“I don’t know. It feels a bit early for that.” I’m not sure why I said that because I know it’s a lie. I do want her to meet my family. Everything has been so easy the last two weeks and I love that she’s getting to know me. Seeing my hometown would only make that easier.
She rolls her eyes and huffs. “She’s the only girl that you have mentioned in years. I want to meet her, Sutton Sterling. Do you understand me?”
I start to say something, but her eyes widen. I already know she has an idea that is probably equally great and horrifying. “Oh my god! Bring her to the wedding! She can meet the rest of the family.”
I palm my face and she arches a brow at me.
“I know you want to bring her. Don’t pretend like being away from her the past couple of days hasn’t been driving you mad.”
I groan while Sly laughs, clearly amused with my misfortune. I can’t argue with her though because she’s right. I do want her here and the thought of spending the entire weekend of Sisi’s wedding away from Kelsey already has me on edge.
“You don’t think it would be too much? Meeting everyone at a wedding?”
She leans over the table and props her chin on her fist, batting her eyes like only a little sister can. “Pretty please? You can consider it a wedding gift.”
“Maybe, but I don’t even know if she’ll be able to take off work. Also, I thought catering was my wedding gift to you?”
“No. That’s just being the best big brother. Bringing your dream girl is the real present.”
Sly lets out a questioning hum. “He’s the best big brother? You know I’m sitting right here.”
She waves a hand at him dismissively and stays focused on me. She grabs my hand and holds it in her much smaller ones. Her eyes soften and I know I have no hope of winning this argument. “I really do want to meet her. Make sure she knows she’s welcome.”
I nod. “I’ll do my best to get her to come.”
“Good.” She turns her attention to Sly and all I can think about is that I just want to get back to Jackson tonight and see Kelsey as soon as I can tomorrow.
CHAPTER 32
KELSEY
I spinthe tablet around to let the customer pay for their lunch order. When they step aside and no one is in line behind them, I grab my iced Honey Badger and take a long sip until it’s finished. Even then, I try to suck out every last drop of my favorite drink.
“Did you just slurp down another one of those?” Monica looks at me from behind the espresso machine.
My cheeks hollow while I try to make sure there’s nothing left. “Maybe?”
She rolls her eyes, but I don’t miss the snicker she makes. “That’s what… your second one?”
I just shrug. It’s actually my third, but I’m not going to correct her.
Fueling my nervousness with more caffeine should be a recipe for disaster, but somehow it calms me down. Growing up in Cowgirl Coffee with our grandmas, they’d let us make our own espressos and coffee concoctions all day. By the end of high school, I was already drinking multiple shots of espresso, so I’m just conditioned to it. And I need it today.
She finishes making the drink and hands itacross the counter before turning back to me. “Let me guess, you’re seeing him after your shift?”
I nod and set my empty cup down. I know Sutton got back last night, but I was having dinner with my parents and stayed in Rodgers. So I’ve been bouncing off the walls all day waiting for my shift to end because he’s off today and planned an afternoon date.
Taking advantage of the brief lull before the lunch rush picks up again, I check my phone. No messages from Sutton which is surprising because we haven’t stopped talking for days now, but I do have another unread email from my landlord.
Subject: Reminder! Lease Extension
Seeing those three words makes the exhaustion of the last two weeks hit me like a freight train. It should really read ‘Reminder - We Want More of Your Money.’Despite picking up extra bartending shifts at Gloria’s and all my hours here, even staying at Sutton’s extra apartment to give me more time to work and less time to commute—I know this isn’t sustainable. No amount of caffeine is going to let me keep this pace up. If I want to keep up with my rent, I’m going to have to find a better solution.
The bells above the front door jingle. I tuck my phone away and look up to see an imposing figure filling the doorway. My heart flutters in my chest when Sutton smiles back at me. He was only gone for a few days, but I instantly feel a full body warmth knowing he’s back and he’s here.
Another round of jingling startles both of us and our eyes find the source. Felix has gotten off his bed and trots straight to Sutton’s side, who reaches down and scratches him behind the ear. As he starts walking toward the counter, my eyes fallto his shorts, or to be more precise—his thighs, because those shorts areshort.
Seeing his muscular thighs and the traditional floral tattoos above his knees on full display makes my mouth go dry. Then there’s that hat. I don’t know why, but his backwards black baseball cap just adds to the whole look.