“I need to shower and head out. I hope that’s okay?”
“The window guys will be here in an hour, so how about I hook us up with some toast and bacon. Eggs?”
“It sounds great.” I smiled at him, and he smiled right back, his eyes full of an emotion I couldn’t read.
Would I be so lucky that he could love me back? I wasn’t sure, but this felt good.
He had already braved a Montgomery family dinner. If he could do that, I figured perhaps he could do anything.
“Killian, I know this is odd to ask, but did you want to come to the reunion with me?” I blurted without thinking.
I froze, afraid I had said too much. Because that was a big deal. Attending a family reunion when you weren’t family? That was like laying claim in front of everyone else.
But Killian didn’t stiffen or look worried. Instead, he raised a brow at me. “Your mom already invited me, but thanks. I guess I can go as your date, too.”
I laughed, relief pouring over me.
“Good. When did she invite you?”
“She texted.”
I groaned. “Mom is texting you?”
“Not often. Just to ask about the reunion. We exchanged phone numbers because she was worried about you being out here all alone, even though you are with your team more often than not.”
“Well, that’s not embarrassing at all.”
Killian shook his head as he walked towards me, the bacon set on the cookie sheet to go into the oven. He cupped my face as Cora stood between us and gently kissed me. “Don’t be embarrassed. It’s good that people love you. That they care about you. Okay? I don’t mind. If I did mind, I’d act growly. And I’m not growly. At least right now.”
Warmth infused me, and I swallowed hard.
“Okay.”
Then he kissed me softly, patted me on the butt, and I went to go take a shower, leaving him to make our breakfast, that new sense of domesticity sliding between us.
The drive back to Fort Collins took forever thanks to an accident on the highway, but I pulled into my parents’ house’s driveway on time. I had wanted to be earlier than this, but I couldn’t change that.
Mom opened the door before I had even had a chance to knock and threw her arms open.
“It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.” She held me close and I kissed the top of her head.
“Well, I like this welcome. And I just saw you like four days ago.”
“But not here. I don’t know, all my babies are putting down roots everywhere else, and I’m just feeling old.”
I blinked. “Mom. Where’s this coming from?”
She shook her hand at me.
“I think it’s this whole reunion thing. Making all the games for the grandbabies, and making sure we have enough food for the immense amount of people that we have, it’s just adding up.”
“I suppose it is.”
She shrugged and gave me a soft smile. “I love our family, but we do tend to procreate often.”
I snorted. “You had five kids, Mom. Seriously?”
“I know it’s my fault. I’m the one who decided to have two sets of twins, rather than just one set like my brother.”