“We should probably get some lessons or something,” Charlie joked as we got out of the car. “Eventually, we’re gonna be old enough that they expect us to cook.”
“Bite your tongue,” I joked as we hurried for the front door. “I don’t want people coming over. You can never get them to leave.”
“Amen, sister,” Charlie said, throwing open the front door. “We’re here!”
“Aunt Charlie! Draco!” Gray shouted, throwing his arms up in the air. He tipped the tiny lawn chair he was sitting in and lost his balance, landing flat on his back. “I’m okay!”
“Grayson, get out of your sister’s chair!” Lily called from across the house. “That’s the third time you’ve tipped it over today.”
“Come here, you little hellion,” Charlie said, grinning.
“What am I, chopped liver?” I asked in disgust as Gray ignored me completely.
“Someone’s got a crush,” Lily said conspiratorially as she came over to us. She hugged me hello, holding me for an extra second longer than anyone else would have. I relaxed. This was why Lily was everyone’s favorite.
“He better not try to steal my girl,” Draco joked, accepting his own hug from Lily. “How ya doin,’ Auntie?”
“Better than you,” she said, leaning back to look at him. “Yikes.”
“Barely even hurts,” Draco lied.
“I didn’t invite your parents or Curt,” Lily said, rolling her eyes. “You’re welcome.”
“You’re the best.”
“I can’t promise they won’t just show up, though,” Lily said with a shrug. “You think you can keep your cool?”
My stomach clenched.
“I can for you,” Draco said charmingly.
“You’re full of shit,” Lily replied, laughing. She got distracted by someone calling her name and strode off, so Draco and I made the rounds, saying hello to everyone.
“Let me look at you,” Draco’s great grandma, Amy, said, lifting her hands to cup my cheeks. “You look happy.”
I smiled.
“And scared,” she said softly. She rubbed her thumb over the apple of my cheek.
“I’m okay,” I replied.
“And a liar,” she said with a small smile, lifting an eyebrow. “Just remember that anything worth having is a little scary.”
“Let go of the lass,” Draco’s great grandpa, Poet, said from his seat. “I want a turn.”
Amy huffed, but smiled as she let me go.
“Hey, Poet,” I said, leaning down to give the old man a hug.
“Hello, darlin’,” he said, patting my back. “How you doin’?”
“I’m good,” I replied as I pulled away. “Ready for these fires to get under control, though.”
“You and me both,” he said with a chuckle. “This smoke is hell on these old lungs.”
“You’re not old,” I teased. “You’re seasoned.”
Poet laughed. “Seasoned. I like that.”
“Are you flirting with my great gramps?” Draco joked. “With my nan right there? Bold.”
“She wants him, she can have him,” Amy said with a chuckle.
“You be careful,” Poet said to me. “She talks a good game, but she’s a possessive one.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied.
“You get it handled?” Poet asked Draco.
“All good, Gramps,” Draco replied, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
“Good boy,” Poet said with a wink.
“Did he just wink at you?” I asked as Draco led me toward the kitchen.
“Don’t you worry about that,” Draco replied dismissively. I elbowed him in the side, making him laugh.
“There’s my baby girl,” Farrah called out as we reached the kitchen.
“I’m pretty sure that one’s mine,” Rose corrected dryly.
“Tomato, tomahto,” Farrah said with a wave of her hand. “They’re both mine and they’re both yours.”
Rose chuckled. “I guess that’s fair.” She leaned over and gave Charlie, who’d beaten us to the kitchen, a loud kiss on the side of her head.
“They’ve got a head start,” Charlie said to me, nodding toward the drinks on the table.
“I see that,” I replied.
“Pick your poison,” Farrah said to me. “We’ve got everything except Jaeger.”
“The guys are in the garage,” Lily told Draco as she passed us. “Escape while you can.”
“I’ll stick to soda for now,” I told Farrah. She and Rose complained in unison as Draco leaned down to whisper in my ear.
“I’ll be back in a bit,” he said, kissing the spot below my ear as I nodded.
“They’re cute,” Farrah announced as Draco walked away. “Aren’t they cute?”
“Adorable,” Charlie said dryly, pouring vodka over ice.
“Yeah, yeah,” I said, pulling out a chair so I could sit with them.
“It’s weird,” Rose said, looking at me while she wrinkled her nose. “Am I supposed to give you boy advice or something?”
“I think that ship has sailed,” Farrah said with a cackle.
“Well, she’s never really dated or anything,” Rose said. She looked at me. “You know where babies come from, right?”
“Oh, God,” I muttered.
“When two people love each other very much—” Rose said.
“They don’t have to love each other,” Lily pointed out, cutting her off.
“Right,” Rose said, nodding as she pointed to her best friend. “You’re right.”
“If I didn’t already know where babies come from, living with Charlie would’ve educated me,” I said dryly, making the entire table roar with laughter.