Page 111 of Chasing Home
“You two are so fuckin’ weird,” Johnny says.
Bryce snorts before staring at the drink table and leaving us. “You’ve got no idea. I’ll see you guys later.”
“See you,” I call.
Clouds of smoke drift our way, the smell of barbequed meat growing stronger. My stomach rumbles, making Johnny laugh.
“Did you eat today?”
“I was too busy having a wardrobe malfunction.”
Tucking his face into my hair, he breathes over the back of my ears. “You look gorgeous. I’ve never seen you in a dress before.”
“It was Poppy’s idea,” I murmur.
“Yeah, I bet it was. She’s always wearing them to terrorize Garry. Now I know exactly why he’s always complaining about them.” He retreats enough to stare into my eyes, his grin toothy and pure. “What are you wearing beneath this dress, darlin’?”
“It’s a secret.”
“Fuckin’ right, I bet it is.”
“Behave and I’ll let you see the moment we leave.”
His smile drops into a smirk. “That right, baby? What if I reached beneath it right now and felt for myself?”
“I think you’d have to explain yourself to your moms,” I whisper as I stare at the two women looking at me from over Johnny’s shoulder. “I’m assuming that’s them looking at us.”
He moves slower than he should, keeping his arm slung over my shoulders. I make no move to wiggle out from beneath it. The heavy weight of it is comforting.
“How long have you been watching us like two creeps?” he asks the two older women, his grin returning.
The woman with the thick-rimmed glasses and deep brown eyes is the first to step in our direction, her pace hurried. The second woman follows after her, the similarities between her and Johnny taking me aback.
“Rory, this is my mama, Rachel,” Johnny says, looking at the woman in the glasses before glancing at the second woman. “And this is my mom, Jennifer. Moms, this is Rory.”
I thrust my hand out for them to shake, but Rachel swats it away and hugs me instead. The move is so similar to one Eliza would make that it drags a laugh up my throat.
“It’s nice to meet both of you,” I say.
“Oh, you as well. We were starting to think you were a figment of Johnny’s imagination,” she blubbers, rubbing my back in a soothing way.
Jennifer offers me a warm smile over Rachel’s shoulder. “Are you a hugger, Aurora? We should have asked if you were okay with hugs first.”
Rachel gasps and shoves herself away from me, guilt shining in her eyes. “I’m so sorry! I just got so excited and messed this all up already.”
“You’re fine. Hugs are fine,” I say quickly, offering one to Jennifer in hopes my actions speak louder than my lack of words.
She sweeps me into her arms without another moment of hesitation. Lowering her voice, she tells me, “Thank you. My wife would have worried about this for weeks.”
“I’m not sure I could be with your son without being okay with hugs.” Stepping back and looking at Rachel, I add, “You’ve raised an incredible son.”
She raises a hand to her chest. “Thank you. I’m very excited to get to know you. Johnny hasn’t stopped singing your praises.”
He comes back to my side and slides his arm along my back, palming my hip. His wink makes my stomach flutter. “Don’t try and freak her out, Mama. She’s here to stay.”
Here to stay. Is that what I am?
I’m still here, aren’t I? There should be no reason as to why I haven’t gone back home now that Lee is a lost cause. Wanda doesn’t seem to want much to do with me. I haven’t even attempted to approach her again to get a clear answer as to if she wants to get to know me. Instead, I’ve lingered, doing everything I can to keep myself from thinking about going back to Calgary.