Page 28 of Bound and Blitzed

“You too.” I give him a little wave hello.

“How was Austin?” he continues, his gaze sliding from me to Avery. “It’s not a place I’d ever see you wanting to visit for fun.”

“It was Lena’s idea,” Avery replies.

“Lena, huh?” Raia comments.

I roll my lips together before offering a small smile. “Avery’s nickname for me.”

“A nickname after one week. Things must be heating up,” Cohen says, nodding as if this makes sense.

Nothing makes any damn sense.

“I…um…I wanted to see the migration of some of the hawks and hummingbirds. Austin is part of the Central Flyway,” I explain.

Cohen stares at me like I have three heads.

Joe snorts into his beer. Arlene looks to her son as if waiting for him to interpret what I just explained.

Raia smirks. “That sounds right up Avery’s alley. He’s an avid bird-watcher.”

“Oh, dear!” Arlene gasps, understanding the conversation. “Did you see any good ones?”

“A bald eagle,” Avery supplies, his lips twitching.

“Well, how patriotic,” Arlene offers.

Joe takes a swig of his beer, his eyes dancing with amusement as he glances at me. Again, his eyes drop to my ring finger, and he tilts his head, as if to ask what I’m waiting for.

Should I just blurt out the news? Confirm his suspicion?

I look to Avery for help. For guidance and direction.

Avery sips his beer in response.

“We had a great time,” I continue, trying to gather some courage.

“It must have been one hell of a first date,” Cohen agrees.

“We got married at the end of it,” Avery says, his tone just as even as it was a second ago.

Raia opens her mouth to quip back but then snaps it closed. Her eyebrows furrow, her eyes narrowing as if to compute the meaning of Avery’s words.

“Wait, what?” Cohen asks.

I hold up my hand with the diamond band. “Surprise!”

Joe’s laughter is the first sound to break the ice.

Arlene looks truly bewildered.

“Congratulations, my dear. You’re the first person to render my wife speechless,” Joe offers as he pulls me into a hug. “Welcome to the family. I imagine there’s still time to back out, but if you like shenanigans and laughter, you’ll fit in just fine.”

I sink into his embrace and cling to Avery’s father for a second longer. His steadiness, the ease in which he receives me, banishes some of my self-doubt. He gives me the acceptance that I’ll never receive from my own father and right now, in this moment, it nearly brings me to tears.

It’s insane because I just met the man and yet, it feels like he’s on my side. Like he’s rooting for me.

“Thank you. I haven’t been a part of many shenanigans,” I whisper.

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