Page 112 of The Forever Rule

My parents werein love with my boyfriend.

I was quite confident that I had never thought that particular phrase before in my life, nor would have evensuggestedit in the past. However as we sat in my parents’ living room, Aston smiled, and my mother practically swooned.

An arm wrapped around my shoulders, and I leaned into my dad’s hold. He had that same forest scent that he always did, that mix of cologne and his deodorant that reminded me of my father.

I knew I was lucky in the way that I had grown up. Two loving parents, who cared aboutme. Yes, Mom had worked long hours, and Dad had been gone for forty-eight hours at a time, and yet, I had never felt the lack. I had grown up in my mom’s office, and in his fire station.

In Aston’s family parents had been there. Yes, his father had been away half the time it seemed once he had started his second family, but he had worked with three of his sons. Had done some summer vacations with them in Cage Lake. Just like he had with all of Aston’s full brothers. I remembered Isabella telling me that their father would do smaller family vacations, but nowhere near the mountains. Nowhere near a small town that bared his name.

I wasn’t quite sure how all twelve of the siblings had come out somewhat whole, or sane. Not that I knew all of Aston’s brothers inside and out, but from what I could tell, they were good people. And Isabella’s full siblings had been in my life since I had known Isabella, and they were also kind. Even Kyler, who growled more often than not.

But then again, he had been the only boy growing up in a household of girls.

I had been the lucky one, and I hadn’t even realized it.

“Well that’s a sight to see,” my dad whispered in my ear, and I sighed against his shoulder, watching my mother animatedly talk to Aston, her hands moving in the air as if she knew that if she had to sit on her hands, she probably wouldn’t be able to complete a sentence. Aston looked fully engaged, leaning forward and smiling as my mother spoke.

He was in the middle of the conversation,truly there,although something had felt off when he had picked me up. Or maybe I was just so nervous about this family dinner where he was meeting the parents, that I had put undue pressure on myself.

“What’s a sight?” I asked, pulling myself back into the present.

“You brought a man home. This is a big deal.”

I was grateful that we were far enough away that I didn’t think Aston had heard, but I still hissed lowly. “Don’t let him hear you,” I whispered.

“What? It is a big deal. You brought him over so we could check him out and vet him. I approve of your decisions, though I haven’t approved of the man yet.”

I looked up at him, my eyes narrowing. “Excuse me, you are not here to vet him.”

“Who says I haven’t already? I did warn you I would. All before your what, second date?”

My chest tightened, and I took a step back. “Please tell me you didn’t ask your friends.”

“What, I could have. I didn’t, but I could have. And you know your mom could have easily. Just a few click of the buttons.”

“And then illegally do a full background check? No, neither one of you would do that.” I paused. “Would you?”

“If I thought he was going to hurt you? In a second.” The seriousness of my father’s tone made me sit up a little straighter.

“It’s not like that. He’s a good man.”

“And I’m glad. I would hate to have to go to jail for murdering a Cage.”

That made me smile, and I shoved at him gently. “If he hurts me, I will be the one who takes care of it.”

“And while I believe you would try, you would have to get past your mother first.” He paused. “And Isabella.”

I pressed my lips together, both of us on the edge of laughter. Because that was true. Isabella was always in our corner, even though she didn’t always let us be in her corner.

“She’s a good friend.”

“And Aston’s sister. Small world.”

I shook my head. “So small it’s a little worrying. But I’m glad we’re here for dinner. Although I am really nervous.”

“That boy better be more nervous.”

“Thatboyis in his thirties. I think you can call him a little more grown up than that.”

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