It Started With a Kiss (Insta-Spark)

I sucked in a long breath. “Hi.”

They looked up. My mom stood, opening her arms. “Avery!”

She enveloped me in her embrace and I inhaled her scent. It was the same perfume I had known all my life—Elizabeth Arden’s Blue Grass. She never changed. She smelled like Mom and home. I hugged her hard. Drawing back, she cupped my face. “You look so good!”

“I am,” I assured her. “I am.”

My father cleared his throat, and I smiled tentatively at him. “Hi, Dad.”

He tilted his head. “Cupcake.”

I relaxed a little. If he was still calling me Cupcake, he wasn’t going to kill me.

“I’m sorry we came unannounced, and ah, interrupted your weekend.” My mom patted my arm. “Your father wanted to surprise you.”

“Actually, I wanted to find out why you never seem to be home when I call, and what was going on in your life,” my father interrupted. “I guess I got my answer.”

Before I could say anything, Daniel’s voice broke in.

“That would be my fault, Mr. Connor. I work such long hours in the week, I tend to kidnap Avery on the weekends to my place outside the city.”

My father regarded him. “Is that so?”

Daniel moved closer. His shirt was on, the collar hiding his neck. His hair was combed, his pants buttoned and when I looked down, even his socks were in place. He held out his hand to my father. “We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Daniel Spencer.” He added after a slight pause. “Avery’s boyfriend.”

My father glowered at him. “I’ve never heard your name until now.”

Daniel didn’t waver, his hand never moving. “I’ve heard a lot of great things about you and your wife, sir.”

My father finally shook his hand.

My mother smiled at him. “She mentioned you to me. A few times.”

My father’s eyebrows rose in surprise.

“It is nice to meet you, Daniel. Please, call me Janett.” Mom paused eyeing my father, who didn’t say anything. With a small shake of her head, she added, “And this is my husband, Doug.”

“Pleased to meet you both.”

An awkward silence ensued.

I shuffled my feet; feeling as if I were ten years old again and got caught doing something naughty. A small, nervous giggle escaped my mouth when I thought of just how naughty I had been all day. Three sets of eyes looked at me. My amusement stopped, and I felt as if I was going to throw up. A heavy knock at the door startled us all.

“The pizza this time, I presume,” Daniel stated dryly. “I’ll get it.”

“I’ll get some drinks. Excuse me.” Then, like a coward, I escaped to the kitchen. I made some coffee then opened the cupboard and retrieved some mugs. I was reaching in the freezer for some cupcakes I knew I had in there, when Daniel walked in, carrying the pizza. He slid it in the oven and turned to me.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded. “You can go, Daniel. I’ll visit with them and come see you later.”

He took my hand, kissing the palm, holding it over his heart. “Nope.”

“I have to talk to them.”

“We’ll talk to them together.”

“You don’t have to do that.”