Page 28 of Inked Devotion

“It’s fine. We’re going to work it out.”

“Yes, we are,” she said quickly, as she nodded and looked towards the house. “I’m pretty sure we’re going to park in the back later, but they want us to come through the front door at first. So let’s make that happen.”

“Should I bring the bags now?”

She shook her head. “No, that’ll just hinder us.”

“I’ve got you.”

She looked at me then, and I wasn’t sure I should have said that.

“Let’s get inside,” she said. She gave me a tight nod, and I felt like we were gearing up for battle. Perhaps we were.

“Do you remember everyone’s names?” she asked as we got out of the SUV. She ran her hands over her body, and my mind went to where it shouldn’t. She gave me a look, and I knewshe knewexactly where my thoughts had gone, but I did my best to ignore it. I was doing my best to ignore more than a few things today.

“I hope you at least wrote it down, because they’re going to know everything about you.” She frowned. “Or at least about Beckett.” She cringed, and I shook my head.

“You did tell them it wasmecoming, right?”

“Of course I did, but they get confused. Your family has a lot of twins.”

“We have two. Two sets of twins.”

“That’s a lot to a family that has none, which is a family of seven kids, without any twins. My poor mother.”

“And I thought our family was big.”

“You just have a lot more cousins than we do,” she muttered as we walked towards the front door. My hand brushed hers, and she pulled hers away quickly as if I had burned her. I ignored the feeling because we didn’t have time for it.

The door opened, and a woman that looked like Brenna in twenty years walked out, a big man behind her.

“Brenna, my darling. You’re finally here. We’ve missed you.”

Brenna’s mom came over quickly and kissed her daughter on the cheeks, taking her purse from her and handing it over to Brenna’s father. Brenna’s dad just rolled his eyes, kissed his daughter on the cheek hard before hugging her and glaring at me.

“So this is the new one,” he muttered.

Brenna groaned. “Dad.”

“What? You never bring boys home. You don’t give me chances to act like the big overbearing dad.”

“I’m sure you’ve had that all practiced out.”

“I thought you’d have gotten all of that out when you were dealing with her sisters.” Brenna’s mother turned to me. “Hello, I’m Teresa, this is Sam. We’re Brenna’s parents. And don’t listen to anything he has to tell you. He should have gotten his over-protective dad routine out of the way when Brenna’s three sisters were married. And honestly, when her brothers were married as well. Lots of marriages and babies in this family.” She grinned as she said it, though she did give Brenna a pointed look.

“Thanks, Mom,” she said. “Okay, let’s get inside before you guys start laying it on thick.”

“We would never. We’re just so excited that you’re here. And bringing a boy.”

“It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Benjamin,” I said, grateful I could even get a word in.

“Oh, we know all about you. Your Brenna’s best friend.”

“That’s Beckett, dear,” Sam said. “This is Benjamin. The other one. The twin. Didn’t realize they were so interchangeable.”

Brenna cringed. “Benjamin is also my friend. And he came out here to hang out with me.”

“Whatever you say, dear,” her mom said with a knowing glance.

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