Page 14 of Snow One Like You

He’s incorrigible. And harmless. Rain, though, not so much. I move to stand in front of Nate, not ready to write his eulogy, when Sunny handles him effortlessly. “You’re all show, young man. You talk a good game, but you haven’t yet met the woman that’ll knock you on your ass.” I swear noise ceases, everyone eavesdropping without shame. “When you do, I intend to be at the wedding. I do so love dancing.”

Not one to be down long, Nate seizes the opportunity she unknowingly gave him. “Who should I address the invitation to?” He never accepts defeat. Nate simply regroups and tries to approach the problem from a different angle. This time, that happens to be Snow’s mom.

“Rain and Sunny Dey,” she answers before I can stop her.

Unsurprisingly, Nate doesn’t take her seriously. He blinks, waiting for the laughter that’s sure to come at his expense. When it doesn’t, he glances at me and mouths, “Seriously?” I nod and spell it for him.

He takes a couple steps to the right, closer to his desk, and I stop him. “Don’t.”

“What?” I arch a brow, knowing I don’t need to say it out loud. “Yeah, okay,” he concedes, pouting because I won’t let him run a background check on my girlfriend and her parents. “Spoilsport.”

Rain and Sunny look between us, no doubt in an attempt to figure out the code we’re talking in. Not sure what it says about Rain that he puts it together. “Wants to dig on us, huh?”

“No, he doesn’t,” Snow intercedes, peeking at me. “Right?”

When I don’t agree, she stares at Nate. “Back off.”

“I’m a choirboy,” he reassures her.

“Laying it on a bit thick, aren’t you?” I warn him.

“That’s because there are many layers to me.” Oh geez.

“Dad, Mom,” Snow interrupts, trying to get back on track, which is probably wise or this could last a while, “how do you know about Calvin?”

“Surely not from our very own daughter,” Sunny huffs. Mom guilt is a work of art, a masterpiece, if you will, of their power. And they wield it with precision when they so choose. Apparently, for Sunny, this is one of those times. It hits it’s intended target, too. Snow – rightfully so, in my opinion, as I suddenly feel like I was being kept a secret for some reason – grimaces, hanging her head and offering an apology to her parents. “Is that all you have to say for yourself, young lady?”

Snow takes a deep breath, glances at me, the unspoken question received as if she verbalized it. I nod, some of my unease fading. She grins in relief, taking a little more with it. “Dad, Mom, this is Calvin Wells. My boyfriend.” Turning to me once more, she continues unnecessarily, though I understand why, “Calvin, I’d like you to meet my parents, Rain and Sunshine Dey.”

“Oh happy dey,” Nate puns behind me, earning a giggle from Snow and Sunny and a chuckle from Rain. Thankfully. Then again, I’m sure this isn’t the first time their names have been a source of humor.

Showing I’m correct and they’ve more than likely learned how to counteract it, Sunny claps her hands together and offers, “Perhaps for our first grandchild.”

“I call Uncle,” Nate declares. So do I, on this whole conversation, I think to myself. But just like when we were kids and my sister was tickling me without mercy, it doesn’t have an impact. “Could that be happening soon?” He wants to know, nudging me with his elbow, giving me a wink when I look at him in annoyance.

“Go away.”

“Can’t. Shift isn’t over.” Then he sits at his desk, props his feet on it, and starts whistling. Pain. In. My. Ass.

My future kids are gonna love him.

Chapter Six

Snow

December 3rd...

“So, let me get this straight,” Calvin says as we stop at a red light. “When you said you grew up with a lot of other kids, what you meant was…” he trails off as it turns green.

“Exactly what I said. I just didn’t include the part where it was on what most would call a compound.” The two halves of my world crossing occurred a few days ago, but we’re only now able to discuss it.

In our mutual defense, we’ve attempted to prior to now. His work, unfortunately, made that impossible. Shortly after Nate so helpfully claiming the role of Uncle in children Calvin and I haven’t conceived, let alone talked about having together, their captain ordered them into his office. Calvin asked us to wait, so sure he’d be back in a few minutes. He was, they both were, though only with enough time to grab their stuff, then they took off for a new case.

One that’s consumed almost every waking moment not required for sleeping or eating up until around three this morning when the lead they had finally panned out, resulting in an arrest. After some much needed rest, Calvin had knocked on my door and proceeded to spend the day with me with the promise that we’ll have dinner with my parents and clear the air. If he hadn’t given me a very thorough kiss prior to rushing out with Nate, and texted here and there to let me know he was okay, thatwewere, I’d be freaking out about what’s to come.

Instead, I’m in a car, on the way to share a meal with my dad and mom…and my boyfriend. The cop. He’ll be sitting at the same table as Rain and Sunny, people that were quite firmly on the other side of the law for many years.

“And it wasn’t a cult.” I huff, belatedly realizing he’s teasing. It’s on, baby.

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