Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Anthony takes me out to lunch as promised, to a hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant he likes in West Hollywood. We go back to my place, and that night, I go to work with him at Lush, hat low on my head, Anthony sneaking me in the back.
He gets me a private table close to where he’s dancing, and I spend the night either watching him, talking to his employees when they stop by my table, or with Anthony between sets. By the time we leave, there’s no question in my head about whether I’m in love with him or not.
I am, and I hope like hell that one day, he feels the same.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Anthony
I can’t believe I’m doing this, can’t believe I’m flying to Wisconsin to meet Kason Maddox’s family.
My boyfriend’s family.
What is even happening right now in my world?
What am I going to do if they hate me?
Kason hires a driver to take us to the airport. He pulls up out front at departures and comes around my side to open the door for us. We climb out, and the driver gets our bags from the back. I give him a tip, and then Kason takes my hand and we head for the door.
It’s early morning, the sun not even up yet, but LAX is already packed. Paparazzi often hang out here, hoping for a celebrity sighting or ten. I really hope we don’t run into anyone. That’s the last thing I want to deal with. I’m already losing my shit.
“You good?” Kason asks me when we get inside.
“Fine. Just freaking out, is all,” I joke.
He wraps an arm around me. “It’ll be fine. Perfect. My family is so chill. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Is that where you got it?”
“I guess. Maybe. We’ve always been close. We never had a lot. My sister is my best friend.”
“Oh, I won’t tell Rylan that.”
He chuckles. “We just…love each other. That’s it. We support each other. And now they’ll love and support you too, just like I do.”
My heart stumbles, maybe dies a little, but then I guess gets jump-started since I don’t collapse and die right here. He’s not saying he’s in love with me. He just meant that as a figure of speech. It’s just a thing people say—they’re going to love you like I do! I need to breathe and not spiral in this way that no one has ever made me do before Kason…because no one has meant as much as he does.
“What?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I lie. I totally get why Donovan and Hayes both went wild when they were falling for Rylan and Eric. This shit is stressful as fuck.
We make it through security and into our first-class seats without any hassle. The flight is just under four hours, but it feels like four minutes later when we’re deplaning in Milwaukee.
It’s me who reaches out and takes Kason’s hand this time, needing him for support.
“It’ll be good. I promise,” he says, and damn, I hate being like this. It’s like that scared boy I used to be is trying to push to the surface again. I thought he left a long time ago, but he’s still there, hiding, waiting for something important to remind me I’m still afraid I’ll lose people I love.
The second I see them, I recognize his sister from photos in Kason’s house. Her partner, a Black woman with short twists in her hair, is standing beside her.
“Buttface!” Courtney yells, and comes running.
Kason drops his bag, opens his arms, and lifts her when she jumps into them. They hug and laugh, the joy at seeing each other palpable. I can’t stop myself from smiling, riding their energy. What is it like having a family that loves you so much? It’s so beyond anything I’ve ever experienced that I can’t even imagine.
“They’re always like this,” Courtney’s wife, Aline, says.
“It’s sweet,” I reply, just as he lets her down. “I’m Anthony.”
“Aline. Nice to meet you.” She gives me a hug. The second she lets go, all of Courtney’s attention is on me.
“The boyfriend.” She grins.
“The one and only.” I curtsy, pretending not to be as nervous as I am. It’s fairly easy for me to play the part. The only people who ever know it’s not real are the Jilted Exes and now Kason.
“I’ve heard so much about you. Kason never shuts up about you. I feel like I’ve known you for years. He’s never been like this before, if you were wondering.” Courtney smiles.
“Thanks for throwing me under the bus, sis.”
“Tell me everything,” I joke, making Courtney and Aline laugh. “Also…if you were to meet my friends, they would probably say I never shut up about him either,” I admit, wanting them to know he’s important to me too.
Courtney clutches her heart. “So sweet. I like you already. Welcome to the family, Anthony.” She wraps her arm around me and starts walking toward the door, pulling me along. I look over my shoulder at Kason, who’s grinning from ear to ear, he and Aline watching us go.