“No.” I leaned my head on the headrest. “Fuck. I’m nervous.”
“We can say we’re friends. Belle and Leo will be in there anyway, so it’s not like—”
“No,” I growled, reaching for her hand. “I’m not introducing you as my friend to my parents. We haven’t named what we are, and I’m okay with that, but you’re not just gonna be a friend, not when it comes to them.” I swallowed as I stared at her. What I’d said was the truth. She wasn’t only my friend. She’d never just be my friend.
Her lips pulled up into a genuine smile, and her cheeks reddened. “Okay.”
I gave her hand a squeeze and took another calming breath. “Let’s do this.” I turned the engine off and we both exited my truck. I met her halfway around the front, not hesitating as I took her hand in mine. Her entire hand fit in my palm and I loved the feeling of it. I hadn’t held hands like this since I was a teenager, but there was something about Elodie that had me reverting back to a time I’d almost forgotten about.
We hadn’t even made it halfway to the front door when it burst open and Belle’s knowing face appeared. “Aha!” She pointed at us. “I knew it.” She grinned and turned to face someone in the house. “You owe me twenty dollars, Ford!”
I rolled my eyes at her antics. I should have known she’d make a bet from the moment she asked about us a couple of weeks ago. She was like Dad, always watching and analyzing. She hadn’t always been that way, though. She’d learned to become super aware of her surroundings.
“What? Why?” Ford appeared from the living room as we made it to the front door. His gaze met mine and then Elodie’s and finally flicked down to our joined hands. “Dammit.” He pulled some cash out of his front jeans pocket. “Why do you always have to be right?” he asked Belle.
“It’s a skill,” Belle retorted. “One you’ll never be able to master.” She smirked at him, then turned back to face us. “Elodie, this is Ford, my husband and Leo’s dad.”
“Oh,” Elodie whispered. “I…erm, hi.” She waved awkwardly and I inwardly chuckled. She was nervous.
“Nice to meet you,” Ford responded, then turned to face me with a raised brow. “Your sister called it.” His lips quirked on one side. “You’re a damn Easton through and through.” I knew what he meant by that—the age gap—but I wasn’t going to acknowledge it. There was more to me and Elodie than our ages. It didn’t bother me one bit that she was fourteen years younger than me. She didn’t act like your typical eighteen-year-old. Age was only a number.
“I did.” Belle seemed pretty damn proud of herself. “Come in. I’ve already told everyone all about you.”
“Jesus, Belle.” I led Elodie into the house. “Why do you have to do that?”
“What?” She glanced over her shoulder at me as we walked through the living room and into the kitchen. Laughter echoed from outside, and Elodie’s hand squeezed mine so hard I almost lost feeling in it. I didn’t think twice as I lifted our joined hands to my lips and placed a kiss on her knuckles. “Aww, that’s so sweet.”
“I’m not gonna hear the end of this,” I groaned out, and Elodie chuckled, her grip lessening on my hand.
“Finally!” Cade shouted as we all stepped out onto the decking. “My stomach has been rumbling for an hour—oh.” His gaze met Elodie’s and then flung to me. “You brought a guest?”
“I did.” I grinned and spotted Leo’s eyes widening as he stared at us. “Everyone, this is Elodie. Elodie, this is my brother, Cade.” I pointed to Cade and then to Aria, who was sitting next to him. “That’s his girlfriend, Aria. You already know Leo, Belle, and Ford.” I moved closer to where Dad was manning the grill, a spatula in his hand as he’s stared at us with an open mouth and shocked eyes. “This is my dad, Brody.”
“Hi,” Elodie said, her voice louder now. She was starting to feel comfortable, although it was still a lot of people to get used to. I already knew things about her that I’d never known about other girls. I knew when she was happy and when she was pretending to be happy. I knew when she was nervous and when she was scared. It was in the little details you saw the most.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Dad said, holding his hand out for her. “You’re the first girl Asher has ever brought home.” If I hadn’t already told Elodie that, I would have been embarrassed, but I didn’t think Dad was trying to embarrass me. He was shocked I’d brought someone home, so he’d said the first thing that came to him. At least I hoped that was what it was.
“I hope you’re hungry,” Dad continued as he let her hand go. “I cooked way too many burgers.”
“They smell amazing.” Elodie let go of my hand and stepped forward. No one ever got into Dad’s grilling space, but he simply grinned as she stared down at the burgers. “What’s that?”
“My special sauce.” Dad turned to face me, winked, and then concentrated back on the grill. “It’s my secret recipe.”
“Yeah?” Elodie smiled up at Dad. “What do you use it on?”
“Dad seems to like her,” a voice said from beside me, and I glanced down at Mom who had sidled up next to me. “And you seem besotted.”
“Besotted?” I chuckled and pushed my hands into the front pockets of my jeans. “What kind of word is that?”
Mom shrugged and pushed her hair behind her ear. “It was in my word-of-the-day cards, so I figured now was as good a time as any to use it.” She placed her hand on the side of my face, gi
ving me that look only a mom gave one of her kids. “There’s something different about you today.” She paused, her gaze flicking to Elodie who was still talking to Dad. “The old Asher is slipping through the cracks.”
I swallowed, trying to not let her words affect me, but it was useless because she was right. The old Asher was merging with the Asher I’d been since I’d joined the Marines. I just wasn’t sure whether it was a good or a bad thing.
“It’s her,” I murmured. I’d always been open and honest with my mom, and now wouldn’t be any different. “She brings it out of me.”