“Anymore,” Robbie said, and ran his finger across Priest’s lips. “But you frown, and your lips get really tight. Kind of like they are now.”
Priest nipped at Robbie’s finger, making the other two laugh.
“Lucky for us,” Robbie said to Julien, “he seems to have decided to bite more than he barks these days.”
“Can I please talk?” Priest said, and when Robbie looked back at him, he pretended to zip his lips shut, but Priest knew better. He had about five seconds to get out what he wanted to say or their mouthy little spitfire would be back at it. “Julien and I would like to speak to you about going home to visit your family.”
Robbie said nothing.
“We know it’s a big step,” Julien started.
Priest continued, “But if you’re ready to take it, we think seeing them for your birthday would be the perfect opportunity to—”
“I agree,” Robbie said, surprising them both.
As their eyes met over Robbie’s shoulder, Priest saw Julien’s lips curve in a knowing smile. Always so perceptive, aren’t you, Mr. Thornton?
“You do?” Priest said, just to make sure he’d heard Robbie correctly.
“Yes. Shocking as it is, I agree.”
Priest rolled to his side, and Robbie pursed his lips.
“I know I’ve kind of been avoiding the whole meet my parents thing.”
Julien tightened his hold around Robbie’s waist and asked, “Why is that?”
“I don’t know. I guess I was…scared, maybe?”
Priest cradled Robbie’s face and brushed his thumb across his lips. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You can talk to us. Nothing you say is going to offend us.”
Robbie took in a deep breath and shut his eyes for a second, and when he opened them, Priest could see the worry there, and it tore at his heart.
“My parents have always been really great about, well, everything. They’re supportive, proud, and love all of us more than anything in the world.” Robbie smiled. “I’ve always been super close with them. I could tell them anything and they never batted an eyelash, especially my ma…”
“But?” Julien asked, clearly sensing the same but that Priest did.
“But…” Robbie said. “I’ve never brought anyone home with me before.”
“And that’s what you’re scared about?” Priest said. “Bringing us home with you?”
“It’s one of the things. That’s a huge step. What if…what if you guys don’t get along with my big, crazy family? What if they don’t get along with you?”
Priest leaned in and brushed a kiss across Robbie’s lips. “We’ve already met Felicity and your mother.”
“I know. But that was before I knew she knew that we were all together.”
As Priest tried to decipher that little word maze, Julien said, “But now she knows for sure?”
Robbie shifted until he was sitting up between them, his back against the headboard. “Yes. At first I wasn’t. Sure, I mean. I know I joked about her figuring it out right away, but when she didn’t say anything, I thought that maybe she didn’t.”
“She did,” Priest said, and when Robbie looked at him, Priest chuckled. “At the opening of the restaurant, she saw us talking at the bar after your little run-in with Henri.”
Robbie’s eyes widened. “She did?”
Priest nodded. “She did. And if you recall, you were flirting outrageously with me.”
“Oh God. What must she be thinking? She probably thinks I’m some kind of home wrecker coming between you two.”
“If that’s the case,” Priest said, smiling at Robbie’s mortification, “she would be half right. You most certainly came between us that night. But not until after we got you home.”
ROBBIE’S MOUTH FELL open, and he shoved at Priest’s shoulder. “You did not just say that. I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you. About my mother.”
“I apologize,” Priest deadpanned.
“Okay, focus, you two. You said she knows,” Julien said, and Robbie bit at his thumbnail. “Did she tell you that, or—"
“Not exactly. I told her I was bringing my ‘boyfriends’ home, and after that she said…”
“What?” Julien asked. “What did she say?”
Robbie rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. “That she looked forward to getting to know Mr. Priestley and Mr. Thornton much better.” Priest let out a laugh, and Robbie pinned him with a serious look. “You are awfully jovial about all of this.”
“Ignore him, princesse,” Julien said. “He’s been impatiently waiting for this moment, and now that it’s happening, I think he’s slightly delirious.”
“This moment?” Robbie said.
“Oui. When you tell your family. When we finally get to meet them as your partners.”
“Really?” Robbie said, and looked at Priest, who was smiling. “You want to meet my family?”
“We do. It’s the final step,” Priest said. “The final elephant in the room.”
Julien put a hand on Robbie’s thigh. “But there’s something else worrying you. What is it?”
“I…” Robbie paused, and then twisted his hands in his lap. God, since when am I nervous about talking to them? “What if you don’t like them? There are a lot of them. And you are both so…private.”