Page 97 of From Drummer to Gamer

He leaned in, his eyes light with amusement. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to listen to you.”

“Oh, come on,” I groaned, giving up as I collapsed into a chair.

“You guys are disgusting to watch, by the way.” Raphy wrinkled his nose. “I can’t believe you got him to date you, Si. I didn’t know my sister was that intelligent or… pretty.”

I didn’t even bother countering him with a comeback because dread unlike anything was swimming in my gut.

The past six days had been nothing but sweet agony.

Matty respectfully kept his distance, saying nothing romantic would happen between us till he got the green light from my parents.

It felt like I’d done something right for the first time in my life. I found myself a man I was not only obsessed with but also knew would treat me like a princess.

Yet my situation was anything but spectacular.

He was cool about the whole thing because he didn’t really know my parents.

I was either going to be dragged back to Iona or subjected to an embarrassing interrogation by my mom.

I didn’t want Matty to witness that. I didn’t want my potential lover to see how it only took one instant for my mom to make me feel like a little child again.

Just then, a buzz slithered through the air, crackling up coiled tension twisting my insides.

“Must be them,” Matty said, gesturing to us.

Matty walked out of the dining room while Raphy and I slumped behind.

“I’m telling you, this might as well be the last time you see me,” I warned, trying one last time to persuade him.

But the determined look on his face didn’t fade as he opened the door.

Fine, let’s have it your way.

I took a deep, calming breath and got myself ready for what I predicted would be an absolute shit show.

Dad entered first, a smile on his lips revealing the creases in the corners of his eyes.

Emotion tugged my heart when those soft brown eyes met mine first. “Hey, kiddo.”

“Dad,” I choked, hugging him tight. “I missed you so much.” And I did. I’d never been away from my family for this long, and I missed Dad the most.

“Ah, let me look at my girl,” he said warmly, cupping my cheeks. “Is it my eyes? Or has my daughter gotten more beautiful?”

“Dad.” I blushed. “I’m still the same.”

He chuckled, stepping away as he nodded to Matty. “Thank you for inviting us over, son.”

“It’s my pleasure, Jen. Please come in.”

I gaped,son?Just how close was Matty to my parents?

Maybe I should trustMatty on this.

“Sierra.” Mom’s shrill voice jerked my attention toward her.

She stood by the doorway, dressed in a silky purple shift dress, her thick black hair twisted into a knot, her face artistically done with the right amount of makeup that left her skin glowing in all the right places.

“Hey, Mom,” I mumbled, pulling the edge of my hoodie.

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