Page 35 of Better Not Pout
“I made it. And…” he says quietly, pulling back and looking over at me. “I brought Rosalie.”
His mom looks at me, her eyes turning soft. “And you are the darling girl that my son is crazy about.”
Immediately, I feel my cheeks catch fire, my eyes widening slightly.
Damn, Wells, you’ve been laying it on thick, I guess.
Or is that something Zander told her?
I offer a small smile because honestly, I have no idea how to respond to that.
I’m the fake girlfriend. The temporary holi-date, but I spent most of last night kissing him when there wasn’t a single person around to see it. It’s a tad confusing.
“Mom, don’t do that,” he says with a low chuckle.
She arches a brow, shooting him a stern look. “What? Tell my son’s girlfriend that she’sallhe’s been talking about?”
So itwashim.
I wish that I had a semblance of control over the way my heart is currently starting to thrash so wildly in my chestthat it feels like everyone else might be able to hear the loud thrumming too.
Her gaze finds mine, and her smile widens as she drops her hands from Wells and places her palm along my arm. “Hi, honey. I’m Katherine, and it is so nice to meet you. This is my husband, Aaron. We are so glad that you could join us.”
His dad gives me a wink. “Hi, Rosalie.”
“Thank you so much for having me. Your home is beautiful.” I sneak a quick look at Wells, who’s watching us with a small curve of his lips, and then I glance back at his mom.
“You are so sweet. Thank you. I have to warn you though, this is one crazy bunch.” Her head flicks toward the living room, which is packed full of people talking loudly while trying not to watch us, and the cacophony of kids who are running around, being wrangled by their parents.
I’m sure she’s right. It’s a lot of people in a small room, which is generally always chaotic. But this is also what I’ve always dreamed of. Having a big family where the walls overflow with laughter and love each time we are together. Being surrounded by so many loved ones.
Only child syndrome hit hard growing up, and I always longed for the companionship of a sibling or even a cousin who was close in age.
This is something that’s always weighed on my heart and the reason that I put it at the top of the Santa list.
Standing here, in a house that’s so clearly full of love, it feels exactly what I imagined having a large family would be like. Warmth, laughter, and camaraderie.
“Everyone will likely talk your head off and ask you a billion questions, but if you start to feel overwhelmed, you can just step away, and no one will mind one bit, okay?” She squeezes my arm affectionately and gives me another smile.
“Thank you.”
Wells tightens his arm around my waist as he guides me further into the living room to introduce me to everyone. To absolutely no surprise at all, Penny and Frankie are already wedged between his siblings, getting their bellies rubbed and living their best lives.
God, I wish that I had the ability to feel so at ease in a new place as they do.
“Alright, might want to get out a notebook to keep track,” he teases as he begins pointing out all of his siblings. “That’s my oldest sister, Scarlett, and her wife, Amelia. Then there’s Isla and her husband, Ryan. My younger brother, Henry, and his wife, Madeline. My youngest sister, Chloe, and her fiancé, Dalton, and of course, you met Zander and Ally the other day.”
Zander shoots me a wink, and Ally waves excitedly like we’re already close friends.
Immediately, it quells the nerves rapidly increasing in tempo in my stomach.
“There’s a whole horde of kids too, but you’ll meet them in a bit,” he adds.
Scarlett stands and walks over to us, followed by his younger sister Chloe.
“Missed you, baby brother,” Scarlett says, giving him a hug, then pulling back to peer over at me, a kind smile curving her lips. “And I’m so glad you could come, Rosalie.”
“Me too.”
