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I pasted on a giant smile. “Mom. Dad. I’d like to introduce you to someone.” I grabbed his hand and reminded myself this was for the greater good. “This is Justin. We, uh, we’re dating.”
My dad’s eyebrows lifted to where his hairline used to be. “Dating? Since when are you dating someone?” He turned appraising eyes to Justin, sizing him up. “For how long?”
“Not long, sir,” Justin jumped in, letting my hand go to offer a handshake. “So nice to finally meet you, Mr. Creed. Olivia has told me so many nice things about you, including that you’re a retired soldier. As a former SEAL, I certainly admire that, sir.”
As my dad’s eyes lit up at that, I had to hand it to him. Military camaraderie was a good maneuver to get on my father’s good side quickly. “A SEAL, huh?”
“Yes, sir.”
I could feel my mother’s appraising eyes as she took in the scene, but she kept quiet. I couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking. Was she buying any of this?
“Why didn’t you tell us you were seeing someone, Liv?”
I turned toward my father at his question. “Oh, well...”
“That’s my fault, sir,” Justin piped up, saving me again. “She wanted to say something right after our first date, but I told her maybe it would be better to wait. See if things got serious. I didn’t mean to offend anyone.” Point number two, he was good with parents and protecting my honor.
“Ah, well, no harm done,” my dad said. “We’re glad to be meeting you now. And it certainly looks like our little Lizzie Bear has taken a liking to you.” He nodded toward where Elizabeth still clung to his neck like a tree sloth.
Justin grinned sheepishly. “I had no idea one cup of apple juice would work like a charm.”
Both men laughed like old friends and we turned collectively toward the church steps, my mom and I taking the rear, pushing Isla’s wheelchair, as the guys kept chatting.
My mom threaded her arm through mine. “He’s very handsome,” she whispered under her breath.
I shot her a glance. “Mom . . .”
She laughed. “I may be old, but I’m not blind.” Her laughter faded as we neared the double doors and she slowed to let them get ahead of us a few steps so she could look me dead in the eyes. “Just be careful, okay? I don’t want you to get hurt again. Either of you.”
My heart clenched painfully. “I know. It’s fine. We’re really just getting to know each other.”
She tilted her head, giving me her infamous Mom look. “Is that what you call it these days? When your father and I were younger, we called it making out.”
“Mom!”
She laughed again, then tugged me forward into the church, a big smile firmly in place.
Once we got inside and got Elizabeth and Isla checked in for children’s church, Justin became my silent, broody shadow again. It was as if being inside a church rubbed him wrong, but he kept it to himself.
Only I seemed to notice how his eyes continually scoured the place and everyone in it as we found our seats in the sanctuary and how he conveniently positioned himself between me and the doors. It was clear he was not a happy camper, his jaw tense and his shoulders rigid.
When the worship started and everyone was busy singing, I leaned over and whispered, “You can relax, you know. It’s church.”
“I am relaxed,” he whispered back.
I glanced down at his white knuckles where he gripped the hymnal. “Right.”
He was like a pillar of stone the rest of service, scowl firmly in place. He only seemed to breathe again once we finally stepped back out into the sunshine.
“Well, it was really nice to meet you, Justin,” my dad said. “I hope we can get together again soon.”
“Same here, sir.”
“Please, call me Fred.”
“Of course.” They shook hands again. “Great to meet you as well, Fred.” Justin turned to my mom. “And you too, Mrs. Creed. Looking forward to seeing you again.”
My mom ate up his blue gaze and dimpled smile like it was Grandma’s famous cherry crumble. “Yes,” she gushed. “Olivia will have to bring you out to the house for dinner.” She flashed me a look, clearly communicating we’d be having a conversation about him and this forthcoming dinner.