Page 96 of Falling in Love with Two

When we get into the kitchen, my parents are putting the finishing touches on dinner.

“Hey, Dyl!” My dad greets before walking over to give me a hug.

“Hey, Dad. How are Grandma and Grandpa?”

“Oh, they’re doing better.”

Mom comes over and starts talking to Leah. “Hi, Leah. I’m Suzanne. Let me know if I can get you anything.”

“Mom, what about me?” I ask.

“Well, Dylan, I already know you. She’s new. Wait your turn.” Before she turns her attention back to Leah, she says, “Why don’t you take out the trash?”

I don’t dare refuse to do it because to be honest, my mother still scares me.

When I come back, Leah has managed to escape everyone and is standing in the living room, looking up at the wall of photos.

Walking up behind her, I ask, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you sure? I know they can be a lot.”

She looks over at me. “Really, I’m good. They’re all so nice.” When she looks back at the wall, she adds, “Man, you were a cute kid.”

“I know, right?” I tease.

“You think our kid will be that cute?”

“Even cuter because they’re half you,” I reply with a smile.

“You look like you had a great childhood.”

“I did,” I tell her. “It took me becoming an adult to realize how great.”

Mom interrupts our conversation when she calls everyone to dinner.

Once we are all seated and passing around large platters of food, I look around and ask, “Where the hell is Jo?”

Mom rolls her eyes. “Don’t even get me started.”

Dad chimes in. “She jumped on the back of some guy’s motorcycle and went on a trip to find herself.”

Ronnie laughs. “Oh man, if I had a dollar for every time I jumped on the back of some guy’s motorcycle.” She gets lost in a momentary daydream.

Mom smirks. “You make a mother so proud.”

Michelle pipes up. “Oh, Mom, don’t be upset. We all know she would only have like two dollars.”

All of us start laughing. I look over at Leah. I expect her to be biting her nails—her typical nervous habit. But as I take her in, that’s not what I see at all. Instead, I see her hanging on the conversation and smiling. Much to my surprise, she looks like she’s having a good time.

I’ve never been serious enough about a woman to bring them home for family dinner. I’m aware the Lawsons can be pretty intimidating.

As much as I’ve always said that I don’t care what my family thinks of who I pick as a partner, I know that there being animosity there would cause problems. Although we aren’t attached at the hip, we’re a fairly close group. It would be easier if everyone got along—especially since there will be a baby involved too.

Liz asks, “So, Leah, what do you do for work?”

“I’m a tattoo artist.”

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