Page 102 of The Perfect Love

“Mom, this is—”

She comes to a stop in front of me, then throws her arms around me. “Chelsea. It’s so good to meet you.”

“It’s good to meet you too, Mrs. Matteny.”

“No way. Call me Liz. Please.” She lets me go and grabs my hands. “I’m so excited to meet the girl who makes my son smile like that.”

I turn in time to see Trevor looking down and rubbing the back of his neck. “Mom…”

“Don’t give me that tone. I like seeing you happy.”

He sighs. “Yeah, I know.”

Then he walks over and throws his arms around his mom, and it’s so… touching.

It makes me feel all swoony and mushy and…

As he steps out of his mom’s embrace, I reach for his arm, but when he feels my fingertips on his skin, he yanks his arm away.

“Don’t pinch me.”

I give him my most innocent smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Pinching?” Hyla asks.

Now it’s Trevor’s turn to smile, but his is more evil. “Yeah, whenever she thinks I’m being too much like a fantasy book boyfriend, she pinches me to make sure I’m real.”

Liz blinks, then breaks into a smile. “You’re just like your dad.”

“Fantasy book boyfriend? Does that mean you’ll read books with us?” Hyla asks.

“Definitely. Trev and I have been reading together.”

“That’s so cute,” Hyla says, making Trevor groan again. I love the dynamic here. They outnumber him, but he’s so soft for them. It’s adorable.

“Who else is hungry? I’m starving. Mom, need help with dinner?”

“I’ll never say no to your help.”

“I’m happy to help too,” I say, but Hyla shakes her head.

“Don’t bother. Cooking together is their thing. Unless she’s making cookies and needs all hands on deck, she won’t ask forour help. Which is fine, because it meansIget to steal your attention. I’m going to give Chelsea a mini tour!” she calls.

There are muttered affirmations, but they’re already halfway into the expansive kitchen.

She slips her arm around mine. “Don’t worry. I’ll let Trevor show you all the spots that are important to him, but I can at least show you around the downstairs… drag you through the library.”

“There’s a library?” I squeak.

She laughs. “Don’t get too excited. It’s not quite aBeauty and the Beastkind of library, but it’ll do.”

She leads me down the hall Liz came from until we get to a large room lined with bookshelves—except for one wall where Liz’s desk is.

I stand in the middle and spin around, looking at the floor-to-ceiling shelves. There’s even a rolling ladder like inBeauty and the Beast.

“This is incredible.”

“Liz loves for anyone who’s here to borrow books, read, and enjoy.”

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