Chapter 25
Hours later and too many orgasms to count, Easton propped himself up on his elbow, tracing shapes on my stomach.
“I have a confession.”
I stilled, fear pushing all the post-orgasm haze away. He was going to leave right after confessing his love. Just like Bradford left right after proposing.
“Stop.” He booped my nose. “I’m not Bradford. I love you, I’m not going anywhere.”
My heart slowed from its erratic beating. The adrenaline still coursed through my veins, making me feel jittery.
“When you were in the bath, I called my parents and asked if I could bring you over for dinner.”
“That was very confident of you. What if I didn’t tell you I loved you back?”
“Trouble, you watched me sleep last night. I was confident you loved me.”
I slapped his chest, rolling my eyes.
“I want you to meet them. They can be a little overbearing, but they’re going to love you. I feel like you need a palate cleanser after this morning’s breakfast.”
“I thought your cock in my mouth was a palate cleanser.”
He booped my nose again. “I know you’re nervous, but you don’t have to be. You’re going to love them, and I know they are going to love you.”
Easton and I lounged in bed until I needed to get up to get ready. When he saw me plug in my straightener, he unplugged it and threw it in the trash.
“I refuse to let you tame those wild curls. They are too damn pretty.”
How does this man still make me blush when his tongue has been in my asshole? I’ll never know.
Easton left to get some clothes. I paced my house, repeatedly checking my appearance.
I texted Jules, letting her know that we were both involved in committed relationships, where we said, “I love you.” I also told her I was going to meet Easton’s parents. Jules texted back that Cole said they were awesome. We confirmed dinner and gossip for the next night.
Easton rang my doorbell, and I frowned, wondering why he didn’t use the key I’d given him.
When I opened the door and saw the flowers he was holding, I understood.
“Why, sir, they’re beautiful.”
“Did we not already establish no erections when parents are involved?"
I laughed, putting the flowers in a vase. Easton kissed my neck.
“No red roses.”
I blushed. “You caught that, did you?”
“It was glaringly obvious, Trouble. As soon as dumbfuck handed them to you your eyes started watering. How could he not tell you were allergic?”
“He wasn’t as observant as you.”
“No, he wasn’t as in love with you as I am. I also feel guilty not doing this before. We’ve been together for months and I haven’t done anything to woo you.”
“All right, Mr. Romantic, woo away,” I teased, even though I loved every second of his banter.
“You look stunning.”
I opted for a green summer dress and strappy sandals. My hair was down, with my curls doing whatever they decided to do.
“You look sexy as sin,” I told him, taking in his jeans-clad ass and henley.
“Maybe I should cancel.” He pulled out his phone, and I stopped him on a laugh.
“Don’t, I’m too sore to do anything else tonight anyway.”
Easton pouted, placing his phone back in his pocket. “Do you need anything? Painkiller?”
I shook my head, grabbing his arm and leading him to his car. Mine was still over at his house. “I took some. I should be fine to go again after dinner.”
I turned and shot him a wink. Easton grinned before picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder.
We held hands as he drove, talking about my childhood. Now that he had met my parents I felt there was no need to hide it anymore.
“What do you mean your dad recorded over your high school graduation speech with porn?” he asked in horror.
“Just what I said. I’ve actually never seen my speech, but it was quite a shock to the family when we put it in to watch it. Seriously, picture teenage me saying, ‘Today we are going,’ and then cut to a woman getting gang-banged yelling, ‘I’m coming.’ She wasn’t even invited.”
Easton laughed, turning toward the beach, and that was when I began paying attention to where he was driving.
No.
Easton pulled into a very familiar community, fist bumping the security guard. One I hoped against hope didn’t recognize me.
No way.
I pulled my hand out from Easton’s and rubbed it on my dress.
“Don’t be nervous.”
I laughed, my whole body shaking when Easton turned three miles down from the security guard shack.
Fuck, no.
A very distinct circular driveway appeared in front of us.
