Page 27 of You Rock My World

DORIAN

Ned drives me to Josie’s childhood house while I lie flat in the back seat not to be spotted. I straighten up only when we park in front of the attached garage and pull a baseball cap low on my head as I exit the car.

The yard is neat—trimmed lawn, potted plants, and two flowerbeds at the end of the concrete driveway.

Unbidden, my mind flickers to the trampled flowerbeds at my place.

The ones the gardeners still have to fix after Billie ravaged them last night.

I push the thought away. Tonight isn’t about my ex-wife.

It’s about Josie, about showing her we can have normal things.

As I take in the house, I wonder what it was like for Josie to grow up here, what parts of this place shaped the woman who’s waiting inside.

I close the car door, eager to find out. I wave at Ned as he drives away and head to the front door. I linger on the porch, as jittery as a teenager about to confess his first crush, and finally ring the bell.

Josie comes to open it with her hair still in the medieval braids from this morning— damn her —but she’s now wearing one of her milkmaid dresses. The style makes her a cross between a fairy-tale princess and the girl next door. And I’m afraid I can’t resist either version.

She glances past me, presumably scanning for any sign of cameras. “You weren’t followed?”

“No, we were careful. No one knows I’m here.” I give her a reassuring smile.

“Hurry in before someone sees you.” Josie steps aside to let me in, warning, “And brace yourself, Moira is springy tonight.”

I step inside, and the house envelops me in its cozy warmth. Family photos line the walls, a small table holds a bowl of keys and a stack of mail, and the savory scent of home cooking wafts in from the kitchen.

Josie leads me into the living room where her family is gathered. Eager to make a good first impression, I remove my cap, rake a hand through my hair, and put on my most charming smile.

A lady with long white hair dressed in a colored kaftan approaches me, enveloping me in a hug so enthusiastic it’s alarming.

Aunt Moira, I suspect. Her hands linger on my lower back, skating dangerously close to inappropriate territory.

She doesn’t quite squeeze my ass, but it’s a narrow escape.

I suppress a smirk at the borderline groping as Josie rolls her eyes.

“Easy, Moira,” Josie says, exasperated.

Her aunt winks and pats my cheek. “He’s even better looking in person,” she declares, eyeing me appreciatively.

One vote in my favor.

Josie introduces me to the others.

Her mom, Betty, greets me first with a firm handshake, her no-nonsense demeanor softened by a friendly smile. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Dorian.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

Lily’s hug is short but kind, her hazel eyes assessing.

While Penny looks up at me with wide eyes. “You’re very tall,” she states matter-of-factly.

I crouch down to her level, grinning. “And you’re very observant.” I tap her nose lightly.

Penny beams, pleased with herself, while Josie’s eyes shine at seeing me interact with her niece. And her admiration makes me feel a bit like I also am a kid being patted on the head.

As we take our places at the dinner table, Moira insists on sitting next to me, claiming she has to “inspect the merchandise” more closely.

Penny pipes up, securing the spot on my other side.

I’m caught between amusement and mild apprehension as I settle into my chair with the youngest and oldest women flanking me.

Lily pats my shoulder as she passes me on the way to take her seat. “If you can keep up with my daughter’s questions, you’ll be her new favorite person.”

I grin in response, silently noting the unspoken sadness that lingers behind her eyes. Across the table, Josie slides into a chair opposite me, leaning forward to whisper, “Blink twice if you need rescuing.”

I suppress a grin, feeling oddly at ease despite being in a room filled with new people.

Dinner begins with Moira passing me a dish of roasted corn. “Careful, it’s spicy. I hope you like chili powder. It’s an aphrodisiac.”

I manage a straight-faced, “Ah. Good to know.”

Josie smiles, mouthing, “Blink twice.”

Being with her family feels like stepping into a past life, one filled with home-cooked meals and warmth I haven’t known in years.

They all welcome me. Betty beams when I compliment the food, and the banter flows easily.

Penny asks me to cut her chicken and not-so-subtly brings up my tattoos, telling me the princes in Josie’s stories have ink, too.

I catch Josie staring at my forearms, and Moira notices too.

She almost tells us to quit with the eye-fucking, but Lily stops her in time, playing referee.

I’ve missed this dynamic, this sense of being part of a loving family.

My mom was the glue that kept me and my dad together.

Since she’s passed, we’ve been drifting further and further apart.

As the meal winds down, the lively chatter fades into the satisfied silence of full stomachs. A wave of nostalgia hits me. This is the kind of evening I didn’t realize I missed—warm, affectionate, unfiltered.

I help Lily clear the plates, deftly dodging another of Moira’s thinly veiled innuendos. In the kitchen, Josie’s sister surprises me by saying, “You held up well under fire. For someone who sings to screaming crowds, you’re surprisingly laid-back.”

I smirk. “Don’t tell anyone, though. It’ll ruin my brand.”

“Your secret’s safe with us.” Lily’s eyes hold mine, and I know she’s really referring to keeping my relationship with Josie private. “Just don’t break her heart, please.”

The tentative trust in her stare strikes me harder than the words themselves. I nod in response. A silent promise I intend to keep.

Ten minutes later, I’m hugging everyone goodbye.

Moira doesn’t let me go until Josie comes to the rescue and maneuvers us to the back porch for a private goodbye.

As we walk out, Josie’s hand finds mine, our fingers intertwining as she smiles radiantly.

I’d attend a thousand family dinners, answer a million awkward questions, and manage as many handsy aunts to keep that smile on her face.

“Thanks for inviting me,” I say, leaning against the railing. “I know it was a leap to do it so soon.”

She smiles. “You invited yourself over, rockstar.”

I tug the ribbon at the top of her dress, undoing the bow slowly. Josie goes still, breath catching as the bow slips free. “Wish I hadn’t?”

“No, you were perfect. Everyone’s charmed.”

I grin, stepping closer. “Including you?”

Her eyes meet mine, sparkling brighter than the stars above. “Yes, including me.”

The urge to close the distance between us and taste her lips is overwhelming. But the sound of my car pulling up in the yard breaks the spell. I hesitate, then step back with a soft, “Goodnight, Josie.”

She puts my baseball cap on my head. “Night, Dorian.”

We circle the house together, but can’t even hug in a space so exposed.

She mouths, “Drive safe.”

I nod and climb in the back seat, watching Josie as she stands in the driveway, her arms wrapped around herself against the cool night air, as the car pulls away.

Once we’re on the road, I lean my head back against the seat, closing my eyes. Tonight was a glimpse into a life I never thought I could have—messy, loud, real . And now, more than ever, I want it. I want her.

But I’m not the one who has to put everything on the line to make it happen. When the time comes, when Josie will have to choose between me and her career, between me and her anonymity—her family’s privacy—will she think I’m worth the price?

I hope she will because I’d give it all up for her.