I sighed. “Fine. I love you. God. Satisfied? You are so fucking needy—”
And he kissed me.
“Is that the first time he’s said it?” Matty asked from somewhere in the room.
“Yeah,” Vince said. “I knew those crazy kids would make it.”
“Wow,” Nana said. “So apparently it’s cool these days to kiss like you’re wanting to eat faces. That doesn’t look hygienic. I didn’t know you were supposed to lick people’s back molars.”
“I’m pretty sure I never wanted to see my son doing this with anyone,” Sherry said. “Especially if it involves the back molars.”
“And people don’t believe me when I say I’m the normal one,” Kori said.
“I don’t think any of us can be considered normal,” Charlie said.
“Speak for yourself,” Paul said. “I’m the most normal person here.”
“Paul took me under the bleachers at school and made me touch his privates!” Johnny Depp bellowed.
“Except for that part,” Paul muttered.
Darren stopped eating my face, pulling back slightly. His eyes were bright, and I almost wanted to start spouting pretty words about his eyes.
I was so fucked.
“Again,” he said hoarsely.
And what the hell. I must have been getting soft in my old age because I said, “I love you.”
And meant every damn word.
“I love you too,” he said.
I tried to keep the smile off my face, but for the life of me, I just couldn’t do it. So I settled on saying, “No shit.”
“This is so nice,” Matty said with a sniff. “I don’t know that I’ve ever been happier. We have new friends. Our family is together. Andrew Taylor is probably getting passed around like a bong at Woodstock. Darren and Sandy finally got their heads out of their asses.”
“Language,” Larry said fondly.
“Exactly,” Matty said. “And Paul and Vince are getting married in just over three months. Everything is so wonderful.”
Then she frowned. “Except….”
Darren and I stopped making out and turned to look over at her, as did the rest of the room.
“Except what?” Larry asked his wife.
And Matty looked at Kori. “Except….”
“No,” Kori said. “Absolutely not.”
“Kori,” Matty said, eyes suddenly dry, a small, scary smile on her face. “My sons have all found love with each other—”
“Maybe you should phrase that differently,” Larry whispered.
“—except for you,” Matty finished. “Even if you’re also my daughter. And I don’t want to see you alone. The world is a big and scary place, and you should have someone there aside from us who has your back. Or even your front. You know we don’t judge you here.”
“Help me,” Kori whispered fervently to the rest of us.