Page 90 of Web of Lies
"Is this where you grew up?" I finally ask.
"Yes," he says.
"It's so..." I pause, trying to find the right word on the tip of my tongue.
"Underwhelming?" he offers with a soft chuckle.
"Yes," I admit, caught off guard by how accurate the statement is. It's underwhelming as well as too peaceful compared to his personality and what I've learned about his family.
"You're not wrong." He lets out an amused huff. "As I told you before, they tried to give me a somewhat ordinary childhood," he says, seemingly reading my thoughts. "Or, well, their version of it. It was as ordinary as possible when your parents are a murderer and a cannibal."
"I can only assume," I whisper to myself.
"Let's go," he says, reaching for the bouquet of red flowers on the back seat. "I'm sure my parents have heard the car and are eager to meet you." My gaze meets his. "Are you ready?" he asks with a soft smile.
"As ready as I can be."
With that, we slip out of the car and are hit by the cool winter air. Kyle circles the hood and meets me halfway, placing his free hand on the small of my back to guide me toward the front door.
My heart pounds against my ribs, my nerves seething at the thought of meeting his parents. I’ve never met the parents of any man I’ve dated before. So, that alone is terrifying enough. But Kyle’s parents are in a whole different league.
When we reach the door, he shoots me one last look, to which I respond with a slight nod. He then pushes the door handle down, and the door swings open, revealing a beautiful entryway that is bright yet warm and inviting.
"Mom, Dad, we're here!" Kyle calls out, his voice echoing through the house.
"Baby Bear," a surprisingly high, yet sweet, voice calls back. And a moment later, a gorgeous woman steps into the entryway. She’s at least a head shorter than I am, with sleek, black hair falling over her shoulders. Dressed in a flowy blouse and a long skirt, she looks effortlessly put together. Right behind herfollows a tall man who is about Kyle's height. He has a full head of salt-and-pepper hair and is dressed in jeans and a simple sweatshirt.
I expect the woman to ignore me at first, but instead of rushing to greet Kyle, her eyes lock on me, and her face lights up with a bright smile. Before I can react, she reaches me, and her arms wrap around me in a gentle hug.
"I'm so happy to finally meet you, Riley," she says, pulling back just enough to look at me and take my hands in hers. "Kyle has told me so many wonderful things about you."
"The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Bennett," I say, the words tumbling off my lips while my mind is still two steps behind, struggling to keep up with her.
"Oh, no, that makes me sound old," she jokes. "Call me Kimberly or Mom, if you'd like. Evelyn calls me Mom, too," she says.
"I—" The words get stuck in my throat as I'm completely surprised by Kimberley's warm and welcoming, yet all-over-the-place, personality. Kyle told me to expect three cats in a trench coat, but I thought he was exaggerating.
"Mom," Kyle starts, but his dad takes a step closer and places a hand on Kimberly's back.
"Kim, my love, slow down," the man behind her says in a voice similar to Kyle's, but rougher around the edges.
"I'm sorry," she says with a chuckle as she takes a step back and moves to the man's side. "I got carried away with my excitement."
"I know," he replies, his calm demeanor suggesting he has the patience of a saint. "But you've got all night to get to know her."
He then turns to me, with a faint smile on his lips. "Hello, Riley. I'm Matthew."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," I say, looking up at him. His smile reminds me of Kyle's. That rare, calm, and reassuringsmile of his. Kimberly, on the other hand... My gaze shifts to her. Her spirit and the way her lips curve into an energetic smile have the same spark as Kyle's extroverted personality. It's almost as if he is the perfect blend of them both, in terms of both personality and appearance.
"Mom," Kyle says, drawing everyone's attention as he lifts the bouquet. "For you."
Her smile softens, and she takes the flowers from him, lifting them to her face. "Thank you so much," she says. "They're beautiful. I’m going to put them straight into water." Without another word, she turns and heads back to where she came from.
With a sigh, Matthew looks after her, then looks back at us. "Come in," he says, turning to follow Kimberly.
Kyle's hand lands gently on the small of my back and guides me down the hallway. I let my eyes wander over the framed photos lining the walls. Most of the pictures show happy family moments, such as birthdays, holidays, and vacations. But what catches my attention most is how the boy grows up in the photos. He goes from having chubby baby cheeks and missing teeth to being a teenager with messy dark hair and the same mischievous look in his eyes. The older he gets, the more he looks like the Kyle I know today.
Once inside the dining room, my gaze falls on Matthew, who is standing by the already set table and gesturing for us to sit down.
