley. Need some help with the bags?”
I’d tell him we’re good, but he’d only try to help anyway. I hand him the lightest one.
Mom rushes out into the hallway and makes us put our bags down to give her a hug. She starts talking a mile a minute.
“Your brother and sister should be home from school soon and Aunt Linda will be here for dinner, and Uncle Stu and your cousin—”
“Jesus, Ma, why all the people?”
She slaps me on the arm. “It’s the first time you’re bringing a boyfriend home. Everyone’s excited.”
“You make me sound like a loser who couldn’t get a date until now.”
She pinches my cheek. “No, just a playboy who wouldn’t settle down until now.”
When I look at Priestley, he’s actually smiling.
Ma turns her attention to him and he doesn’t flinch or anything when she puts her arms around him.
“It’s good to see you again, sweetheart.”
Dad comes back from downstairs.
“Isn’t he handsome?” Ma asks him, keeping Priestley in place.
“He’s not my type, hon, but he’ll do just fine for Will.” Dad chuckles as he heads into the kitchen.
“Let him go, Ma. You’re embarrassing him. He won’t wanna come round here again.”
I know that last part isn’t true—or at least, I hope it isn’t—but a little bubble of nerves still makes its way to the surface.
I don’t expect him to reassure him me, but he turns to me anyway. “Don’t worry, I will.”
Ma practically explodes as she holds back a squeal.
“Okay, who’s corny now?” I grin.
We pack our things away and start dinner so it’ll be ready for when the kids get home. They’re getting a ride from one of the other parents so Ma and my dad could be here to greet us when we arrived.
Ally and Chase jump on me the second they step through the door. They ask Priestley a hundred and one questions.
When my aunts and uncles arrive, we have to get chairs from wherever we can find them and squeeze them in, piling mashed potatoes onto their plates. I look at Priestley to make sure he’s okay, but he’s engrossed in a conversation about the Bruins game with my dad so I leave them be.
I don’t get him alone for even a second until everyone’s clearing their plates away and going into the living room to watch the game.
“Hey,” I pull him back by the wrist, enjoying the sensation of his smooth skin against mine. I manage to steal a quick kiss before anyone sees—not that they’d care. I just can’t handle them all cooing over us again.
“Do you think they like me?”
“Are you serious? They fucking love you.”
His face lights up. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” I can’t help myself, I grab his face and kiss him again.
Someone jostles into us and we break apart. “Don’t mind me kids, just forgot my cigarettes,” My aunt says, squeezing past.
“I told you not to bring those cancer sticks in here!” Dad shouts to her.
She waves the comment away. Before she steps out onto the porch, she grins at us.
“Aww,” she says. “Young love.”
The living room is hectic, everyone fighting for seats to watch the Bruins game.
Ma’s letting Aunt Deb smoke out the kitchen window.
I don’t think Dad’s noticed yet. He’s too busy having a debate with the kids about who’s gonna score the most goals tonight.
I’m not exactly happy about people smoking around my ma, either, but she’s a grown woman and I’m not gonna get between her and her sister.
“We don’t have to watch the game,” I tell Priestley as we take a seat on the floor. Aunt Linda tries to rest her foot on my knee and I push it away.
“I want to,” he says.
“Really? You like this chaos?”
“Yes.” He nods. “It’s actually perfect.”
When the game finally starts, Deb comes in, stinking of smoke. Dad squints at her.
I can’t focus on the game. I’m too busy staring at Priestley from the corner of my eye. Who would have thought the asshole I met that first day at Princeton would be sitting on my living room floor watching a hockey game and getting my entire family to fall in love with him?
When Ma goes to check on the snacks she put in the oven, I follow her into the kitchen. .
We get the mini pizzas out and put them on a big serving plate.
“Thanks, Ma.”
“It’s just frozen pizza. No big deal.”
“I mean for everything, but specifically, for making my boyfriend feel welcome. It means a lot to him. I don’t think he thought you guys would like him.”
Ma shrugs. “We do. He’s a nice guy. And honestly, Will, we’d love anyone who makes you happy. It’s kind of a default. If you like him, we like him, okay?”
I nod.
“He doesn’t have this.”
“What?”
“A family, like ours. He doesn’t have people who have his back no matter what. Except maybe his old frat bros.”
She nods slowly. “Well, he does now. Okay?”
“Yeah.” For some reason, I feel myself getting choked up.
“Hey, hey. What’s wrong?” She rubs my arm.
It’s like, now I’m finally able to relax, the past few years of trying to be strong for her while she was sick and get my studies and everything else done is catching up with me. “Nothing, sorry. It’s just … I don’t know, it’s been tough.”
“I know, baby.”
“I can’t stand the thought of ever losing this.”
She takes a deep breath. “Hon, you can’t hold onto everything. You know that.”
“I know. Just wish I could.”
She smiles, putting her hand on my cheek. “You just gotta enjoy the now, okay? Don’t think too much about tomorrow. We’re all here now, and that’s what matters, okay?”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
She squeezes me, laughing when I make a noise.
“Fuck, you’re strong.”
“Language, young man.”
“Sorry, Ma.”
She holds my face, just looking at me for a minute.
“Hey, listen …” I hold out for whatever pearl of wisdom she’s gonna impart next. “If you’re gonna get up to any hanky panky tonight, keep it down. Your dad’s a light sleeper.”
“Oh, jeez, Ma.”
“What?” She laughs as I turn away so she can’t see how red I’ve gone.
“Just thought I’d warn you. Not that we’ve got a problem with you getting up to anything.”
“Yeah, I get the gist. Thanks.”
PRIESTLEY
While Will’s in the kitchen with his mother, his aunts corner me. I had hoped Will’s father would complain about them talking over the hockey game, but he doesn’t seem to mind. Hockey is noisy anyway.
“What are you and Will doing after you graduate?” Deb asks.
“We’ll probably look for a place in New Jersey so we can be close to my brother and commute into the city to our jobs.”
“Your fancy finance jobs,” Linda says with an approving nod.
“Your family must be so proud of you,” Deb says. “What do they think of Will?”
I hesitate. “My father has met him. My mother hasn’t yet.” I say, being diplomatic but truthful. “My younger brother likes him.”
“Does your brother play a sport?” Ally asks from where she’s sitting at her father’s feet.
I have to bite back the laugh at the thought of Jamie doing sports.
“No, he’s more … academic.”
“Will’s academic and good at sports,” Ally says, puffing her chest out proudly.
“Yes, but not everyone’s as talented as Will.”
I didn’t think Will’s father was listening to us, but I note the sudden smile on his face.
It’s late by the time everyone leaves. Will goes up to brush his teeth and I’m about to head down to the basement when Will’s father calls me back.
“I just wanted to let you know, if you need anything, you can give me a call.”
“Oh, thank you … like what?”
“I don’t know.” He rubs the scruff on his chin. “Fatherly advice, that sort of thing. I know you have your own dad, but….”
I bite the inside of my lip. For some reason, I feel like I’m going to burst into tears.
“Thank you,” I manage eventually.
“You’re welcome. Just be good to my boy and you’ll always be welcome in this family, do you hear?”
“Yes, sir.”
I almost fall asleep waiting for Will to tip toe down the basement stairs. But the second I hear his feet on the carpet, I perk up and throw the blanket back for him.
“God, I’ve waited all day to get you alone like this.”
“You had me alone this morning before we left,” he says. His breath minty and hot on my face.
“Mm, stop talking and take off your clothes.”