“Thank you, Mrs. Callanan,” Raph, Izzy, and Alaric all said at the same time.
Grady said, “Suck ups,” which made my mom swat him with a laugh as she headed toward the kitchen.
Raph moved to my side and kissed my cheek again, saying, “I like your mom.”
“God, I don’t know why.”
He laughed and took my hand. “Introduce me to the rest of your family so I can start asking for embarrassing stories about you.”
“I’ll be happy to help with that,” my sister Maureen said as she popped out of the living room with a toddler on her hip.
“Don’t listen to a word she says, Raph. She’s a Liar McLiarton,” I said, trying not to cringe for saying that, as I plucked my nephew from her and gave him a couple of big cheek kisses before he wiggled to get down. By the time I set him on his feet, my sister already had Raph sitting on the couch with her, deep in conversation.
Izzy walked over and passed me a drink, keeping one in his hand.
“Thanks,” I said, taking a sip. I hadn’t realized how badly I’d needed that. When Raph laughed loudly, I groaned. “Make it stop.”
Izzy chuckled. “Sorry, but no can do, my friend. I’m about to head in there to hear all the wonderfully embarrassing things.”
“No, not you, too.”
Iz leaned in and mock-whispered, “Remember that I’m immune to pouting, so you may as well as put that bottom lip away.” He tapped my lip with his finger, then seemed to realize what he’d done because his eyes widened, and he sucked in a breath at the same time as me.
We blinked at each other for a few seconds. Me, trying to stop the shiver that ran down my spine from that small touch, and Izzy, doing god knew what.
I shook myself out of it, cleared my throat, and asked, “If I give you fifty bucks, will you put a spell on my sister to make her stop talking?”
He snorted out a laugh and visibly lost his tension. “Nope, and I’m not even sorry about it.”
I groaned and marched into the living room, plopping on the couch beside Raph. My boyfriend put his hand on my thigh, and the rest of my tautness left me. I had no idea what that had been with Izzy, but it didn’t matter. The two of them touched and cuddled all the time, and Raph had pulled me into it too many times to count, so maybe that was just rubbing off on us. It had only been weird since Raph wasn’t standing there with us. Right?
“...booger wall.” Maureen’s words caught my attention, and I gaped at her.
“Did you seriously, are you seriously… oh my god, Maureen! How dare you blame me for that!”
“It’s alright, baby,” Raph said, patting my leg. “All kids pick their noses.”
I turned my gaping face to him. “What? Sarah was the one with a booger wall! Not me! She was a disgusting child!”
“It’s not nice to blame others, Laz.” Maureen frowned at me, but it was absolutely fake. Liar McLiarton strikes again.
“Uh-huh, okay,” Raph said.
“Raph, seriously! It wasn’t me.”
“Okay.”
I gaped again. “You don’t believe me.”
“I said okay.”
“You still don’t believe me!”
His lips twitched, and I narrowed my eyes at him, then smacked his chest.
Barking out a laugh, I said, “You’re a jerk. Stop pretending you don’t believe me.”
He popped my chin. “Of course, I believe you.”
I snorted and started to lean toward him for a kiss, then remembered where we were and glanced around, noticing my sister grinning manically at me. I jerked my head back, asking, “What?”
“Nothing. You two are cute.”
I rolled my eyes. “I can’t believe you’re trying to embarrass me with fake stories. At least have the decency to use real ones.”
“Oh, so you did want me to tell him about the time you got your entire leg soaked in toilet water while you were on a date?” she asked, all innocent-like.
“Yes,” Iz hissed. “I definitely want to hear that one.”
“No!” I yelled.
Raph laughed. “I want to hear it, too.”
“Well, Laz was what? Eighteen at the time, I think—”
“Nineteen,” I corrected, making Raph smirk at me.
Maureen continued her storytime, and I groaned. With a sigh, I gave up and leaned my forehead on Raph’s shoulder and closed my eyes, as if not having to see their laughing faces would make the embarrassment easier to take.
It didn’t.
The day had gone surprisingly well. My family had welcomed both Raph and Izzy with open arms, acting as if they’d always been a part of our family gatherings. Despite the very, very many embarrassing stories told by every one of my family members, I’d had a great time. And Raph and Iz seemed like they had as well. I was really happy that they’d come with me.
I was even happier that the night wasn’t over yet for Raph and me.
“Uh, can you guys just drop me off at home, and you two go on to Laz’s?” Izzy asked as soon as Grades and Alaric got out of the car.
“You kicking me out?” Raph asked.
“Yep.” Izzy snorted. “You two obviously need some alone time, and I have a date with my pajamas and the new book Alaric got me. I’d rather not have to hear everything that you two… do.”
I cringed, and Raph said, “Way to make him uncomfortable, Iz.”
“I’m trying to make it better for us all in the long run! Don’t you think it’ll be weird in the morning if I know you’re you know tonight, and you know that I know that you you knowed, you know?”
“Say know one more time. Please.” Raph laughed.
Izzy sighed. “You’re not a nice person.”
Raph put his hand on my knee, but continued speaking to Izzy. “I’m the nicest, and you’re stuck with me. You knew what you were getting yourself into, yet you did it anyway. It’s all on you, honey.”
“That’s something I have to remind myself of every single day.”
I couldn’t help the bark of laughter that came out, and Raph whipped his head around to me, saying, “Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I am,” I said.
“Good—”
“Except when it comes to stuff between you two.”
Izzy chuckled and said, “That’s right. Laz is a total treasure. I so approve, Raph.”
I chuckled, and Raph grumbled.
“I’ll keep the familiars with me, so no worries,” Iz said as I turned onto his street.
When we pulled in front of their house, Izzy patted my shoulder and said, “Thanks for introducing us to your family, Laz. I appreciate it, and I had a lot of fun.”
“I’m glad you came.”
“Me too.” He shot me a grin. “See ya in a few days, treasure.”
I snorted at the endearment and waved as he squeezed Raph’s shoulder and hopped out. When he got to the door, Raph said, “He likes you.”
“I thought that was established already.”
Raph smiled. “It was, but he really likes you. He only gives nicknames to people when they’re in his inner circle.”