Please, please, please, drive by. Please don’t turn.
But he did.
FUCK.
ME.
“Easton, I’m not feeling very well,” I said, my voice trembling. It wasn’t like I needed to fake my sickness. I truly was about to be sick.
“You’re just nervous. We won’t stay long. We’ll have dinner and then I’ll make excuses for us to leave. I promise they’re nothing like your parents. I don’t even think they’ve seen porn.”
A high-pitched laugh escaped me.
This is fucking awful.
Easton kissed the back of my very sweaty hand and got out of the car.
When I waited for him to walk around the car, it wasn’t because I knew he enjoyed opening my door, but because I didn’t think my legs would work.
Easton glanced at me with worry. I was steps behind him. His arm stretched as far as it would go behind him, while mine was stretched all the way in front of me.
“Come on, Trouble. I don’t want my parents’ first impression of you to be over my shoulder.”
Hysterical laughter burst out of me.
Your parents’ first impression of me was a potential threesome candidate. Unicorn, anyone?
When our feet hit the first step the door flew open with two smiling people bursting out of it. Two very familiar people.
When their eyes met mine, it took them a second to place me. I watched the shock plaster over both of their faces when they finally put my face to the reason they recognized me.
Easton wasn’t his normal observant self, because he completely missed the silent exchange I had with his parents.
“Mom, Dad, this is my girlfriend, Rachel. Rachel, this is my mom, Kelly Ann, and my dad, Robert.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Easton pulled me against his side and kissed the top of my head. “She’s nervous. I told her you guys are going to love her almost as much as I do.”
I closed my eyes, willing myself not to get sick.
His parents are fucking Kelly Ann and Robert. What the fuck did I do in a past life to deserve this shit?
His parents didn’t miss the fact that Easton had said he loved me in front of them. Kelly Ann shook out of her shock first and pulled me into a big hug.
“Hi, Easton has told us so much about you. Please, come in.”
Robert hugged me quickly before pulling Easton into the house.
“Rachel, why don’t you help me in the kitchen?” Kelly Ann asked, winking at Easton when he glanced at me with worry.
I shot him a wobbly smile, proud I hadn’t puked yet.
“Oh, my fuck,” I said when it was just me and Kelly Ann.
She started to giggle, putting her arm around my shoulder. “Well, this was unexpected.”
Another hysterical bubble of laughter burst out of me. “You can say that again.”
“Oh, Rachel.” Kelly Ann leaned against the kitchen counter and laughed.
“I’m so sorry, Kelly Ann. I had no idea that Easton was your son.”
She put a hand on my shoulder to stop my rambling. “Honey, he never needs to know. We both know that we were never going to go through with that ridiculous threesome.”
My eyes went wide and I glanced around, positive Easton was going to jump out of the corner with disgust on his face.
“I know, but—” I started, but she interrupted me again.
“But nothing. My son has been gushing about you for months now. We never thought he would fall in love after that horrible bitch broke his heart. Robert and I already love you. Let’s forget about that silly misunderstanding.”
I leaned my head against the refrigerator, most likely leaving an oil patch on the stainless steel. Kelly Ann rubbed my back.
“I promise it is all going to be fine, honey. I promise you nobody’s kid wants to know about their parents’ sex life. Easton will be better for not knowing. Would you want to know about your parents’ sex life?”
“Ewww.” I shuddered at the thought.
“My point exactly. Now let’s get out there before Robert and Easton start talking baseball and that will be all they talk about during dinner.”
“I wouldn’t mind talking about Trip Butler,” I said, calming down a little.
Trip Butler was the pitcher for the San Diego Pappi’s and the hottest athlete known to man. He was also very committed to his wife.
“True, Trip is a topic I would never get tired of.” Kelly Ann laughed.
I moved away from the fridge, and Kelly Ann handed me a bowl filled with pasta salad. She grabbed another bowl and we headed out toward the patio.
