Page 69 of Overachiever
The sight of her shock, and his horror at having water bombed a stranger makes it impossible not to laugh. I wanted her to meet my family. This is not a surprising introduction. She may as well see what she’s stepped into.
“Oh! I’m sorry!” Kevin cries, slapping his hand over his mouth.
Remee glances toward me, water dripping from her chin, then turns to him. “You’re Kevin, right?”
He nods, and she smiles. “I’m Remee, and you.” She pauses to grab two water balloons from the huge plastic tub of them nearby. “Are in deep trouble.”
A smile springs to his face, and he shrieks, running away. Remee chases him, drawing everyone’s attention. They start cheering her on to get him. The first one she throws misses, and he jeers at her, then adds insult by stopping to do a little dance. That’s when she nails him in the forehead with the second one. Laughter and applause sound all around us, and she makes her way back to where I’m standing with Asher and Carter.
“She’s going to fit in well,” Carter says, just before she gets in earshot.
It was the best first impression ever.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Remee
Being introduced to Owen’s family while dripping wet and sweaty wasn’t in my plan, but the poor kid looked so terrified when the balloon hit me that I didn’t hesitate. I can remember that awful feeling as a kid of making a mistake, especially in front of other people, and not knowing what to do. At least I didn’t bust my ass in front of everyone.
The day went great, actually. Owen’s the clown of the group, no doubt, but his brothers and dad are funny too. He warned me about it being a madhouse and he wasn’t kidding, but I love it. It’s so relaxed and fun, with no one arguing or judging. The younger kids have their friends around, and Rose treats them like her own. It’s such a good atmosphere.
Their home is a beautiful, sprawling farmhouse surrounded by fields, with a tree line in the distance. It’s not fancy, but warm with a lived-in appearance. After spending most of our day in the backyard with his family, we gather around two long picnic tables outside to eat as the sun lowers in the sky.
“It’s not going to be this warm for much longer. We have to take advantage of it,” Rose says, sitting down between her two youngest boys.
“Ugh, we have to go back to school soon,” Kevin groans.
“I like school,” Tyler volunteers, before chomping into a chicken leg. He beams at me. “Do you go to school?”
“I do. And I like school too.”
Multiple conversations take place at once as everyone tries to catch up. It’s obvious how much they all love spending time together, and I wonder what it would’ve been like to grow up in a home like this. Chaotic, definitely, but never lonely.
After dinner, I help his mother clean up despite her objections, then Owen shows me to his room where we’re staying. “Your mom keeps your bedroom the same?” I remark, grinning at the walls covered in space paraphernalia and posters.
“She didn’t change Joel’s room until he’d been moved out over four years. And then only because Kevin and Tyler didn’t want to share a room anymore.” He flops down on the full size bed. “She wants us to know we can come back.”
“She’s amazing. Really, your whole family is great.” It makes me realize there’s one thing we haven’t talked about. It’s early in our relationship, but it worries me he might want different things in the future than I do. It stays on my mind until we go to bed, and I bring it up as we lie in the darkness of his childhood bedroom.
“Do you want kids? You know, in the future?” My fingers fidget with his chest hair when he remains quiet a few moments. “There’s no wrong answer.”
“I don’t know. I love my family, but I also want to travel. Kids require an immense sacrifice of personal freedom I’m not sure I’ll be willing to give. I’ve always thought that if I get older and decide I want children, I’ll foster or adopt like my parents did.” He runs his hand down my arm. “What about you?”
“It was part of my plan, but now I’m not sure. It’s not that I necessarily wanted to be a mother, just that it’s what you’re supposed to do. School, career, marriage, kids. I don’t really think that way anymore.”
“Why are you thinking about it now?”
“You come from a big family. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t want a bunch of kids. That we’re compatible, you know, long term.”
He rolls over on top of me and kisses my neck. “Long term, huh? This is forever, Rem. You’re the one. There’s not a doubt in my mind, and the day you realize it too, I’m going to put my grandma’s ring on your finger.”
My breath catches in my throat at the thought, but not in the panicky way I expected. It’s far too early of course, and he’s talking about later on. Still, it’s a beautiful thought. A hopeful one.
“We have to beat these other bastards to it, though, because there’s only one ring.”
“You’re crazy,” I giggle. He drags his lips up my jaw and caresses my breast. “And I’m not fucking you in your parents’ house. Someone will hear.”
“Backyard?”
