Page 107 of Meet Your Match
I cocked a brow at him when he stared at her a little too long, and then glowered when his face turned like I’d caught him doing something he wasn’t supposed to.
I hoped that look told him not to get any ideas, because I loved Jax, but I’d kill him if he tried something with my sister.
“I think we’re going out without Vince Cool tonight,” Carter said, nodding toward Jaxson. “Let’s give him space to enjoy the family reunion.”
“I’ll hit you guys up later,” I promised, but the way they smirked at Maven, then my family, and then me — I knew they wouldn’t hold their breath waiting for that call.
Once they were gone, I turned back to my family.
“It was nice to meet you,” Maven said. “I’m just going to—”
“Come with us.”
I cut her off with the request, and she furrowed her brows, trying to communicate something to me with that look alone that I couldn’t decipher.
Or, maybe I could, but I chose to ignore it.
“Yes,pleasedo not leave me alone with these three,” Grace said, linking her arm through Maven’s. “I’ll be theforgotten child in the corner. At least with you there, I’ll have someone to talk to while they fuss over their precious baby boy.”
“Grace,” Mom warned on a smile. And then, Dad took Mom’s hand in his and started walking, Grace following and toting Maven right along.
She looked over her shoulder at me, and I shrugged, smiling.
It looked like there was a change of plans.
We went to dinner at a chic rooftop restaurant on the Riverwalk, which was at Grace’s request. At Mom’s, we ended up back at my condo, she and my sister fussing over all my pottery, and even more over the garden room Maven had brought to life. Dad and I talked with the ESPN highlights on in the background until he whipped up some of his famous cocktails and we all ended up outside on the balcony enjoying the balmy Florida night.
We talked and laughed and shared stories of the past, most of which made me groan and hide my face because my family was all too eager to try to embarrass me in front of Maven. They seemed especially keen to tell her about the time I wore my underwear on my head for two weeks because we were on a win streak at Michigan, and I was convinced that was why.
Through it all, Maven fit in like she was already part of the family.
My mom all but interrogated her at dinner, but not in the way she would if she were sizing someone up. It was more like she was so genuinely curious about Maven and everything that she was that she just couldn’t stop asking. She lit up with every answer, fascinated by Maven’s upbringing and career.
Grace was just as bad, squealing when she found out Maven loved yoga and begging her to take her to a studio for a class while they were in town. She also told Maven repeatedly how jealous she was that Maven’s place was so close to the beach.
And while Dad was quieter with his interest, he loved how quick-witted Maven was, how she volleyed back and forth with meandwith him. She made him bust a gut more than once throughout the night, and when Maven told him what her plans were once this assignment wrapped up, Dad’s eyes shone like she was his own daughter, and he had a right to be proud.
He pegged me with a curious look, too — one I couldn’t bear for long before I looked down at my cocktail and took a long pull.
It was surreal — having them there in my new home, having Maven there with us. And as much as I pretended to be annoyed with all the questions my family asked her, the truth was I loved it — because I got to know more about her, too. And every new little story she told, every piece of herself she revealed? It made me feel like a greedy kid in a candy store.
I wanted more of her.
I wantedallof her.
It was almost three in the morning by the time Grace dragged my yawning parents toward the door. They were staying at a hotel on the Riverwalk just a few blocks away.
“Thank you for changing your plans for us tonight, son,” Dad said, clapping my back in a tight hug. “Hope we didn’t cramp your style.”
“Please, he’s got no style to begin with,” Grace said, but she hugged me like she’d missed me, and I knew she had.
“It was a great surprise,” I told them earnestly. “Hopefully I can show you around a little before you have to go.”
“We know you’re busy,” Mom said, yawning again as I tucked her into my side. “We’re just happy to steal you away for whatever you can manage.” Her eyes lit up on a smile as she pulled away from me and framed Maven’s arms with her hands. “Andyou, young lady. You are just… sensational. It was so lovely spending the evening with you.”
Maven flushed. “You, as well, Mrs. Tanev.”
“I want to meet these amazing parents of yours. Let’s all have a little get together, yes?” Mom looked back at me with the question.
