Page 90 of Tourist Trap

When we pulled up, I sat in the car for a minute too long, staring at the decently sized but still cozy home that Claire grew up in, trying to get the nerve to step inside.

"Can't sit out here forever," she whispers.

"I mean—" I start, and when she glares at me, I smile in return.

"Come on, before my sisters?—"

Except it seems that she spoke them into existence because two blondes who look similar to Claire come out of the house and head straight for the passenger side door. A brunette comes out behind them, followed by a young girl who I know, from photos Claire has shown me, like the proud aunt she is, is her niece, Sophie.

As soon as the car door is open, the little one jumps onto Claire's lap with a happy squeal. "Aunt Claire!" she yells, and Claire lets out the sweetest, most joyful version of her tinkling laugh as she holds the little girl tight, melting everything inside of me.

"Sophie, baby!" she says, then shifts with the girl still tangled in her to slide out of the car and onto the sidewalk.

Realizing I can't stay in here forever without looking like a weirdo, I follow suit, sliding out of the car, slamming the door shut, and walking around to where Claire is hugging her two sisters, Sutton and Sloane, while Sophie is still clinging to her. She finally sets her down to properly hug her brother's girlfriend and her former boss at the dance studio, Jules.

I stand back like an idiot, uncomfortable and startlingly realizing I've never done this:meeting the family of someone I'm in love with, much less when they're a close-knit family like Claire has told me about.

"Your man is looking uncomfortable as fuck, Claire," another voice says as it approaches, and instantly I know this is her older brother, Nate.

Claire turns to me with wide eyes and cringes.

"Oh, shoot, sorry. You guys, this is Miles. My." She bites her lips like she's nervous suddenly. "My boyfriend. Please, be nice to him. I like this one a lot, and I don't want you to scare him off."

"Us? Scare off your boyfriend?" Nate says with a very unconvincing gasp. "We would never."

"Yes, we would," the sister, who I'm pretty sure is Sloane, says. "Though we should have tried harder to scare off Paul." Sutton elbows the oldest Donovan girl with wide eyes before she corrects herself. "Oh, shit. Sorry. I forgot he's your brother."

I shake my head and smile. "No worries, I know intricately about my brother's faults."

Claire closes her eyes and sighs.

"You guys, I gave youone job,and you're already failing. Don't talk about his fucking brother or how I dated him first," Claire nearly whines, and I can't help but smile at it. It's so interesting to see her in little sister mode. I'm used to this from June, but I’ve never seen Claire in the role.

"Oh, come on, it would have been the elephant in the room, Claire Bear," a deeper voice says, and when all of the heads on the sidewalk outside the Donovan residence turn toward the sound, I see who is clearly Claire's father moving our way.

"Hi, Daddy," she says, the group stepping back to let her father go to his daughter, where he hugs her tight. When she pulls back, I see Claire's eyes shining.

"My Claire, always wearing her emotions on her sleeve," he says, then squeezes her shoulder.

"She's a girl—" Sutton starts.

"Yeah, yeah, you're a girl,” he says, and it's clear this is a common conversation in this household. Part of me warms to know Claire has pulled me into it, into that part of her life, but I can't think about that too long because Claire turns to me with a wide smile.

"Dad, this is Miles. Miles, this is my dad."

Her dad takes me in for a long moment, and I do the same, seeing a plaid button-down tee tucked into cargo shorts, graying blonde hair, and a kind face. He looks almost identical to her brother Nate but obviously older. For the first time in a long, long time, I get a pang of jealousy, wondering if my dad would look like me but older if he were still here.

I've seen photos and can come to the conclusion that the answer would be yes, but every once in a while, when I least expect it, that pain comes and bites me.

I push the unwanted thought away and give the man a wide smile.

"Hi, Mr. Donovan. I'm Miles. So great to finally meet you." I say then put a hand out, and it hangs there for a long moment. Sweat starts to form on the back of my neck in the summer sun. I think I'm clearly failing whatever test this is before he lets out a loud laugh and takes my hand, shaking it hard.

“Great to meet you, Miles. Been hearing about you for years now.” Then the big man puts an arm around my shoulder awkwardly because I'm a few inches taller than him.

“Are you all just going to stand out here with the door open, letting out the cold air all afternoon?” a new voice asks, and when everyone looks up to the house, an older version of Claire stands on the front step with her arms on her chest. God, I've seen that exact face a million times, and something about it makes me smile.

“Mom!” Claire says, then bounds up the walkway to her mother, who wraps her up in a hug. Everyone makes their way inside, but Mr. Donovan guides me, arm still on my shoulder.

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