Page 116 of Don't Let Me Fall (Don't Let Me 1)

ASHLYN

“Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad,” I greet them when they answer the front door of my childhood home. It’s nothing more than a tiny, two-bedroom villa surrounded by vines and shrubbery. There’s also a mint green Volkswagen van parked out front, complete with a peace sign sticker and fuzzy pink dice hanging from the rearview mirror. Colt laughed when he saw it, but I told him not to ask.

It feels weird to walk up to my house when I’ve been gone for so long, and I know Colt notices. Thankfully, he’s a gentleman and didn’t comment as my hand hovered over the door handle before I lifted it and knocked my knuckles against the bright red aluminum door.

He’s also ignoring my death grip on his hand as I introduce him to my parents, who are standing in front of us. “This is Colt Thorne, my boyfriend. Colt, this is Angelica and Wade Peterson, my parents.”

Colt offers his opposite hand. The one not being squeezed to death by me. “Mr. and Mrs. Peterson, hello. We talked on the phone yesterday. Thanks for letting us swing by on such short notice.”

My eyes widen in surprise. He decided yesterday to drag me here? Is Colt serious?

I guess I shouldn’t be too shocked. After how perfect everything has been, I can understand why he’d be ready to take our relationship to the next level which, unfortunately, includes a parent meet-and-greet. And since he knew I wouldn’t introduce him to my mom and dad without dragging my feet, he took matters into his own hands.

Sneaky bastard.

“You’re welcome,” my dad returns. “And please, call us Wade and Angelica.” He pushes his shaggy gray and brown hair away from his face and shakes Colt’s hand. My mom does the same.

“You’re lucky we were home. We have a cruise coming up next week,” she explains, stepping aside so we can come into the house. “Our shaman is hosting the whole thing. I think it’s gonna be a very enlightening experience. Right, Wade?”

“Yes, honey,” my dad agrees, pinching her butt. “Very enlightening.”

Oh, my hell. Could they be any more embarrassing?

The strong scent of weed hits me square in the nose, making it wrinkle as I glance at Colt while praying he doesn’t notice. Like I’d warned, my parents have always been free spirits, but telling Colt and having him see it with his own eyes are two very different things.

Part of me has always wondered if that’s why I didn’t fit in. Why they never bothered to reach out after I moved away. It’s not like we have much in common. I’m a stickler for details, and they can barely even remember what day it is most of the time.

Doesn’t make it hurt any less, though.

We stride into the house, and Colt wraps his arm around my shoulders as my mom’s attention shifts from him to me and back again.

She smiles.

“I like this,” she decides, waving her fingers between us. “How was your flight?”

“It was good,” I answer.

“Good. Your father and I were going to grab some lunch. There’s a delicious little vegan place a few minutes away.” She grabs a tie-dyed shawl from the coat rack near the front door and slips it over her shoulders. “Would you prefer to stay here? I know vegan isn’t usually your thing. We can always catch up later.”

I flinch back, embarrassed. I mean, it’s not like it’s a big deal, but we just got here, and they already want to ditch me?

“Actually, I think we’d love to join,” Colt replies for me, his hand practically branding my lower back as he looks down at me. “Wouldn’t we, Ash?”

Swallowing back my disappointment, I nod. “Yeah, of course.”

“Are you sure?” she asks. “The flight must’ve been long. We can always catch up after––”

“Yeah. We’re sure,” Colt interrupts.

“Let me, uh, use the restroom. I’ll be back in a second.” I slip out from beneath Colt’s arm and head to the bathroom without a backward glance, trying to keep my pace steady.

I need a minute. To breathe. To wrap my head around the fact we’re here, and Colt now has a front-row seat to my less than traditional parents. It’s not like they're bad people. I’ve always had a roof over my head and food on the table. But their love for me isn’t like Colt’s parents’. And me admitting out loud versus him witnessing it firsthand? Well, it sucks.

This is going to be one long weekend.

53

COLT

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