“Oh my God,” I exhale to the six of them once they reach the gate and the door opens. “Is anyone else in the plane?”
“No,” Matthew says from behind my father, throwing his head back and laughing. “Viktor was going to come but he had something.”
“You know he doesn’t go anywhere without me,” Uncle Max says, “and usually I would opt out, but this.” He shakes his head and laughs. “I’m not missing this.”
“I’m here to make sure that everyone is safe and in case I’m supposed to bond anyone out,” Aunt Allison states. “Grandpa Cooper spoke through clenched teeth.” She raises her eyebrows at me.
“He’s expecting a phone call.”
“I thought—” I start to say to my father as he walks to me and slaps my shoulder, followed by my mother, who just glares at me. I bend to kiss her cheek, and she kisses me softly, even though she is pissed at me.
“That was your first mistake,” Matty mumbles from beside me, “you thought.” He smirks at me and is shocked when Matthew slaps his shoulder. “Ouch. I didn’t do anything wrong. He’s the one who, you know.” He then puts his hands together and looks like he’s rocking a baby. I push his shoulder to tell him to shut up.
“Did you think she wasn’t going to call me?” My aunt Karrie moves my mother to the side to stand in front of me. “I’m her best friend.” She smiles at me and I lean down and kiss her cheek. “Who else do you think is going to reel her in?” she asks me, and I didn’t even think about that part of it.
“I could have done that,” my father states, which makes everyone but Aunt Karrie laugh.
She glares at my father. “We all know the way you reel her in.” She folds her arms over her chest.
“I don’t think sex is something anyone is going to want to watch.”
“Jesus,” Matty says, putting his hand on his stomach. “It’s a good thing I didn’t have lunch.” That earns him a glare from my mother. “Sorry, Tatie.” He uses the French word for aunt to make her soften toward him. Everyone knows if my mother is mad at you, all you have to do is try to speak French, and she suddenly forgets what she is mad about and is happy you are trying to connect with her. Well, everyone but her children, that is.
“We are going to have to all reel it in.” I look at my mother.
“We are a lot to handle.” I look at everyone and do a circle with my hand. “But she hasn’t really been around many people, so baby steps.” I start to get nervous for Addison. The last thing I want is
for her to be nervous or uncomfortable. If I see she’s shutting down, I’m getting her out of there, and I’ll deal with the consequences after.
“Let’s go see the house,” my father urges, and I nod at them. It’s a good thing Matty came with his other truck because both truck beds have luggage. I don’t have the energy to ask how long they are staying; from the looks of things, it’ll be at least a week.
My parents come in the truck with me and my aunt Karrie while the rest go with Matty. We pull into the driveway and my father whistles. “This is—”
“This is a home,” my mother declares, opening the back door of the truck.
“I like it,” my uncle Matthew says with his hands on his hips as he takes in the house.
“How is the crime rate in the area?” my uncle Max asks as he pulls out his phone. “I’m going to just enter the street name and I’ll be able to tell you.”
“Aren’t you glad you called everyone?” Matty teases, slapping my shoulder before walking up the steps to the front door.
I take out the key from my pocket and open the front door, stepping in, sliding the first door closed. “Most of the doors are sliding,” I explain, sliding open the second door.
“Great,” Matthew observes, “this way when she is pissed at you, she can’t slam the doors.”
I nod at him as we walk into the foyer area and the circular staircase is in the middle.
“This is nice,” my father notes, looking around. “How many bedrooms?”
“It’s five bedrooms,” I reply. My father whistles like it’s a lot of house for someone who just lived out of a suitcase for most of the time. “I know.”
“Is she moving in?” my mother asks me as she walks to the side where the kitchen is.
“I have no idea,” I answer honestly. My goal would be for us to live here, but I think I should discuss it with her before I tell my family.