Page 42 of Married Into Love

“You and my mom can bond over my choice in vehicles. She gave me such a hard time for buying it; telling me how I should’ve just gotten a Jeep Grand Cherokee and saved myself a ton of money,” I explained as I pulled into theirdriveway.

“Thanks for the tip.” Alessia’s eyes widened as she stared out the windshield at my parents’ house. “I think I’m going toneedit.”

My parents were standing on the front porch, not even bothering to hide that they were impatiently waiting for us. “Remember how you asked me if my craziness was genetic?” I jerked my head towards the windshield. “There’s your answer. Yes, it’s definitely passed down from my parents. So relax and be comfortable in the knowledge that my crazy parents are so excited to meet you that they skipped past the whole staring out of the window part and headed straight into stalking us from the porchterritory.”

“Stop! It’s cute. They’re being goodparents.”

I opened my mouth to complain, but then I stopped myself because she was right. They were just being good parents, and that wasn’t something Alessia had. After I shut off the engine, I leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Wait here. I’ll come around and help you out. Prove to my mom that I listened when she was drilling good manners in me when I wasyounger.”

“If she has any doubts, I’ll tell her all about my sister’s nickname for you,” shelaughed.

I waved at my parents as I rounded the car, shaking my head when my mom moved to start down the steps and my dad reached out to stop her. After I helped Alessia out of the car, I threaded my fingers through hers and led her over to myparents.

“Alec!” my mom cried, rushing forward to wrap her arms around both of us. “I missed yousomuch.”

“Give them some space,” my dad chuckled, coming up behind her to wrap his arm around her shoulder and slap me on the back. “You’re going to scare Alessia off before she has a chance to comeinside.”

“I am not,” my mom cried, turning to Alessia. “I’m not scaring you off,amI?”

“Not at all,” Alessiareassuredher.

“See, I told you!” My mom smacked my dad’sstomach.

“I don’t know, Mom. If you keep up with the violence, she might changehermind.”

“Yeah, but it’s not like I’m going to steal your precious Porsche,” Alessia joked. “I’d be too scared tohurtit.”

“Aha!” My mom’s eyes lit with satisfaction. “I knew I was going to like this girl. It was about time my baby boy settled down with a good woman.” She sent a meaningful look my way as she tugged Alessia out of my embrace and led her into the house. “One who knows how ridiculous it was to spend so much money on an SUV when there were other, less expensive, options outthere.”

“Like a Jeep Grand Cherokee,” Alessiaadded.

“That’s exactly what Itoldhim!”

I chuckled, happy to see my two favorite women bonding so quickly—even if it meant they were busting my balls while they weredoingit.

“You better enjoy that Porsche while you still can, son,” my dad suggested. “From the way they’re talking, if those two have their way you’ll be trading itinsoon.”

“If it’ll make Alessia happy, we can head over to the Jeep dealershiptonight.”

He stopped mid-stride and stared at me in surprise. “You love that car. It’s the first big purchase you made when you started to earn more than the leagueminimum.”

“Yeah, Dad. But I lovehermore.”

He beamed at me with approval, clapping me on the shoulder. “That’smyboy.”

“What can I say? You taught me well.” I’d grown up watching how my dad took care of my mom, and now it was my turn to spend each and every day of my life showing my wife how much I loved her—and I’d never looked forward to anything else as much before...not even my first professionalhockeygame.

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