“Maybe, but I’d do it again.”
“So what do you think your family wants today?” I pop a couple more chips into my mouth.
“There’s a ninety-five percent chance that it’s just Slade bugging me about the restaurant in Seattle or it's Sisi.”
“Oh yeah, her wedding is coming up, right?”
“Yeah, it’s a few weeks away,” he says with an unconvincing smile. “About that.” He holds his hands together in his lap and for once I see a hint of doubt in his eyes. “Would you want to come with me? As my date? I know it’s last minute, but I’d love for you to come to Sterling Springs.”
I point a finger at my chest. “You want me to be your date at your sister’s wedding? Like meet your whole family and everything?”
He smiles and scrunches his shoulders and it’s actually frustratingly cute seeing him be unsure like this. “Actually, Sisi sort of insisted I invite you because she is dying to meet you. And selfishly, I want you there too. I don’t know if I can handle being away from you again so soon. TJ and Grace will also be there. But, if that’s too much too soon, I get?—”
“I’d love to go and see where you’re from. I’ll talk with Monica and see if I can move my shifts around for a few days off.”
“Really?” His smile lights up and even if I’m slightly terrified of meeting his family, it feels like something I want to do with him—for him. It’s the least I can do considering everything he’s done for me.
“Yeah, really. The idea of seeing your family torment you actually sounds kind of fun.”
“Thank you. I can’t wait for you to meet all of them, even if they are a bit much.” He leans in and presses a kiss to my lips. When he breaks the kiss, his kind eyes melt my heart again, reminding me that my feelings for him are something I haven’t felt for anyone else before.
CHAPTER 36
SUTTON
I feellike I’ve woken up in a dream. It’s been a couple of weeks since our frisky hike, and things are just easy between us.
Yeah, I know she still hasn’t made up her mind about the apartment, and I can’t blame her for taking her time. That’s a big decision both for her and us, even if I’ve been clear that renting her that apartment will never be tied to our relationship.
Outside of that, things have been—well—perfect.
We’ve been on more hikes and had a great time—even when we didn’t end up taking our clothes off on the side of the trail. We’ve gone out with Monica and Jason—who are both awesome—and had dinner with TJ and Grace. Everything has been easy and that’s why I invited her parents to dinner at my tasting counter tonight.
“I don’t know the last time I ate like that.” Kelsey’s dad wads up his napkin and sets it on the counter next to his empty plate.
“Hun, that’s because we’ve never had a meal likethatbefore. Five courses with wine pairings?” She rubs her husband’s wrist and turns to me. “Thank you so much fordinner, Sutton. I can see why Kelsey can’t stop talking about this place now.”
I dip my chin to them. “It’s my pleasure. Glad we finally got to meet.”
I peak down at the other end of the bar to see Kelsey serving a drink to a patron. She makes eye contact and winks before helping another customer. I look back at her mom to find her watching me with a pleased grin.
“You two are cute together. I don’t know the last time she was this excited about anything.” She keeps grinning at me and I don’t know what to do with that statement other than to feel proud and equally awkward under the scrutiny of her parents.
I shrug and grab a bar towel to clean a wine glass that was already spotless. “I’m glad. She’s special and deserves to be happy. I see how hard she works.”
That’s an understatement. I’ve spent the last two weeks trying to figure out the right time and place to tell her how I feel. I love her, but I don’t want to scare her off. Our lives are already so intertwined and she has so many big things going on in hers that I don’t want to give her something else to worry about by acting like the lovesick puppy that I am.
Her mom finishes her glass of wine and looks around the dining room. “You know, Kelsey might have been upset about this place not belonging to our family anymore, but I think my mom would have loved what you’ve done here. She might have had a few menu suggestions, but she’d like the cozy homelike feel.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Rivers. That means a lot. Let me guess…. she’d want a burger on the menu?” I quirk a brow at her, and they both laugh.
“How did you know? She was a meat and potatoes kind of lady, except for coffeeand dessert.”
“Sounds like my kind of grandma. I practically grew up on home-cooking and diner food.”
Kelsey’s dad checks his watch and pats the counter. “Well, Maggie, I think it’s time we hit the road. The pass is still closed and we’ve got a long drive back.” He turns back to me. “Thanks again, Sutton. Come over some time and we’ll grill some steaks.”
“I’d love that.” I reach across the counter to shake their hands. “Come back anytime. It’ll be on me again.” I give them a little two-fingered salute. “Safe trip back now.”