Page 87 of Would You Rather
“Might be.”
I shrug. “Don’t care. I love it.” I lean down to kiss her.
She rolls her eyes when we pull back, but I see the smile on her lips. “Let’s go before we really are late.”
When we’re finally at my mom’s house, I reach out and knock on the door. Being here always brings back memories of my dad. He was the greatest father a kid could have. We used to watch futebol together all the time – I will never call it soccer. It’s such a shame that Adrianna never got to meet him. He died when she was still a baby, and unfortunately, she’s never going to know what it was like to have him as a father.
I interlock my hand with Madeline’s when I hear her blow out a breath, and I lean in to brush her hair behind her ear. She’s so damn beautiful. I can’t wait to introduce her to my family.
“Mãe, já chegaram.”Mom, they’re here.I turn to see my little sister standing at the door with a smile on her face.
“Hey, froggy.” I ruffle her hair as I walk inside the house.
She narrows her eyes. “Can you not call me that?” she says, her cheeks tinting with pink.
I laugh, pulling her in for a hug, which she fights against. She’s so much like Leila I wonder if she’s secretly just a clone. “Nah,” I tell her. “It’s my duty as a big brother.” I leave a sloppy kiss on her cheek, which she wipes off dramatically when I pull back. “Where’s mom?” I ask her.
“In the kitchen.” She grins. “You better be hungry because she’s cooked enough to last until next Christmas.”
I sigh. “Great.” I’m going to be eating leftovers for months.
My little sister’s attention turns to Madeline and she smiles. “Hi, you’re my brother’s girlfriend.”
Madeline laughs. “I am. You must be Adrianna. He’s told me so much about you.”
Froggy’s eyebrows lift, glancing at me. “You have?”
“Yeah,” Madi replies. “Your brother can’t stop talking about you.”
Adrianna’s eyes narrow. “What’s he been saying about me?”
“That you stink,” I reply, ruffling her hair once more. I love this little girl. I’m the closest thing she has to a father figure, and honestly, she feels more like a daughter than a sibling.
“I do not stink,” she says, fixing her hair. I can’t believe how big she’s gotten. I still remember feeding her and changing her diapers, and now here she is, a teenager. Christ. I just know my mom is going to have her hands full with her.
I let out a laugh. “Come on, let’s go say hi to mom before she starts making another meal.”
Madeline’s hand finds mine, and I squeeze, her touch searing me from head to toe. “Does your mom always cook for ten?” Madi asks.
I turn to my girlfriend and give her a smile. “My mom loves feeding people. It’s how she shows love, but this isn’t a regularoccurrence for me, Mads. I’ve never brought a girl here before.” I give her hand another squeeze. “You’re the first.”
Her face lights up, a grin sprouting on those pretty lips of hers. “I’m the first?”
I nod, pressing my lips to her cheek. “You’re theonlyone,” I correct. “You’re going to do great. She’s going to love you.”It’s impossible not to.
“Okay,” she breathes out.
When I round the kitchen, my mom is holding a wooden spoon to James’ mouth, and he’s nodding at her with a grin on his face.
“Mãe,” I call out to my mom. She turns around with a grin and drops the bowl on the counter, opening her arms.
“Ai, meu amor.” She engulfs me in a hug, crushing my ribs in the process. Don’t be fooled by my sweet, 5’4 Brazilian mother. She’s strong as hell. She plants two kisses on my cheeks and turns to Madeline with a grin. “Nossa, ela é ainda mais bonita em pessoa.”She’s even more beautiful in person.
Yeah, mom. I know.
“Come here, give me a hug.” She opens her arms out to Madeline and wraps her arms around her, squeezing her. Madeline’s laughing, but I swear I see her wincing with pain.
Jesus, I need to pull my mom off her, or she’ll end up killing my girlfriend. I grin at the sight of all the women I love – and James – in the same room. I like her here. I want her here forever.
