“Tell me you have good news,” I say when I answer the phone.
Ryan’s deep laughs filters through the line. “I have great news.”
Yes! I knew it.
“The CEO loves the game. He thinks the graphics need work, something we’ll have our designers play with, but he thinks that the ideas and mockups you sent are perfect. We have a strategic group who is going to meet today and use your ideas to build games for all grades and age groups.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“For now, sit tight. I’ll reach out to you after the meeting, let you know what they come up with, and then you can play with it from there.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“And, Aiden?”
“Yeah?”
“This is going to be big.”
“Whatever you say.”
I end the call and shove my phone into my pocket. Two seconds later, I’m knocking on Lizzie’s door.
Her bright smile is the first thing I see when she greets me, followed by a yellow sundress and long, tan legs. I swallow hard and drag my eyes back up her body.
“Wow.”
Lizzie blushes and shrugs a shoulder. “How do I look?”
“You’re beautiful.” I snake an arm around her back and kiss her, grateful that I can do this anytime. “The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And, trust me, I love the dress, but I just want you to be you. Always.”
“Mmmm,” she hums, her eyes foggy when we pull apart. “You’re good with words, Mr. Wallace.”
“I’m good with a lot of things, most of which we’ll get to later. But first, dinner.” I smack her ass lightly. “Get your shoes on so we can go.”
Lizzie turns and slips her feet into a pair of flats. “How has your day been?”
“Great. I talked to Ryan.”
Her eyes widen. “What did he say?”
“They love it. They love the game. There’s going to be some refining, and then it’ll go into production.”
“Oh my gosh, Aiden, that’s amazing.” Lizzie throws herself at me.
“It’s all thanks to you.”
“No.” She shakes her head and pulls back. “You’re the genius behind the game.”
“But it was your idea.”
Lizzie grins, pushes onto her toes, and kisses my cheek. “We make a great team.”
“The best.”
“What’s all the ruckus for out here?” Edna says, remind me that her apartment door is open, and I’m still standing half in the hallway.
Lizzie smiles at Edna, her arms wrapped around my neck. Edna’s eyes bounce between ours, and then understanding dawns on her face.
“Are you two…” She waves her cane between us, and Lizzie nods.
“We are.”
Edna’s face lights up. She wobbles into the hallway and pulls us both in for a tight hug. “Oh, this is wonderful, I knew this day would come. Come, I’ll make us lunch, and you can tell me all about it.”
“Can we get a raincheck?” Lizzie asks, stepping back. “We’re going to my sister’s house for dinner.”
“Of course, dear, but I still want all the details.”
“We promise,” Lizzie says, quickly adding, “Do you need anything before we leave?”
“No.” Edna shakes her head and waves us off. “Don’t worry about me. You two lovebirds go and have fun.”
“Thank you.”
Edna’s eyes sparkle, a smile tilting her lips as she shuffles her way back to her apartment.
“We’re lovebirds.” Lizzie dances a jig. “Let me grab my purse, and we can go.”
Emily lives on the outskirts of town, and the drive to her and Jonathan’s is beautiful.
“I love it out here,” Lizzie says, rolling down her window. She tilts her face toward the sun, her hair catching in the wind. “It’s peaceful and smells good.”
“That’s cow shit you smell.”
Lizzie laughs and closes her eyes, letting the sun warm her face. She looks beautiful, like an angel with a halo of light around her. The need to touch her, to show myself that this is real, is too strong. I reach across the seat and take her hand in mine.
We ride with our joined hands cradled in her lap for the remainder of the trip, and when we pull into Emily’s driveway, I put the car in park.
“You didn’t tell me your parents were going to be here.”
Lizzie looks at me, her eyes wide. “I had no idea, but you have nothing to worry about. My parents love you.”
“They wouldn’t love me if they knew what was going through my head when I saw you in this dress.”
Unbuckling her seat belt, Lizzie leans over and props her elbows on the center console, causing the hem of her dress to ride up her thigh.
“Eyes up here,” she says, lifting my chin.
“Your dad is going to murder me because there’s no way I’m going to be able to sit next to you and not touch you.”
Lizzie’s eyes are hooded when she drags a finger down my chest, along my stomach and toys with the button of my jeans. “Anticipation is foreplay. Isn’t that what you told me?”
With that, she winks and steps out of the car. I take a couple of seconds to collect myself and will my cock to settle down before I get out of the vehicle. The last thing I need is to greet her parents with a raging hard-on.
