Hold Tight (For You 2)

“He’s hot,” Penelope says. I hear Ivan growl and look over to see him moving her behind his big body and away from us. “Not hotter than you.” She rolls her eyes. “Get out of the car,” she says, before yelling, “Mom, Pan is making out in the car!”

Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes. Royce chuckles as I climb off him and out of the car. The smile on Penelope’s face is giant. Ivan has his arms around her, cupping her belly like her baby might pop out at any moment and he might need to catch him.

“She’s mine,” Ivan says simply, his eyes boring into Royce. I know Royce can fight, but I’m not sure anyone wants to come up against Ivan when it comes to my sister.

Royce wraps one arm around me, pulling me into him. “And she’s mine,” he says simply.

They glare at one another, and Ivan nods to me. “And she’s my sister. Hurt her and I promise you it will be the last thing you do.”

It takes me a little by surprise, but his words make me smile. Ivan and I have become somewhat close over the years, with him being married to Penelope, but I didn’t think he’d say that.

“And this is my brother, Ivan,” I say, smiling.

“Hurting her is the last thing I’ll ever do,” Royce says, pulling me even closer to him. Ivan studies him for a moment before nodding.

“Look at them. He’s all cuddling her and she’s letting him!” Penelope says excitedly. She looks like she’s about to burst into a pile of sparkles.

“Pan,” Mom says. I turn to see her and Dad standing in the front door. Dad has his arms crossed over his chest and is giving Royce a death stare. Mom has a little smirk on her face. She and Penelope seem to be the only ones who are happy here.

“Hey,” I say, waving to them.

“You going to introduce us?” Dad says.

“This is Pan’s man,” Penelope says before I can get a word in. “She needs a ring and a baby,” she adds, and I feel myself blush. I give her a hard look, and she just shrugs.

Mom and Dad make their way out the front door. “Mom, Dad, this is Royce. We kinda work together,” I tell them.

“This is what had you in knots last week?” Mom asks. I feel myself redden even more. I had no idea I was a blusher, but leave it to my family to pull it out of me.

Royce reaches out, taking Dad’s hand. Dad holds it for a second before letting it go.

“I wasn’t in knots,” I say as Royce takes Mom’s hand next. Mom just smiles more, looking just like Penelope.

“Don’t let her lie to you,” Royce says before kissing the top of my head.

“I know my girl. And I know you,” Mom says as she lists off Royce’s life history. She even knows a bit more than I do.

“Mom,” I scold, but she shrugs.

Penelope keeps on smiling, and Dad stands there, seeming to know it all.

“We run one of the biggest security firms in the States. Do you think we don’t know who you’re dating?” Dad says.

Royce lets out a bark of laughter. “Well, I hope I meet your standards.”

“Not that it matters,” I add. “I’m keeping him.”

Dad studies me for a second before a smile finally pulls at his lips. While I was a little nervous to introduce them to Royce, I knew they would be happy. My parents are so in love and want the same for me. Dad has even been poking me about when I might bring someone around.

Royce squeezes my hand, and I smile at him. “Okay, guys, now that’s out of the way. We’re leaving,” I tell them.

I go around and give everyone a goodbye hug.

“You just got here,” Penelope says grumpily in my ear.

“He just told me he loves me,” I whisper back.

“Yep. They have to go,” Penelope says loudly, making me shake my head.

My mom and dad try to protest, but Penelope goes about pushing them back into the house.

Royce looks at me with confusion and holds his arms out, palms up.

“Get in the car,” I tell him, and he raises his eyebrows at me.

“You get in the car,” he says back, and I roll my eyes.

I go around to the other side and get in and wait for him to slide into the driver’s seat. Reaching over, he pulls on my seat belt for me and waits.

“Drive,” I grit out.

“What has you all pissy?” he asks as he slides his key in then backs out of the driveway.

“The man I love just told me he loves me, and I haven’t gotten to say it back.”

We’ve only traveled a few yards when the car comes to a sudden halt as he hits the brakes and throws it into park.