Page 86 of Hush (Fighting Fate)

She pulled back, making me frown. I didn’t want to let her go. “Noah, I can’t go to your family celebration.”

“Why not?”

“Well…it’s…it’s your family. I’m sure they ju

st want to spend the time with you. Alone…”

I shrugged again. “It’s not like I haven’t seen them already. They came and hung out with me plenty of times while I was in rehab. And I’m pretty sure they’re expecting you. I’ve kind of been talking about you a bit over the last month.”

She still looked freaked. “But it’s your family…”

“And?”

“What if they don’t like me? What if they hate me because they’ve only just got you back and they think I’m going to take up all your time?”

“Are you?”

She blushed and bit her lip. It was so adorable.

“Because I wouldn’t mind that at all,” I said, pulling her back into me.

She melted against me almost immediately, sending a thrill of victory through my veins.

“So, you’ll come?” I asked again, sounding more confident than I actually was.

“Do you really want me to?” she murmured.

She really had no idea at all, did she? “Let me put it this way. If you decided not to come, I’m seriously considering ditching them to stay with you.”

“Noah!” she said, pulling back so fast I didn’t have time to stop her. “You can’t do that.”

I smirked. “Then come with me.”

The worry instantly returned. “Only if you think they’ll be okay with it.”

“They’ll be fine. They’re going to love you. Your car here?” I asked, striking while the iron was hot.

She nodded and pointed to the other side of the lot where I could just see it hidden behind a tree.

Taking her hand, I started walking her towards it. “Alright, I’ll follow you home and then we can ride together.”

“Okay, but you’ll have to meet my mom,” she said, a tiny smirk touching her lips.

Shit. I hadn’t thought about that.

Kaeli giggled beside me. “Not so fun when it’s you, is it?”

I guessed she was right. Giving her a confident smile, I pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. “Piece of cake.”

She just laughed. Little witch.

When she was safely in her car with the doors locked and the engine running, I made my way back to my Chev and drove to her place.

I was as nervous a hell about meeting her mom. As much as I loved my tatts, I didn’t think they were going to win me any points in the parent department. The only thing I had going for me was the fact that I was a cop. I hoped it was enough.

With ridiculously sweaty palms, I walked up to the door and knocked. I couldn’t help thinking about the last couple of times I’d been here. None of them had been under particularly good circumstances. I actually hated that Kaeli still lived here.

The door opened and there she stood, all smiles and shining eyes. I would never get tired of looking at her.

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