“Grace!” Paisley hugs her snugly, and something in my chest tightens and releases. The two most important people in my life are embracing with smiles on their faces, and I can’t tell you how happy that makes me that the two of them get along so well.
A week after they met, Paisley asked for Mom’s phone number. I guess they had talked about some show over dinner and she wanted to tell Mom something about it. They’ve been texting back and forth ever since. In fact, my mom messages me less. When I called her out on it when planning for today, she said my girlfriend does a great job of letting her know how I am. I wasn’t mad or even offended. I was happy they were getting along so well.
“Cameron,” Paisley calls out.
“Beautiful,” I reply, stepping next to her.
“What’s the plan?”
“Well, this entire place is ours until about three, which is when the doors will open to the public.”
“This entire place is ours?” she asks as her eyes scan the fun center.
“Yep.”
“Yes!” Peyton cheers. “Paisley, I’m thinking you should keep this one,” she calls out.
“Yeah.” Paisley smiles up at me. “I think you’re right, Peyton.”
“Lady, I just got used to the idea of the guy. Let’s not go marrying your sister off just yet,” Easton tells his youngest daughter.
“Lady?” my mom asks.
“Oh.” Paisley smiles. “My dad is a little over-the-top. When he met my mom, I was four, and he started calling me princess. When they got married, he started calling Mom queen. So, naturally, as my little sisters were born, he had to find names for them. Parker, my middle sister, is duchess, and Peyton, the youngest, is lady.”
“I love that.” Mom smiles over at Larissa. “You have a beautiful family.”
“Thank you. I’m Larissa, by the way.” Larissa holds out her hand for Mom to shake.
“Grace.”
“And this is my husband, Easton, and well, you know the girls now.” Larissa laughs.
“It’s nice to meet all of you,” Mom tells them.
“I’m Willow.” Willow steps up to Mom, offering her hand as well. “Paisley’s best friend and roommate.”
I’m waiting for her to comment how she’s not been much of a roommate these past few months. We spend most nights we’re in town at my condo instead of hers. We have more privacy there. Don’t get me wrong, Willow is great, but sleeping skin to skin with my girl is something we started, and it’s easier if we’re in the condo alone.
“Paisley, let’s go race go-karts!” Peyton grabs each of her sisters by the hand and begins to move toward the go-karts.
“Wait for us,” Larissa calls out. She links arms with my mom and Willow, and follows after the girls.
“This is a good thing you did, Cameron,” Easton says, his eyes on the women walking away.
“She was missing her family. I thought the laid-back environment would be good to introduce you and Mrs. Monroe to my mom.”
“Easton and Larissa. You’ve earned that right.”
I nod. I want to toss my fist in the air and pound on my chest that I finally got her father’s approval, but instead, I go for cool. I wait several seconds before speaking. “So, who do you think is going to win?” I nod toward the go-kart track.
“My girls are all competitive. And Willow, that girl loves to win.” He laughs.
“My mom was both Mom and Dad growing up. She’s not a newbie to the go-kart scene.”
“I guess we better get over there and cheer them on.”
Together, we make our way to the track and do exactly that. We cheer for the girls, which has Peyton coming out as the victor. Easton and I join them on the second ride. And that’s how the day goes. We hop from go-karts to arcade games, to Skee-Ball, to miniature golf, and back to go-karts. It’s a fun day. I feel like a kid again, and everyone seems to be getting along well and enjoying the day.