Page 79 of Raised On It

“You could say that.” I laugh.

“I figured that was enough to start with. Didn’t want to scare you away.” He gives me an endearing grin in place of his usual megawatt smile. “Besides, this is a first for me, so I needed to be sure you were in.”

“A first?”

“City Mouse, the firsts with you are endless. I’ve never brought a girl to meet Pops and Granny because I always knewwith them there was no need if I wasn’t bringing home the real deal.”

“The real deal, huh?”

“Yes, ma’am. Besides, I have a sneaking suspicion you’re going to like Elsie Lake.”

“Elsie Lake? That must be the lake behind the house?”

“Well, that’s what Pops named the part of Eastlyn lake that the house sits on. Named it after Granny Elsie.”

“Aw, he named a lake after her. How sweet is that?”

“Well, she’s the love of his life, Mase. My grandparents have been together since they were teenagers, and they’re still as much in love with each other today as they were back then. Like I told you before, I’ve grown up with some pretty great examples of what people in love look like.”

“Wow, we really are entering the land ofThe Notebook, aren’t we?”

After he puts the truck in park, his chest rises with a deep breath. He inhales and his chest falls when he lets it out. Clearly, I’m not the only one who’s nervous.

“It’ll be fine, remember?”

Shaking off the emotions he thought he was keeping hidden beneath the surface, he smiles and kisses the back of my hand again.

Today means a lot to him.

It means a lot to me.

Another page in our book is turning.

Holding hands, we take the steps up to the screen door together. When we walk over the threshold, his Eastlyn Beer Company hat comes off his head and is placed on a coat rack next to the front door. He runs his hands through his hair before kissing me on the cheek and pulling me down the hall behind him.

The hallway walls are covered in black and white familyphotos and a sweet floral wallpaper. Wallpaper isn’t my thing, but this works.

When we enter the kitchen, I’m knocked senseless by the delicious smells filling the air. The strongest scent is that of a freshly baked apple pie. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been in a kitchen with an actual apple pie baking in the oven.

Heaven.

Miles's mom, Krista, is washing her hands over a white farmhouse sink, and a smaller woman with a short silver bob works over the most beautiful chef’s stove. The house may be a century old, but the kitchen has clearly been updated. All black and white tiles with stainless top-of-the-line appliances. However, as it should be, the décor still has that country feel. Amongst the high tech finery are roosters, cows, and adorable pigs perfectly placed.

The nerves come rushing back at the sight of the tiny woman, and Miles squeezes my hand back when my grip on his tightens. He wastes no time making our presence known in an oh, so Miles fashion.

“And how are two of the most beautiful women on the planet?”

“Oh, my sweet boy is here!” His grandmother’s eyes sparkle like her grandson’s often do, and with her hands in the air, she steps away from her burners. “Get over here and give your granny some sugar!”

He releases my hand and embraces his grandmother while Krista dries her hands with a towel before pulling me into a welcoming hug. She releases me but stands next to me, shoulder to shoulder, arms crossed.

Is something wrong?

“So now, we’re two of the most beautiful women on the planet when we used to bethetwo most beautiful women on the planet.” Her elbow nudges my arm.

With his arm wrapped around the adorable matriarch of thefamily, they turn with matching sparkle shooting at us from across the room.

“Ah, Mom. You’re both still in my top three. But I mean, look at her. She’s pretty amazing, don't you agree?”

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