“Is that your new girlfriend son, wow she’s a hottie.” I turned just as my dad slid the door open and stepped out.
“Dad, go away.” I gave him my best glare but he wasn’t even looking at me. How could I have overlooked this aspect? My dad can be a bit embarrassing. He does that shit on purpose but he usually saves it for when the guys come over.
“Come on I’m just looking, nothing wrong with looking. Wow she the new transplant? You work fast son I like your style. If I were just a few years younger I’d give you a run for your money.”
“Pig, mom dad’s being a pig again.”
“Shh, dude you trying to get your poor old man iced?”
“Serves your ass right, now get back inside and let me brig her to you like a normal adult.”
“What’re you two whispering about out here?” Mom stepped out on the deck next, her eyes honing in on my girl.
“Dad’s ogling my baby.”
“Ooh, Jace is that your new girl? She’s gorgeous, smoking hot. Way to go son, nice trade, a definite improvement from the last one. That last one looked like horse food.” She was no help, but why would I expect anything different?
“Mom how do you know what horse food looks like?”
“Or any food for that matter?” Dad got a slap behind the head for that one. Mom is the world’s worst cook hands down.
“So I can’t cook big deal. I hired you a chef that does wonders in the kitchen didn’t I?”
“Yes dear you certainly did. Now son about this new girl.”
“Come on Chad you old letch let me go see if this old girl can take care of what ails you.”
“Geez can you two try to be a little more conventional?”
“What’s that son?”
“I think it’s an oven.” Dad smirked at me.
“Well what’s she doing all the way over there son?”
“She’s gabbing to one of her friends from back home about something mom.”
Just then she came up on the deck with a big open smile on her face. What happened to shy and nervous? Dad the jerk pushed me aside and walked towards her with an outstretched hand.
“Hi, you must be Sian, what a beautiful and unusual name.”
“You think so? I always thought it sounded like someone was saying sigh Ann.”
“Out of the way Chad.” Mom brushed him aside. “Hello sweetheart and welcome to our home, I was meaning to come by and introduce myself to your mom.
I’m on the school committee and she’s already signed on for some stuff, but time just got away from me and then I got really sick...” She walked Sian through the open sliding glass doors and into the kitchen.
What the fuck? Mom was nervous as hell. Dad and I exchanged a look, because it wasn’t often we saw that shit and I was starting to wonder why the hell my mom, who was the reigning queen of Eden would be this nervous.
Dad just shook his head and muttered something about ‘women’, under his breath. We both followed our women in and stood in the doorway looking in.
You see the thing is, mom doesn’t act this way around anyone else except dad and I and Marisa.
She’s usually more reserved no matter who the person is. She’s had to learn over the years that everyone who smiled wasn’t necessarily your friend.
“How about a cookie dear, they’re macadamia nut.”
“Is there white chocolate?”
“Of course, otherwise what’s the point?”
“Ooh yum you better start me off with two then.” Mom was grinning from ear to ear. She gave Si the cookies and milk and came back out to me and dad.
“She eats cookies, a seventeen year old girl that looks like that and eats cookies. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Please let this be the one that will be sitting down across from me at Thanksgiving for the next forty years, woot.”
Dad and I could only look on as she turned and headed back into the house. I’d fallen down the rabbit hole.
“Seriously son, she’s cute.” Dad patted my shoulder and walked in. I watched the three of them for a solid five minutes before joining them.
She’s so fucking cute. Mom and dad hooted and hollered when I walked in and right in the middle of their getting to know you conversation, took her face in my hands and kissed her like I owned her.
“Okay you two scram we have homework before dinner.” I got rid of them and took her into the family room with me. Ideally, my room would’ve been my first choice, but I didn’t want to freak her out her first time here.
She looked around as we walked through but I kept her distracted with my lips on hers every time it looked like she was about to freak.
We set up and got down to studying, though I spent more time watching her than my books.
She looked good here, felt good here, like she belonged. Jasper came trotting into the room and made a beeline for her.
I was halfway out of my seat ready to protect her but there was no need. I’d left him shut up in my room because along with being my pet since forever, he’s a trained attack dog who would tear the throat out of anyone who he thought was a threat to me.
I thought I’d introduce the two of them to each other gradually, but it looked like there might not be any need.
“Hey doggie, what’s your name?” My heart went into my throat when she got off the chair and crouched in front of the approaching dog.
I opened my mouth to call him off but he just stopped a couple feet in front of her and moved his head from side to side as if studying her.
“Don’t be afraid, I won’t bite.” Cute. “What’s his name Jace?”
“That’s Jasper.” I watched as my dog, who it had taken every last person over the past ten years at least a couple months to win over, licked her hands.
She scratched behind his ears and talked to him like he was a kid. “Alright you two, Sian we’ve got homework then dinner then necking on the couch, time’s wasting. Jasper, get your own girl.”