Lizzie opens my door. “Come on, slowpoke.”
“I’m supposed to be the one holding your door open.”
“You are, except I rendered you speechless.” Lizzie grabs my hand, pulls me from the car, and shuts the door, and then I swear I hear her whisper, “Lizzie two, Aiden zero.”
“What?” I ask, tugging her hand.
“Nothing.”
I smile. You’re not fooling me, Donovan. “No, I definitely heard something. Are you keeping track of how many times you get to me?”
Lizzie shakes her head and looks at me with her big, beautiful, brown eyes. “That would be childish.”
I narrow my eyes. “Lizzie?”
Before she has a chance to respond, the front door flies open, and Lizzie’s mom, Christine, barrels down the front porch, her arms held wide. “My sweet girl. I missed you so much.”
Lizzie hugs her mom. “I saw you a few weeks ago.”
“I know.” Her mom pulls back but keeps her hands on Lizzie’s shoulders. “But it’s not the same. I wish you and Emily would reconsider moving back to the city.”
“Or you could move here.”
Christine cuts a hand through the air. “Your dad would go crazy making the commute to work every day.”
“Maybe when you retire?” I suggest.
“Now that’s a great idea. How are you, Aiden?” Christine lets go of Lizzie to give me a hug.
“I’m good. You look beautiful as always.”
She pulls back and smiles. “You always were a charmer. Now, come on, I’m starving, and your sister is dying to talk to us.”
“About what?” Lizzie says, following her mom into the house.
“No clue. She said we had to wait until you got here. They’re here,” Christine announces as we walk through the front door.
“Dinner first.” Emily smiles knowingly when I follow the ladies into the house. She hugs her sister but keeps her eye on me. “I thought I might be seeing you here.”
I smile because I’m the happiest man on the damn planet.
“Of course, you would see him. She brings him everywhere,” Christine says, blissfully unaware of the change in our relationship dynamics.
“There’s my little girl.” Lizzie’s dad, Marcus, walks into the room with Jonathan following close behind. He hugs Lizzie and turns to me. “Aiden, my boy, how’s the gaming industry?”
Lizzie loops her arm through mine and smiles proudly. “He just designed an educational game, and it’s going to be a hit.”
Marcus shakes my hand. “That’s wonderful, son. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He cuffs the side of my arm. “We’ve known each other long enough. Call me Marcus.”
“Marcus,” I say, earning a bright smile from Lizzie.
“Okay, enough of this, let’s eat.” Emily ushers us into the kitchen.
Emily and Jonathan sit on one side with Lizzie and me across from them. Marcus sits at the end of the table between his daughters, and Christine sits happily between Jonathan and me.
We say a prayer, and everyone digs in. I’ve been to enough Donovan family dinners to understand how things work. Their motto is whoever eats the fastest eats the most. I learned my lesson the hard way, and will never make that mistake again, which is why my plate is overflowing.
“What did you want to tell us?” Christine asks, taking her first bite of chicken Alfredo.
“Oh, no,” Jonathan says, shaking his head. “If we talk while you guys eat, there won’t be any left. You’re all savages.”
Marcus nudges Emily’s arm and points a fork toward his son-in-law. “You picked a good one.”
I wonder if he’ll feel that way about me? Lizzie reaches for my hand under the table and smiles.
“Now, we have to find Lizzie a suitable man, throw a few grandchildren into the mix, and our family will be complete,” Marcus announces.
Lizzie sets her fork down and takes a breath. “Actually—”
“He’s right,” Christine interrupts. “I know you’ve been using those dating apps, but they don’t seem to be working. Let me set you up on a blind date.”
Lizzie’s wide eyes find mine. “Um, Mom, I won’t be going on any more blind dates.”
“Now wait a minute,” Christine scoffs. “I know that Emily has done an awful job at setting you up—”
“Hey,” Emily says, frowning.
“It’s the truth, sweetheart,” Christine tells her before turning her attention back to Lizzie. “I promise you won’t be disappointed with the boy I’ve chosen.”
“The boy you’ve chosen?” Lizzie shakes her head in disbelief. “First off, I don’t want a boy.”
“She’s right, Chris, our little girl needs a man. A strong, successful man like Jonathan.”
“Thank you, Marcus,” Jonathan says.
Lizzie shoots me a pleading look.
