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TAYLOR PULLS UP OUTSIDE my parents’ front door. “Are you ready for this?” I ask. Ana nods and I squeeze her hand. “First for me, too,” I whisper. When Taylor’s out the door I give her a wicked, salacious grin. “Bet you wish you were wearing your underwear right now.”
Her breath hitches and she scowls, but I climb out of the car to greet my mother and father, who are waiting on the doorstep. Ana looks cool and calm as she walks around the car to us. “Anastasia, you’ve met my mother, Grace. This is my dad, Carrick.”
“Mr. Grey, what a pleasure to meet you.” She smiles and shakes his outstretched hand.
“The pleasure is all mine, Anastasia.”
“Please, call me Ana.”
“Ana, how lovely to see you again.” Grace hugs her. “Come in, my dear.” Taking Ana’s arm, she leads her inside and I follow in her pantyless wake.
“Is she here?” Mia screams from somewhere inside the house. Ana gives me a startled look.
“That would be Mia, my little sister.”
We both turn in the direction of the high heels clattering through the hall. And there she is. “Anastasia! I’ve heard so much about you!” Mia wraps her in a big hug. Though she’s taller than Ana, I remember they’re almost the same age.
Mia takes her hand and drags her into the vestibule as my parents and I follow. “He’s never brought a girl home before,” Mia tells Ana in a shrill voice.
“Mia, calm down,” Grace chides.
Yes, for fuck’s sake, Mia. Stop making such a scene.
Ana catches me rolling my eyes and shoots me a withering look.
Grace greets me with a kiss on both cheeks. “Hello, darling.” She’s glowing, happy to have all her children home. Carrick offers his hand. “Hello, son. Long time no see.” We shake hands and follow the women into the living room. “Dad, you saw me yesterday,” I mutter. “Dad jokes”—my father excels at them.
Kavanagh and Elliot are cuddling on one of the sofas. But Kavanagh gets up to hug Ana when we enter.
“Christian.” She gives me a polite nod.
“Kate.”
And now Elliot has his big paws all over Ana.
Fuck, who knew my family was so touchy-feely all of a sudden? Put her down. I glare at Elliot and he grins—an I’m-just-showing-you-how-it’s-done expression plastered all over his face. I slip my arm around Ana’s waist and pull her to my side. All eyes are on us.
Hell. This feels like a freak show.
“Drinks?” Dad offers. “Prosecco?”
“Please,” Ana and I reply together.
Mia bounces on the spot and claps her hands. “You’re even saying the same things. I’ll get them.” She dashes out of the room.
What the hell is wrong with my family?
Ana frowns. She’s probably finding them weird, too.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” Grace says as she follows Mia out of the room.
“Sit,” I tell Ana, and I lead her over to one of the sofas. She does as she’s told and I sit at her side, careful not to touch her. I need to set an example for my overly demonstrative family.
Maybe they’ve always been this way?
My father diverts me. “We were just talking about vacations, Ana. Elliot has decided to follow Kate and her family to Barbados for a week.”
Dude! I stare at Elliot. What the hell happened to Mr. Love ’Em and Leave ’Em? Kavanagh must be good in the sack. She certainly looks smug enough.
“Are you taking a break now that you’ve finished your degree?” Carrick asks Ana.
“I’m thinking about going to Georgia for a few days,” she answers.
“Georgia?” I exclaim, unable to hide my surprise.
“My mother lives there,” she says, her voice wavering, “and I haven’t seen her for a while.”
“When were you thinking of going?” I snap.
“Tomorrow, late evening.”
Tomorrow! What the fuck? And I’m only learning of this now?
Mia returns with pink prosecco for Ana and me.
“Your good health!” Dad raises his glass.
“For how long?” I persist, trying to keep my voice level.
“I don’t know yet. It will depend how my interviews go tomorrow.”
Interviews? Tomorrow?
“Ana deserves a break,” Kavanagh interrupts, staring at me with ill-concealed antagonism. I want to tell her to mind her own fucking business, but for Ana’s sake I hold my tongue.
“You have interviews?” Dad asks Ana.
“Yes, for internships at two publishers, tomorrow.”
When was she going to tell me this? I’m here with her for two minutes and I’m finding out details of her life that I should know!
“I wish you the best of luck,” Carrick says to her with a kind smile.
“Dinner is ready,” Grace calls from across the hall.
I let the others exit the room but grab Ana’s elbow before she can follow.
“When were you going to tell me you were leaving?” My temper is rapidly unraveling.
“I’m not leaving. I’m going to see my mother. And I was only thinking about it.” Ana dismisses me, as if I’m a child.
“What about our arrangement?”
“We don’t have an arrangement yet.”
But….
I lead us through the living room door and into the hallway. “This conversation is not over,” I warn as we enter the dining room.
Mom has gone all out—best china, best crystal—for Ana’s and Kavanagh’s benefit. I hold out a chair for Ana; she sits down and I take a seat beside her. Mia beams at both of us from across the table. “Where did you meet Ana?” Mia asks.