Page 44 of Once Bitten
“Yeah.”
Hand-in-hand they walked up the sidewalk to the house, and as soon as they set foot on the porch, Jordyn’s mother threw her arms around Jordyn hugging her tight. “I missed you, sweet girl. How dare you not come home for weeks! Do you know how boring it’s been here without you?”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I’ve been busy.”
Jordyn’s mother arched an eyebrow in Steve’s direction and grinned. “Yeah, I can see that.”
Jordyn elbowed her mother. “Mom.”
“What?”
Steve cleared his throat and stepped forward, holding a hand out to her. “I’m Steve. I’m— ah, it’s great to meet you Mrs. Summers.”
“Don’t call me that.” She waved a hand at him before moving in to hug him. “Call me Laurie. Mrs. Summers is my mother-in-law, you know?” Her mother winked at Steve and Jordyn rolled her eyes.
“Mom, knock it off with the heart eyes over here. This is my brand spanking new boyfriend, and I don’t need you to scare him off.”
Steve grinned at Jordyn’s words. The word boyfriend was new. Just like him having a girlfriend was, but he, without a doubt, liked both of these things.
“It’s gonna take a lot more than that to scare me off, doll,” he said, reaching out a hand to take hers when Jordyn made to swipe at her mother once more.
She stopped and looked at him, her eyes softening while her mother let out a sweet:“Oh, that’s so cute. Nicknames.”
“I like it when he calls me that,” Jordyn told her mother. She took Steve’s hand and leaned against his side with a smile.
“It’s very sweet,” her mother said with an approving nod.
“I like it when you call me that,” Jordyn repeated to Steve, looking up at him.
“I know,” he said.
The door banged open behind them, and a man with salt and pepper hair poked his head out. He had wire rimmed glasses, dark eyes that Steve could see were identical to Jordyn’s, and a warm smile on his face. He waved an arm at them and shouldered open the door. “Hello there, young man. Get in here so I can grill you about your intentions toward my one and only child.”
“Dad!” Jordyn cried.
“Paul, really?” Laurie sighed.
Steve shrugged moving forward with Jordyn in tow. “Works for me.”
Jordyn’s father’s face fell with a sigh. “It’s no fun if you aren't worried,” he murmured, and held the door open for Steve. “I’m kidding. I’m not that old fashioned but, come on, I do need you in here. I just set the table, and I’m starving.”
Steve laughed. The friendly smile on the man’s face was infectious and he nodded at him with his hand held out.
“Good to meet you, sir.”
He shook Steve’s hand with a nod. “You have manners. That’s good. Manners will get you everywhere in this house. I’m Paul.”
The men shook hands and went inside the house with Jordyn and her mother following behind. “Don’t be weird, Dad.”
Paul scoffed, tossing a kitchen towel over his shoulder. “I was born weird, kid. No can do on that.”
“He’s right, you know,” Laurie chimed in.
Steve laughed again. The energy in the house was lively, welcoming, and warm. He could see how Jordyn had turned out the way she had. There was no shortage of warmth and love, and Steve drank it up.
“Thanks for having me over. I—ah, didn’t think I’d get to meet you this soon,” Steve offered when they entered the dining room.
Jordyn squeezed his hand. “You’re important to me. I’m really glad you’re here.”