Christine waves her husband off. “You know what I meant. Hubert isn’t a boy. He’s thirty-two, a lawyer, and he’s never been married.”
“Hubert?” Emily asks.
Christine gives her daughter a look. “Yes, Hubert. It’s a family name. Be nice.”
“We discussed this, Christine. Hubert is too focused on work,” Marcus says, surprising us all. “Our girl needs someone who will come home every night and spend time with her. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
Lizzie smiles at her dad. “Yes. But I don’t need you guys to—”
“Oh, that’s right.” Christine claps her hands together. “I forgot you mentioned that new guy at your firm. What’s his name?”
“Tyler,” Marcus supplies. “He’s smart as a whip and will no doubt make partner before his thirtieth birthday, but he’s down to Earth. He comes from a strong family, with deep roots, and I think he’d be the perfect fit for you.”
“But, Dad, you’re not listening to me. I—”
“Oh, and I’ve seen him.” Christine winks. “Lizzie, you won’t be disappointed.”
Lizzie looks at me, and the next thing I know, her hands are in my hair, and her lips are on mine. Probably not the best move with her dad sitting two chairs down from me, but there’s no turning back now because I’m helpless when it comes to this girl.
I hear a gasp and a cheer and then a loud screech.
I press one last kiss to Lizzie’s lips before pulling back, noting the beautiful blush that paints her cheeks.
“Lizzie Donovan, what are you doing?” Christine says, her hands folded beneath her chin and a goofy smile on her face.
“Kissing my boyfriend.”
“About time,” Emily says, snuggling into Jonathan’s side. He nods in congratulations, and I return the gesture.
“Oh my gosh.” Christine covers her mouth. I can’t help but smile as I watch the play of emotions on her face. She goes from shocked to horrified—probably when she realizes that she was trying to set Lizzie up on a blind date—and then to pleased. She grins from ear to ear.
“I take it you approve?” Lizzie asks.
“Yes, we approve.” Christine jumps up and hugs me and then Lizzie. “Isn’t that right, Marcus?”
Everyone at the table turns to look at Lizzie’s dad, who has pushed his chair a good foot away from the table. That must have been the noise I heard. Holy shit, the guy looks ready to pummel me for kissing his daughter at the dinner table.
I clear my throat. “Marcus, I—”
“Call me sir.”
Uh-oh, I’ve pissed off Papa Bear.
“Daddy.” Lizzie laughs and rests a hand on her father’s. “You just told him to call you Marcus.”
“That was before I knew you two were dating. Jonathan called me sir until the day he married Emily.”
Lizzie’s smile falls as she looks at her dad.
“It’s okay,” I whisper, squeezing her hand.
“No, it’s not,” she shoots back at me before leveling her dad with a firm glare. “A minute ago, you were trying to set me up, and now you look pissy over Aiden, whom you’ve known for years. He’s a good man. Successful, smart, funny, sexy—”
“Too far,” her dad warns.
“He’s perfect for me, Dad. Aside from the fact that he’s been my best friend forever and has been there for me anytime I’ve needed him, he’s a good man. You should be happy that I’ve chosen Aiden.”
If Lizzie didn’t already own every part of my heart, she would now. Happiness makes me tighten my hold on her hand to let her know how much her words mean to me, and she squeezes back.
Marcus’s walls crumble under his daughter’s stare. He frowns and looks at me for a solid minute before looking at Lizzie. “Sweetheart, until you have a little girl of your own and a guy looks at her the way Aiden is looking at you right now, you’ll never understand.”
My God, he’s right. I picture myself sitting at this table in thirty years having the same conversation with a man that my daughter brings home—should I be lucky enough to have a daughter—and my stomach roils.
“Sir, I would never intentionally hurt your daughter.” All eyes snap to me. I hold Lizzie’s gaze. “I love her too much.”
Lizzie’s eyes are glossy as she mouths, I love you, too.
Marcus scoots his seat back to the table, picks up his fork, and looks at me. “We’ll finish this conversation after dinner.”
Lizzie
“Come have a beer with me,” Daddy says, handing Aiden a brown bottle.
“Dad—”
He gives me a stern look, but I know better; my dad is nothing more than a giant teddy bear. “Be nice.”
“I’m always nice.”
“Right.” I roll my eyes and kiss Aiden. My dad growls, and Aiden pulls back.
“If you keep doing that, your dad is going to take me into the woods to bury me.”
“It crossed my mind,” Dad mumbles.
