Page 58 of Fate in Motion
I don’t know why I thought everyone would be sleeping. It’s only 8 p.m.
We walk through the door, and Carter’s mom comes straight up to me, grinning like she’s just spotted a new prized possession. She pulls me into a big hug. She’s on the shorter side, maybe 5’5”, with long dirty blonde hair like Carter’s and green eyes.
His dad, Scott, steps out from behind her, shakes my hand, then pulls me in for a hug too. He’s around six feet tall with thin, curled black hair and striking blue eyes.
I glance at Carter and whisper, “I see where you get your eyes from,” shifting my gaze between both parents.
Carter smirks. “Mine are better. Let’s be real.”
I grin back. “Best of both worlds. Blue and green combined? So hot.”
Carter must’ve made sure the whole family knew we were coming, because immediately after his parents smothered me with a hug, both of his brothers stroll down the stairs at the same time and immediately pull me into hugs. This family is extremely touchy-feely. I don’t love it, but I guess I’ll have to get used to it.
The middle brother, who’s about Carter’s height with short dirty blonde hair and blue eyes, says, “I doubt my idiot brother has brought me up that much, but I’m Dustin.”
I smile. “Oh, he’s brought you and your other brother up so much.”
Dustin eyes me, clearly knowing I’m lying, and steps aside as the youngest brother, Chase, walks up and shakes my hand. He doesn’t go in for a hug at first, but after a beat, says, “Get over here, brother.”
I laugh. “Thanks, dude. Appreciate the invite.”
Chase is a good-looking guy, slightly taller than Carter, with blue eyes and dirty-blond hair. Neither brother is as muscular as Carter, which makes sense, since they’re in tech, not football.
Debi interrupts the whole meet-and-greet. “It’s already late, and my meat concoction is getting cold. Let’s sit and eat!”
I glance at Carter nervously. “This is going to be interesting.”
He grins. “You’ll be fine. My family’s chaotic…a little like yours.”
I chuckle. If they’re anything like my family, then, my God…good luck to me. But in a funny, kind of sweet way.
We walk into the kitchen, and it’s gorgeous. Everything’s perfectly placed. The white walls look freshly painted. The space is warm but obsessively organized. It makes sense because Debi is a professional organizer, and it’s very clear she takes her work home with her.
We sit at a long, rectangular brown table. At the same time, Debi brings over a giant metal pot of cheesy, meaty, rice-filled chaos. She looks at me and says, “Trust me, it looks like a mess, but it’s amazing.”
Carter nods at me and mouths, Trust her.
I get served first, either because she’s being polite or because she wants to see my reaction. Before serving anyone else, she says jokingly, “Try it. I want to watch. And don’t lie to me if you hate it.”
I laugh, catching the joke but sensing she also really wants me to like it. “Okay. Here I go.”
I take a bite. Warm parmesan cheese melts in my mouth, mixed with seasoned meat, rice, and something else I can’t even place, but it’s amazing.
“This is literally incredible,” I say honestly.
She beams. “Good. It’s even better with ketchup.”
I immediately frown. “Well, now you lost me. Ketchup is disgusting.”
Chase and Dustin both gasp. “Excuse me, but we’re a ketchup family. We hate mustard.”
“I hate both,” I shoot back.
They respond in perfect unison, “Fine. At least we all agree on hating mustard.”
The whole family laughs.
Scott, who’s been mostly quiet while devouring his food like he’s late for something, finally looks up. “So, Nate…what’s it like being the first person Carter’s brought home? Guy or girl. He’s never even mentioned anyone before. Not even in a text.”
