Page 37 of Kiren

“They—um, they want to meet you, Daddy.”

“Already?”

I looked down. “I’m sorry. My parents are very nosy and involved.”

Max sat down next to me, putting an arm over my shoulders. “What do you want?”

“Well, if I say no, they’ll just keep asking. They want us to come to dinner on Friday.”

“Baby, whatever you want.” Max squeezed my shoulders.

“Is it too fast, Daddy?”

“You mean too soon?”

I nodded. “Too soon in our relationship.” There. I’d stated it out loud. We were having a relationship.

“Baby, I’m all in. Nothing is too fast with you. When we’re together, I don’t want to stop wanting everything with you.”

No one had ever spoken to me in that way before. I didn’t think. I didn’t question. I threw my arms around his neck and pressed my mouth to his. Max wanted me. Me. And he wanted everything.

Breathlessly, I pulled back. “I want everything with you, too, Daddy.”

“Then let’s go meet the parents on Friday.”

“You’d do that? For me?”

“It would be my honor and my pleasure.” He kissed me this time, long and deep.

The phone fell into the couch cushions. It had gone dark. As we kissed, I forgot all about it until it chimed again.

I pulled back as Max was sucking my lower lip. “Oops. I forgot about them. They were waiting for an answer in our group text.”

Max laughed. “I think it’s cute you have a group text with your parents.”

It made me feel little to hear him say that. But also slightly ashamed. The accident had set me back far. I had been living it up in college only to have such a huge setback, and that wasn’t about me being little at all. It was on a completely different level.

I dug around in the cushions and brought up my phone. I looked down. My parents had continued their conversation without me. So funny, since they lived in the same house.

Mom:Do you think he just turned his phone off?

Dad:How should I know?

Mom:If he’s asking Max about our invitation, how long could that take?

Dad:Well, our texts did interrupt his date with Max. We just have to be patient.

Mom:Well, okay. But I think he should just say they’re coming. What’s wrong with having us meet him? It shows interest. That we care.

Dad:Honey, I said patience, please. Our son’s dating for the first time in two years. We should be happy.

Mom:I’m very happy for him, dear.

Kiren:Mom. Dad. Sorry. I’m back. You guys worry way too much. I’m fine. Max is good with Friday. He’s a great guy. We’ll be there at six.

Mom:Wonderful! I can’t wait to meet him. What is he like?

Dad:We look forward to it, son.

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