Page 38 of Catastrophe Magnet

Then I’m striding into Perky’s to meet my doom, but I’m gonna own it, whichever way this goes.

ChapterFourteen

The secondshe walks through the doors, I lurch to my feet to greet her. I know she was a bit panicky about this earlier, even though she tried to hide the fact. But I know better because I’m anxious as shit right now, too.

As soon as she’s within arm’s reach, I tug her into a hug, pressing my lips to the crown of her head. I love how she’s so tiny, yet the perfect height for me.

She tucks her head under my chin and wraps her arms around my back before whispering, “Snow just gave me the ultimate badass pep talk, so let’s do this while I’m still pumped up.”

I chuckle and murmur, “Okay” before turning us to face my family.

And not just my immediate family. No, the whole damn lot of them decided they’d come and meet the girl that made mediscover my feelings. Bates’ words, not mine.

Her eyes widen, then swing up to meet mine. “I thought you said it was just your family. Who are all these people staring at me?” she hisses between her teeth while maintaining a friendly smile.

“If I wasn’t so into you, I’d be running away at top speed right now. I am legit terrified of ventriloquists, they freak me the fuck out. Please never do that again.”

“Aren’t you going to introduce us to your girlfriend, Arlo?” Bates asks.

I don’t even glance at him as I raise my hand and shoot him the bird. “You ready for this?” I ask Kida.

She shrugs. “Guess we’ll find out.”

I sweep my hand out, gesturing to the group of people taking up one whole side of the seating area at Perky’s Books and Brews. “Kida, this is my family. They thought it would be nice for everyone to come up this weekend to surprise us.”

“Okay,” she murmurs, giving a little wave.

Aria, her dark brown piggy tales bouncing around her head, rushes Kida, crashing into her legs at full speed. “Pwincess Tida I lub you. Tida and Miwoe are my fabwit.”

I reach down, scooping her up into my arms. “Since when?”

“Since your dad told her he needed to watch Atlantis because Arlo said his girlfriend was named after the princess in it,” Kins says, Aylin in her arms as she comes to stand next to us. “Hi, I’m Kinsley, Arlo’sstepmom.”

She cringes every time she says the word stepmom even after being with my dad for the last six years. There is a story there, but I haven’t told Kida that one yet, so I resist the urge to make an inappropriate joke, for now.

Kins continues, “I’m sorry about this lot, I was out-voted. If they’re too much, we won’t be offended if you leave.”

“Speak for yourself,” Bates says.

“Oh, my God! Can you not be the center of attention for five minutes, you attention whore?” his sister Lennon snaps at him. “Give the poor girl a break.”

He rolls his eyes at her. “Oh, pl-ease. As if you’d be happy to drive home without meeting her after leaving at asscrack o’clock this morning to beat traffic.”

“Would you two shut up, you’re going to scare her off,” Emory bites.

My dad rubs his temples as he shakes his head at the group. “Could you not at least try to be normal for just a little while? This is a big moment and you’re all ruining it.”

“Hey, what’d I do?” Uncle Sam asks, frowning at my dad.

Kida snorts a quiet laugh, and I have a feeling she’s going to be just fine.

* * *

By the time Kins,Dad, and the girls leave on Sunday afternoon, I’m exhausted in the best possible way. We spent Saturday morning exploring the shops on Main Street then headed back to my place so everyone could check out my apartment before the extended portion of my family went back to the city.

The rest of the weekend was spent enjoying each other’s company after weeks apart. I still missed them fiercely, and that probably wouldn’t change for a long time. But I was now beginning to see Shiloh Springs as my home.

Kida rests her head on my bicep as we walk back inside my building and across the lobby to the elevators. I hit the call button, and when the silver doors open, we step inside. I settle against the back wall, Kida in front of me, her back pressed to my chest, my palms resting on her belly. This is the first time we’ve been completely alone since last Friday.

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