Page 84 of Savannah Sweethearts

“Because she kept running away from the ball!”

My laughter echoed through the garden and a wren took off from its hiding spot. It was good to have my dad around, I had missed his corny jokes.

The jokes were plentiful that night at dinner. Dad fed us one after another and I’m pretty sure he endeared himself to both Orlando and Aaron. Orlando’s dad had been mostly absent after his parents split, and Aaron said his father took life way too seriously. Linaya and I couldn’t imagine life without our dad. He was an accountant by day, but he actually worked comedy clubs at night.

Orlando fussed over my mother and she loved every moment of it. He complimented her hair, her style, how she had raised me, everything under the sun. “Truly, Anya, your daughter is a light in this world, and she must get it from you.”

“Oh, darlin’,” she cooed at him. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

“Worked for me,” Dad chimed in with a wink. Linaya and I could only laugh.

“Emil, while I love the accountant I have set up, I’m open to having you take a look at our books,” Orlando said. “You know as a businessman the bottom line is what it’s really about. I would love to go over my five- and ten-year projections.”

An elbow caught me in the ribs. “I like this one, Amy May,” Dad said. “He’s thinking ahead.”

Orlando tilted his head to the side. “Amy May?”

I shrugged. “It’s a nickname. Linny is Linny and Daddy calls me Amy May.”

“It’s her redneck name,” Mom exclaimed.

Fire crept up my cheeks. I loved my parents, but they were certainly letting their south Georgia roots show. “Mom,” I hissed.

But Orlando only laughed.

After we ate, Orlando pulled me to him. “Your parents are amazing.”

“Amazingly embarrassing?”

“No, they’re authentic and perfect as they are. I can see how they shaped you, the authentic and perfect person you are.” He kissed my nose.

“We are all definitely authentic.” My hand ran up his arm. “Thank you for meeting them and humoring them. I’m sorry I didn’t ask if we were at the ‘meet the parents’ stage yet.”

“You’ve met my mom.”

“I knew your mom before I knew you,” I reminded him.

“And that’s worked out beautifully. My mom loves you.” He winked.

My breath hitched, waiting to hear if he would follow that up with another love statement, but I knew it was too soon. It was too soon for me, so it had to be for him as well. Had I thought perhaps he would make a declaration? Had I hoped for it?

After dropping Linaya at her apartment and saying goodnight to my parents, I laid in bed and wondered why I thought he might say he loves me. We’d only been dating a short while. We’d both been burned before, so we had carefully danced around the fire instead of jumping right in.

You love him.

I do not.

Ha! Tell yourself that all you want, but you do.

Who made you the expert on me?

I am you. So I am the expert. And you love him. It happened after he knocked Kyle out. You knew you loved him then.

I closed my eyes and tried to fight the grin that spread across my face. It was a losing battle. A little squeal escaped my lips and I cozied down further in my blanket. My phone dinged, causing me to grab for it. Maybe it was Orlando. Instead, my sister’s name was on the screen.

Linaya: That went well.

Amaya: It did.

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