Page 18 of 27 Kisses

“I told you I was taking time off work.” He darts a glance at his parents.

“You said you might.”

“Is Lanie here?” Ellen Bishop asks, pursing her lips like she’s just sucked on a lemon. There was a time when I got along with Emily’s parents. But that was before…everything.

“She’s putting away her school things. She’ll be right down.”

While his parents look over the menu, I pull Garrett aside. “Is everything okay?”

“What part of my parents are here don’t you understand?” he asks in a harsh whisper.

“Hold on.” I pause and glance at his parents. They’re dissecting the menu, discussing what should and shouldn’t be there. I ignore them and focus on Garrett. “I’ve never seen you like this. What’s going on?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing. It’s fine.”

“Are you sure?”

His hand brushes mine, and he smiles. My insides light up like a damn sparkler at New Year’s. “They wanted to see Lanie.” He lowers his voice—not that his parents are paying attention—some things never change. “And I wanted to see you. I’m sorry about last night.”

“Nothing to worry about, darlin’. After our call, I took care of things.”

Heat flashes in his eyes. “I deserve that.”

“What?” I ask innocently.

“Getting blue balls from imagining you taking care of things.”

“Come over tonight. I’ll treat your balls real nice.”

“Aidyn.” He groans. “Stop teasing me.”

A customer slaps me on the back as they walk by, and I flinch. What am I doing? I can’t openly flirt with Garrett in the middle of the diner. “So, um…why are your parents staying with you?”

“Fuck if I know. To torture me?”

I laugh. “Probably.”

“What’s so funny, Da?” Lanie asks as she dutifully kisses each of her grandparents on their cheeks.

“I dropped by Zye’s shop yesterday, and Simon told me my head was too big,” Garrett says, and I’m thankful he’s quick on his feet because I had no idea what to say. At Lanie’s confused look, he adds, “None of his tiaras fit me.”

“Simon has tiaras?” Mrs. Bishop sniffs in disapproval.

“Zye has tiaras,” Garrett says, correcting her. “For the brides to wear.”

I should be used to the Bishops by now. They’re my in-laws. They doted on Emily. And I know they love Lanie. Me? They tolerated.

Until I made the decision to take Emily off life support. After that, barely tolerated is more accurate.

But I had to do it. Emily was gone. And she wouldn’t have wanted Lanie to see her like that.

And we needed closure to grieve.

I push away my anger at these people. They were around for the good times, but when things got difficult, they disappeared— No, they disappeared when they didn’t get their way. First with Emily. And then later with Isaac. They thought everything was fine with Jane. Even after she took off with all the money Isaac had in the bank, aside from his emergency stash. She even borrowed money from Lanie to get Simon a birthday gift. And then left town without showing up for the party. Lanie had worked all summer to buy herself a horse.

That’s all in the past now.

But is it? Would they ever accept Garrett and me being together?