“Yes. They’re pretty much like a little house with everything you could need. Even Wi-Fi, though the connection sucks so bad.” I can hear the waves crashing on the shore behind the house. We’re a ways away from the water, but I’m able to pick up on the rush of water. My gaze goes to the lake, and I feel a piece of my heart warm. I might be a little fond of my childhood home and growing up on the lakefront.
“You can kind of see them over there,” I say and motion to the side of my parents’ house. “There’s a boardwalk in the sand that connects everything: the house, the docks, and the cabins. But since we have bags, we can drive there and then walk in the morning.”
“Sounds good to me.”
We get out and walk up the house. “I should warn you, my mom can be a little, uh, overbearing sometimes.”
“She can’t be any worse than mine,” he says, almost under his breath.
“If she starts talking about what our children will look like, run. Well, not really. Just ignore her. She doesn’t mean to come off that way. She’s just totally oblivious to it.”
“My mom says the same,” he tells me with a smile. “She really thinks I should be married by now.” He rolls his eyes. “She wanted that five years ago too.”
Thinking about the wedding doesn’t bring on the same wave of pathetic sadness like it did before. I’m not going to start a Pinterest board for our future wedding—not yet at least—but having him here with me helps more than I thought it would.
I ascend the porch steps and get hit with nervousness. I told my mom I’m bringing a boyfriend, because explaining that Ben and I are casually dating and seriously fucking isn’t something I can do. But Ben hasn’t said he’s my boyfriend, and the potential embarrassment and disappointment scare me.
I open the front door and hear laughter coming from the kitchen. Ben still holds my hand as we walk in. My mom, dad, brother, and two of my aunts are crowded around the kitchen table, all with drinks in hand.
Great, Aunt Tilly is here. She’s hilariously obnoxious when she’s drunk, with emphasis on the obnoxious part.
“Felicity,” Mom says, looking almost startled. “I wasn’t expecting you so soon. And your hair is back to brown. I like it better this way!” She sets down her wine glass and comes over to hug me.
“I got off work early,” I say and give her a one-armed hug back.
“And this is—”
“Ben,” I interrupt before she can question our relationship. I hate being awkward like this, and I hate that I feel like I’m lying to Ben or something. Like if he doesn’t consider me his girlfriend, then I feel like a real loser for calling him my boyfriend. I’m a fucking adult. I need to get over this. I roll my eyes at myself.
“Nice to meet you,” Ben says and shakes my mother’s hand. She’s looking him up and down like he’s a mirage and might not be real … which is better than the way Aunt Tilly is looking at him. She has one eyebrow raised and runs her finger along the lip of her wine glass, fucking Ben with her eyes.
Ben, please don’t notice. Or notice but don’t care. I go around with introductions and open the fridge. I get a beer for Ben and a wine cooler for myself.
“Did you get a new car?” Jake asks me, looking outside. “You can afford a brand-new Audi?”
“I can,” I say, “if I don’t want to eat or pay my bills. But no, it’s Ben’s car.”
Jake turns to Ben and compliments the car, exchanging a few words about engines or something I know nothing about.
“So, Ben,” my other aunt asks. My mom has two sisters, Matilda—Tilly—and Miranda, and they all look alike. “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m an artist,” he says.
“Oh, interesting!” Mom comes around the table and sits next to Dad. “What kind of artist?”
Ben smiles; he’s used to the questions. “I primarily paint, but I’ve gotten into sculpting more lately.”
“He has a gallery in Grand Rapids,” I say. “That’s how we met. I did some computer work for him.”
“If you ever need models,” Aunt Tilly says and dramatically flips her hair. “I can sacrifice my time for you.”
Mom and Aunt Miranda laugh, then watch us, waiting for more details.
“So, what’s the plan?” I ask, jumping right in and breaking up the stunned silence I’m still getting from my family. Way to make me feel good. Act like me bringing home a decent-looking guy with an expensive car is as rare as Loki handing over his scepter.
“The same as always,” Dad says, finally speaking for the first time. “BBQ chicken on the grill tonight, bonfire, and watch the early fireworks over the lake. Then it’s boat and booze time tomorrow with a little fishing thrown in!”
My aunts cheer. What does Ben think of us?
“The water’s a little choppy for water skiing,” Dad goes on. “But it’s perfect for tubing.”
“Tubing,” I inform Ben, “is Dad’s version of whipping you around the lake on an inflatable raft, laughing as you go flying off and declaring himself the winner.”
“Sounds fun,” Ben says with a smile.
“No one can beat me,” Dad boasts proudly.
“Dad,” I say, rolling my eyes yet smiling. “You can’t be beaten when you don’t get on the tube yourself.”
“Exactly,” he shoots back. “Though Felicity does hold the record for staying on the longest. Want to try and break the record this year?”
“You’re on.” Ben and I sit at the island counter. “Where’s Danielle?” I ask Jake.
“She went with her friend to see her sister. I guess she’s going through a divorce and is having a hard time. She’ll be here in the morning.”
“Bummer for Danielle’s sister.”
“It’s her friend’s sister,” Jake corrects. “You met the friend, Zoey, at the shower.”
“Oh, yeah,” I say, not recalling the girl at all. “Well, that’s nice of her to help her out.”
Jake nods, getting that love-struck look in his eyes again. “That’s just how she is. She’s bringing them with her tomorrow to help cheer her friend up.”
Dad stands. “Ben, do you know how to drive a boat?”
“I don’t,” Ben replies.
Dad flicks his eyes to me and I know exactly why he’s asking. He wants to talk to Ben, make sure he’s treating me well. I silently plead with my father to be nice. He gives me a wink then looks back at Ben. “Want to learn?”
“I’d love to.”
“Go on, you two get changed and meet me on the docks. Where are your bags?”
“In the car,” I say and go through the kitchen into the small office that’s crammed full of furniture and filing cabinets. I grab the keys for Cabin 18.
“That’s reserved,” Mom says, eyeing the numbers on the key chain.
“For Lily and James Potter,” I say and shake my head.
“How do you know?” Mom asks, generally surprised.
“And you call yourself my mother.” I let out a dramatic sigh. “Mom, I made the reservation.”
Her lips press together then she laughs before her face gets serious. “You two together … I don’t know, young lady.”
I cock an eyebrow. “Really, Mom.”
“Oh lighten up, Melissa,” Aunt Tilly says. “She’s a grown woman who lives on her own in another city. You think she never has overnight guests at her own place?”
“Fine,” Mom concedes. “But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“Love you too,” I say and dash around her. “We’ll meet you outside in fifteen, Dad.” I take Ben’s hand and pull him from the house. “Sorry,” I say when we’re in his car. “I told you they’re a bit much.”
“They’re family,” he says back. He starts the car, puts on his seatbelt and kisses me. “It’s perfect.”
*
I wake up wrapped in Ben’s arms. We stayed outside on the sandy shore until two AM, and the flames of the bonfire dwindled to nothing. Tired and tipsy, we stumbled our way to the cabin and had lazy sex in the shower before crashing in bed for the rest of the night. It’s nearing nine o’clock, and I already know we’ve missed whatever breakfast Mom cooked and served.