Page 45 of You Rock My World
Lily’s hug is short but kind, her hazel eyes assessing.
While Penny looks up at me with wide eyes. “You’re very tall,” she states matter-of-factly.
I crouch down to her level, grinning. “And you’re very observant.” I tap her nose lightly.
Penny beams, pleased with herself, while Josie’s eyes shine at seeing me interact with her niece. And her admiration makes me feel a bit like I also am a kid being patted on the head.
As we take our places at the dinner table, Moira insists on sitting next to me, claiming she has to “inspect the merchandise” more closely. Penny pipes up, securing the spot on my other side. I’m caught between amusement and mild apprehension as I settle into my chair with the youngest and oldest women flanking me.
Lily pats my shoulder as she passes me on the way to take her seat. “If you can keep up with my daughter’s questions, you’ll be her new favorite person.”
I grin in response, silently noting the unspoken sadness that lingers behind her eyes. Across the table, Josie slides into a chair opposite me, leaning forward to whisper, “Blink twice if you need rescuing.”
I suppress a grin, feeling oddly at ease despite being in a room filled with new people.
Dinner begins with Moira passing me a dish of roasted corn. “Careful, it’s spicy. I hope you like chili powder. It’s an aphrodisiac.”
I manage a straight-faced, “Ah. Good to know.”
Josie smiles, mouthing, “Blink twice.”
Being with her family feels like stepping into a past life, one filled with home-cooked meals and warmth I haven’t known in years. They all welcome me. Betty beams when I compliment the food, and the banter flows easily. Penny asks me to cut her chicken and not-so-subtly brings up my tattoos, telling me the princes in Josie’s stories have ink, too. I catch Josie staring at my forearms, and Moira notices too. She almost tells us to quit with the eye-fucking, but Lily stops her in time, playing referee. I’ve missed this dynamic, this sense of being part of a loving family. My mom was the glue that kept me and my dad together. Since she’s passed, we’ve been drifting further and further apart.
As the meal winds down, the lively chatter fades into the satisfied silence of full stomachs. A wave of nostalgia hits me. This is the kind of evening I didn’t realize I missed—warm, affectionate, unfiltered.
I help Lily clear the plates, deftly dodging another of Moira’s thinly veiled innuendos. In the kitchen, Josie’s sister surprises me by saying, “You held up well under fire. For someone who sings to screaming crowds, you’re surprisingly laid-back.”
I smirk. “Don’t tell anyone, though. It’ll ruin my brand.”
“Your secret’s safe with us.” Lily’s eyes hold mine, and I know she’s really referring to keeping my relationship with Josie private. “Just don’t break her heart, please.”
The tentative trust in her stare strikes me harder than the words themselves. I nod in response. A silent promise I intend to keep.
Ten minutes later, I’m hugging everyone goodbye. Moira doesn’t let me go until Josie comes to the rescue and maneuvers us to the back porch for a private goodbye. As we walk out, Josie’s hand finds mine, our fingers intertwining as she smiles radiantly. I’d attend a thousand family dinners, answer a million awkward questions, and manage as many handsy aunts to keep that smile on her face.
“Thanks for inviting me,” I say, leaning against the railing. “I know it was a leap to do it so soon.”
She smiles. “You invited yourself over, rockstar.”
I tug the ribbon at the top of her dress, undoing the bow slowly. Josie goes still, breath catching as the bow slips free. “Wish I hadn’t?”
“No, you were perfect. Everyone’s charmed.”
I grin, stepping closer. “Including you?”
Her eyes meet mine, sparkling brighter than the stars above. “Yes, including me.”
The urge to close the distance between us and taste her lips is overwhelming. But the sound of my car pulling up in the yard breaks the spell. I hesitate, then step back with a soft, “Goodnight, Josie.”
She puts my baseball cap on my head. “Night, Dorian.”
We circle the house together, but can’t even hug in a space so exposed.
She mouths, “Drive safe.”
I nod and climb in the back seat, watching Josie as she stands in the driveway, her arms wrapped around herself against the cool night air, as the car pulls away.
Once we’re on the road, I lean my head back against the seat, closing my eyes. Tonight was a glimpse into a life I never thought I could have—messy, loud,real. And now, more than ever, I want it. I want her.
