Page 49 of Bleed the Shadows

“You want me to come in?”

“Obviously,” I said. “You can meet my family.”

I was glad I’d managed to sound like it was no big deal, because the truth was, I hadn’t introduced my family to a girl since high school.

And this girl? This girl was special. Something I was afraid to admit even to myself.

31

MAEVE

Remy’s familywas every bit as normal as I’d expected from the house. Like he’d said, just an average family.

They greeted me warmly, first with a hug from his mom, Sara, and then with another hug from his dad, Nathan.

Owen and Ally, his siblings, were a little more shy, but Ally warmed up as I stood in the kitchen to chat with Remy’s mom about my training at culinary school.

Remy appeared fifteen minutes later, arguing lightheartedly with Owen about which tie would best match his date’s dress. The rest of us weighed in, with Ally and me winning out when we chose a navy tie with sunflowers (Owen’s date to the winter formal was wearing yellow).

“Did Mom and Dad tell you they’re chaperoning?” Owen asked once the Great Tie Debate was settled.

“No way,” Remy said with a grin.

“They’re going to dress up and everything,” Owen said, clearly excited by the prospect.

“I’m definitely going to need some prom-style pictures,” Remy said.

We stayed a few minutes longer and then said our goodbyes. Remy took my hand as we stepped off the porch and headed to the car.

“See? No wolves in sight.”

I smiled. “They’re so nice.”

“Again, you sound surprised.”

“Sorry.”

He shook his head. “I get it. It doesn’t make a lot of sense if sense is what you’re looking for in this whole thing.”

“Do your parents know?” I asked. “What you do for a living?”

He opened my door and grinned. “What do I do for a living?”

“I don’t know. Something illegal?”

He chuckled and the sound traveled like molten lava through every cell of my body.

“We’ve talked about it, but they don’t get in my business,” Remy said. “We have an understanding.”

“What’s the understanding?” I wondered if he’d tell me to mind my own business.

“That I’ve covered my bases, legally and financially. That it’s my life and anything that happens to me won’t affect them or Owen and Ally. Beyond that, we just love each other.”

“That sounds… admirable.”

His lips curled into a lopsided smile. “Admirable, huh? I’m not sure anyone’s ever called me that.”

“I just mean… it’s good that you’ve made plans in case anything bad happens. It’s good that you’ve protected them.”