Page 67 of Hot Shot

I freeze.

Fuuuuck.

Lauren’s eyebrows shoot up. “Boyfriend? Carrie has a boyfriend?”

Julia nods, her eyes wide with panic. “Yes. Marco. He’s her boyfriend.”

“Why didn’t I know about this?” But Lauren smoothes her expression into a pleasant one. “Well, a surprise, but it’s lovely to meet you.”

“Yeah, I’ve been looking forward to meeting Carrie’s family.” Jesus fucking Christ. That’s almost hilarious. I don’t know what the hell to do with family.

Relief relaxes Julia’s face and we exchange a pointed glance.

The DJ has arrived and is setting up his sound system at one end of the rom, and more seniors are shuffling in. Carrie has disappeared.

I resist the urge to run my hand around the inside of my collar where perspiration has gathered.

“So how did you two meet?” Lauren asks.

Well, that’s easy. “Carrie’s friend Hayden is engaged to my friend Beck. Beck and I own a bar together, along with our other buddy Cade.”

“Right, I heard about Hayden’s hot former SEAL boyfriend. Were you also a SEAL?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Thank you for your service.”

I nod just as Carrie reappears, her arm linked with a woman’s. That must be Grandma Garner. The woman’s posture is straight, her steps slow but sure, her hair snow white. Her red lips like Carrie’s curve into a beaming smile.

Carrie leads her grandmother toward us. “Oh hey, you’re here!” She greets her sister and niece. “We should find a table and save seats for Mom and Dad.”

I didn’t think this through. Her whole damn family is going to be here. I give in to that need to swipe my hand over the back of my neck.

“Carrie, why didn’t you tell me you had a boyfriend?” Lauren asks with a smile flashed my way.

Carrie pauses in pulling out a chair. “Uh . . .”

I slide my arm around her waist and pull her in for a hug. “It’s still pretty new.”

She turns her face up to me with a confused groove between her brows. I nuzzle her ear. “Go along with it. For Julia.”

Her long eyelashes flutter, but she clears her expression and smiles. “That’s right. I was going to tell you. Uh . . . soon. Oh, there’s Mom and Dad.”

Great. The whole family is going to be on in this charade. Awkward.

Carrie makes quick introductions. I take in Grandma’s interested, assessing up-and-down look and shake hands with Mr. and Mrs. Garner. I help Grandma to sit at a table.

“Interesting outfit, Joyce,” Mrs. Garner says to her mother-in-law.

Grandma Garner wear a red sequined dress with a black feather boa draped around her shoulders. She gives one end of the boa a toss behind her shoulder and lifts her chin. “Thank you.”

“You look great, Mom,” Carrie’s dad says with a kiss to Grandma’s cheek.

“Mom and Dad, you haven’t met Marco Solis. Marco, my parents, Aaron and Cheryl.”

I shake hands and smile. “Good to meet you.”

“Did you know Carrie had a boyfriend?” Lauren asks her parents.

---