I smile and lean in for another kiss, but Aiden side-steps me and follows Dad out the door.
“Why are men like this?”
“It’s just how we are,” Jonathan says, grabbing himself a beer from the refrigerator. “Your dad had a similar talk with me.”
“I didn’t know that,” Emily says.
Jonathan nods. “It was the first time you brought me home for Thanksgiving. You girls were laughing and drinking eggnog, and your dad pulled me outside.”
“What did he say?” Emily asks.
“I can’t tell you.” Jonathan kisses Emily’s nose and presses a hand to her lower stomach. “But I understand now why he said what he did.”
“Oh my God.” I jump up from my chair, my hands covering my face. “Oh my God! Are you pregnant?”
“What?” Mom shrieks.
Jonathan smiles and kisses his wife before taking a step back. Smart man, because all hell is about to break loose.
“Yes,” Emily says, tears filling her eyes.
I don’t know who gets their arms around her first, me or Mom, but a second later, we’re wrapped in a giant hug, blubbering like babies.
“This is the best news in the entire world. First Lizzie and Aiden, and now this. I can’t take it anymore. We’re moving out of the city.”
Emily lifts her head and wipes her face. “Dad will never let that happen.”
“Don’t worry about your dad, I’ll work on him. But no way am I living that far away from my grandbaby.” Mom disentangles herself from us and pulls Jonathan in for a hug. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Christine. Emily and I couldn’t be more excited.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me sooner,” I say.
Emily and I tell each other everything. When we were growing up, Mom hated it because we always talked to each other rather than her. She often found things out about our lives months after it happened, something I regret now. It took a little maturing for me to realize how much great advice my mom has to offer.
“I tried to tell you. That’s why I stopped by the other day,” Emily says.
“But Aiden and I were fighting. Damn, Emily. I’m so sorry. You wanted to share the happy news, and I brushed you off. Please forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. I’m happy that you and Aiden are finally together.”
“Thank you.” I wipe my tears and pull my twin in for another hug. “I’m going to be an aunt.”
We squeal and laugh when Mom joins in. “I’m going to be a grandma.”
When Emily steps back, her hesitant eyes find Jonathan’s. “And we’re going to be parents. I’m not sure if I’m ready for this. It wasn’t exactly planned.”
“The best things in life aren’t,” Mom says softly.
Emily has always been about Emily. Some call her selfish, and half the time, she would agree, but she has one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever known, and I know she’ll be a selfless mom.
Jonathan pulls her close and kisses her head. “You’re going to be a wonderful mother.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
“Jonathan, why is my baby girl crying?” Dad says, walking in from out back.
Aiden follows him in and walks to my side. He wraps an arm around me, resting his hand on my lower back.
“That was quick,” I whisper.
“There wasn’t much to say.”
“What did he say?”
Aiden smiles down at me. “I can’t tell you.”
My jaw drops. That’s the same thing Jonathan said. “Why not?”
He shrugs. “It’s between me and your dad. All you need to know is that your dad and I are good.”
Aiden kisses me softly on the lips and then looks at my sister.
“Daddy…” Emily looks at Jonathan and smiles. He nods his head, but she shakes hers. “I can’t.” Tears spill down her cheeks. Happy tears, I’m sure.
“Jonathan,” my dad booms.
Unthreatened by my dad, Jonathan laughs and steps forward. “Marcus, Emily is crying because she’s happy.”
Dad looks confused. “You sure about that, son?”
“Positive. We’re having a baby. You’re going to be a grandpa,” Jonathan says.
Dad blinks and then yanks Jonathan in for a hug. They do that weird clap each other on the back thing that guys do, and then Dad reaches for Mom. “We’re going to be grandparents.”
“I know,” she cries.
He pulls back, eyes wide. “We have to move here. With a wedding and a baby, there’s no way we can live in the city.”
Mom jumps for joy.
“Wait, wedding? Who’s getting married?” I ask.
Dad smiles happily with his arm wrapped around Mom. “You and Aiden.”
“Oh, we’re not…” I look at Aiden, but he doesn’t look at all flustered at the prospect of getting married. “We just started dating.”
“But you’ve known each other for years. It’ll happen, and when it does, you have my blessing.”
“Thank you,” Aiden says.
I blink, my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. What the hell is happening?
“Breathe,” Aiden whispers.
“B-but…”
He lovingly caresses my back while I catch my breath, and when I look at him, he laughs. “Just breathe, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”