“Hey,” I say to get her out of her head. “What do you say we hit up Bill’s Billiards tonight?”
“You up for a night of signing autographs?” she teases.
“Pfft, this is my hometown. I’m just some guy who grew up here.” Sure, there’s going to be a few of my old buddies reach out, but none of the fanfare that Reese is imagining.
“If you believe that, I have some oceanfront property just down from Mom and Dad’s that I’ll sell you.”
“Are you going to live there with me? If so, you found yourself a buyer.” I glance at her and wink, and a slight blush coats her cheeks.
“Coop!” she scolds me. “You’re too much.”
“If you’re there, that’s where I’m going to be,” I tell her as I pull into my parents’ driveway. “You gonna come in and say hi?” I ask, taking off my seat belt.
“Like your mom would let me get away with not,” she says, staring out the windshield.
“If at any time you feel uneasy, let me know, and I’ll take care of it. If I can’t, I’ll get us out of here.”
“They’re our parents, Cooper. We can’t just leave.”
“We can. You’re my main priority. I’ve told my mom, and I know you’ve told yours. I don’t think we have to worry about our fathers.”
“Yeah, I can’t see them saying much, if anything about this.” She waves her hand between us.
“I don’t either. Our mothers, on the other hand, I’m sure won’t be able to keep quiet. Say the word, and we bail.”
“Word.” I reach for my seat belt and strap back in, making her laugh. “I was kidding.”
“It’s going to be fine.” I don’t think she’s nervous about seeing them as much as she’s nervous that they know we’re… whatever it is we are right now. In my eyes, we’re together. Reese still isn’t putting a label on it, but we’re exclusive, and our families know that.
“They’re going to ask us what’s going on.”
“And I’ll tell them that I’m madly in love with you and that as best friends, we’re learning each other in a new capacity, and that it’s our business. We’ll include them when it’s time.”
“Wow, that sounds practiced.”
“I knew this was going to be a concern for you.”
“She’s looking out the window,” she says, nodding toward my parents’ place.
“So is yours.” I give the same nod to her parents’ place.
“Come on then. Let’s get this over with.” She reaches for her handle, and before I can stop her to tell her I’ll get the door, she’s out of the car. It’s probably for the best. That would just fuel our mothers on even more.
I follow her up the steps, and she stops at the door. “Go on in, babe. You never had to knock before,” I say, placing my hand on the small of her back.
“It’s different now.”
“No, it’s not different. It’s better. This time when you walk into this house, it’s not as my best friend, but as the love of my life. My future. Now, more than any time before, you belong here and don’t need to knock. You’re family. My family,” I tell her. She smiles up at me, and that’s how my mother finds us when she opens the door.
“Oh, look at you two. I missed you kids something awful,” she says, pulling first Reese and then me into a hug.
“Mom, it hasn’t even been two months since we saw you last.”
“That’s too long. Come on in. Dad’s in the living room.”
Dutifully, we follow her inside. Dad is in his recliner. “Welcome home.” He smiles, turning off the television.
“Sit, sit.” Mom points to the loveseat. We sit next to one another, and a glance at my mother tells me she’s still beaming. “How are you? What’s been going on?”
“Good. I’ve been enjoying some time off,” I tell her.
“Reese, how’s work?”
“Really good.” She nods. “Stressful at times, but it’s good.”
“We’re so proud of the two of you.” Mom smiles.
Reading between the lines, she’s also proud that we’re together. She’s not going to say it, but that’s exactly what she’s thinking. “What about the two of you? How are things?” I ask, leaning back into the loveseat.
“Oh, you know, same old. Snotty noses and potty breaks.” Mom laughs. “The life of a kindergarten teacher.”
“Dad? How’s work?” He’s a factory worker, been there since the week he graduated from high school.
“Doing well. We got a new line in at work, so I’ve been working some extra hours while we all get trained. Hey, while you’re here, I got something I need some help with. You got a minute?” he asks.
“Sure.” He stands, so I glance over at Reese. “You good, babe?” I ask, keeping my voice low, but I know my mother. Her hearing is impeccable, so I know she heard me.
“Of course.” She smiles, but it’s tight.