Page 129 of Catch Me
He rolls his eyes at his brother. “You slowed me down.”
A beat later both of their parents round the corner and welcome Thiers. Andreas moves to me and pulls me to him.
“Came to check on you. You okay?” he asks in my ear.
My first instinct is to lay my head against his chest and ask him just to hold me. How do I explain that things were starting to feel too good? Who wants to hear that their girlfriend gets frightened and panicky when things are going well?
“I’m good,” I say. “Your mom looks happy.” I gesture to the scene happening over his shoulder.
He looks back and grins. “Yeah, Mom’s especially happy whenever we’re all home.”
“I think they’re about to bring out the cake.” He squeezes my hand.
“Let’s go.”
His parents and Thiers are ahead of us as we head back toward the backyard to rejoin the party.
A chorus of cheers sound when everyone sees Andreas’ twin. He remains unfazed by the uproar, and barely tolerates the hugs the literal dozens of family members give him as he passes through.
“Your family is so interesting,” I tell Andreas as he wraps his arms around me from behind and leans his chin on my shoulder.
“They’re fine but it’s me that’s the most interesting.”
I laugh and go to spin to kiss him but stop. I glance around, suddenly feeling uneasy with such a public display of affection.
Andreas draws our lips together. He makes it quick, then moves his mouth beside my ear. “You don’t have to be shy about affection. Ever. No one here will find it odd.”
I glance around noting the many couples young and older holding hands, whispering in one another’s ears, and yes, kissing. Destiny Townsend, Andreas’ uncle and mother to Tristan, Travis, Annalise, and Chloe wipes lipstick off her husband, Tyler Townsend’s, mouth.
No, I don’t think anyone in this crowd would mind my giving Andreas a peck.
“That’s so different from my family.”
“Want a new one?”
My eyes bulge, and I stare up at Andreas. I expect to see a playful expression on his face.
It’s not there.
There’s an earnestness in his eyes that steals the breath from my lungs.
I don’t have time to ask him for clarification before someone calls out that it’s time to bring out the cake.
Seconds later, the DJ begins playing instrumental music and everyone starts singing happy birthday as a three-tier chocolate cake with strawberries along the edges is brought out on a rolling table.
I sing along, trying but failing to push away that look on Andreas’ face.
CHAPTER 37
Andreas
“What’s this about now?” I ask, glaring at Kyle.
“See? I told you he would be pissed,” Diego, my cousin, says as he opens the door to his basement oasis.
He shares the three-story, farm-style home with his wife, Monique, and their two daughters. All of them are out with the other women in my family, including Ivy, having a spa day.
Meanwhile Kyle, Diego, Dae, and I have come over to his place. Against my will, I should add. What I want is to see Ivy, but we were told to stay away for the day so the women can have a day for themselves.