The patio. The one I sat at when I told them all about Bradford while clutching a broken gnome for support. The patio where these people were more supportive of me than my parents ever were.
Maybe this will be okay. I’m going to put my trust in Kelly Ann.
“Mom, you didn’t scare her off with stories of me when I was a baby, did you?” Easton asked, kissing my nose and pulling me against him.
“Of course not. Those are more fun to tell when you are there to hear them.”
We sat down to eat, and my nerves slowly began to calm down. Robert and Kelly Ann never missed a beat and hope bloomed in my chest.
“I’m sorry, the pasta salad has bell peppers in it, Rachel,” Kelly Ann said as Robert was pulling the steaks off the grill.
Easton cocked his head to the side. “How did you know she was allergic to bell peppers?”
Kelly Ann and I shared matching deer in the headlights looks, but Robert saved the day. “You mentioned it in one of your phone calls where you gushed about the girl you were falling in love with.”
Easton frowned. My boyfriend, my observant boyfriend, was most likely reviewing every conversation he had about me with his parents. I swear the three of us collectively let out our held breaths when Easton shrugged his shoulders, not having any other explanation, and took a bite of his steak.
Dinner was delightful. Kelly Ann and Robert were just as supportive as they were the first time I’d met them. Easton complimented me and my business, telling his parents about the JackholeS playing at Aurora’s launch party in a week.
“Oh, my god, I love the JackholeS.” Kelly Ann bounced on her chair.
“You should come. I have only talked to Faith over the phone, but she seems amazing and she’s so supportive of Aurora’s project.”
Robert rolled his eyes. “You just made my wife’s year.”
“Yes, we would love to come. Are you sure?” Kelly Ann asked.
“Of course. I’ll make sure you’re on the guest list.”
Kelly Ann got up and kissed my cheek. “I’ll go get dessert.”
“I’ll help you.” Robert followed his beaming wife to the kitchen
“I told you they’d love you,” Easton whispered in my ear.
I leaned against him. “I love you,” I whispered back. “And they are fantastic.”
“They are pretty great. We’ll just have to introduce them to your parents so they can see what it’s like to be supportive of their children.”
I shuddered at the thought of inflicting my parents on Easton’s. He chuckled. “Maybe we’ll wait until our rehearsal dinner for them to meet.”
My head snapped up, almost breaking his nose. Easton just smiled down at me, rubbing his nose where my head had clipped it.
“I hope you like chocolate cake,” Kelly Ann said, breaking me out of my Easton trance.
“I love chocolate cake,” I answered.
“Oh, honey, what happened to your nose?” Kelly Ann asked.
Easton chuckled. “Did I tell you how Rachel and I first met?”
I groaned as Easton recounted the story of me punching him in the back of the head before elbowing him in the kidney.
We all laughed, then Kelly Ann got Easton back by telling numerous stories of Easton being an unruly child.
Robert and Kelly Ann yawned, and when I glanced at my phone, I was surprised how late it was.
“We should be going. We both have work tomorrow,” Easton said, helping me up.
Kelly Ann and Robert walked us to our car, Kelly Ann still talking about getting to meet the JackholeS.
Easton stopped and frowned. “What happened to Gnomen?”
The three of us froze. Once again, Robert rescued us. “You know we hated that damn thing. We put him in the backyard to scare the children on the beach.”
“What? You love Gnomen,” Easton protested. He looked at me. “I bought my parents a gnome, Gnomen, when I went to England. It was my first overseas purchase. Ingrates,” Easton finished, hugging his parents.
I hugged Robert who patted me on the shoulder, and then I was wrapped in Kelly Ann’s arms. “I told you everything would be fine. I’ll see you at the launch party in a week. And call me if you need anything.”
I hugged her tighter before getting into the car. Easton smiled the whole way home.
“You seem smug,” I told him as we drove.
“I am. My parents love you. I love you. All is right in the world.”
I glanced out of the window, hoping that it continued to stay that way.