“Come on.” She pulls the keys from the ignition. “None of that talk. When we get home tonight, you can video call him and tell him all about it.”
“You’re right,” I agree and reach for the door handle to climb out of her car.
Karina links her arm through mine, and together, we walk up the sidewalk and to the front door. I go to open it, but it’s locked. “What the heck? I wonder why the door is locked. I don’t have my keys,” I tell her. She drove, and I didn’t think I’d need them. Irritated, since they knew I was coming, I ring the doorbell three times and knock for good measure.
“I think they heard you the first ring and was the knock necessary?” Karina laughs.
I turn to look at her. “Hush. They knew we were on our way. I mean, they’re all here for my birthday.” I sound like a spoiled brat, but I can’t seem to find it in me to care.
The sound of the door lock moving has me turning my head. I stand impatiently as the door slowly opens. I blink once, twice, three times before hot tears race down my cheeks.
“Am I dreaming?” I turn to ask Karina.
“You’re not dreaming.”
“Peyton.” Griffin breathes my name as he steps out onto the porch and wraps me in his arms. “Fuck, baby, I’ve missed you,” he whispers just for me.
“How are you here right now?” I ask, pulling back to smile up at him through my tears.
He cradles my face in his hands and wipes at my tears with his thumbs. “I couldn’t miss my girl’s birthday.”
“Your girl’s father is standing right here,” my dad says from the doorway.
“You came here to meet them without me?”
Griffin chuckles. “I did.”
“Are you coming inside?” Dad asks.
I step away from Griffin and link his hand with mine. Turning to face the door, my parents are standing in front, and everyone else in my family is gathered behind them to watch the reunion.
“Oliver?” I ask.
He waves with a wide grin. “Hey, Peyton. Happy Birthday.”
“Thank you.” I chuckle, then turn my attention back to my parents. “I know you already met him, but Mom, Dad, this is Griffin.” I turn to smile up at him. “My boyfriend.”
“We’ve met,” Dad says, and Mom elbows him.
“Come on in. Dinner is ready. I made your favorite,” Mom says.
“Lasagna?”
“You know it.” Stepping back, she pulls my dad with her, giving us room to come inside.
“Come on, Dad.” Paisley laughs. “This is round three. You should be used to this by now,” she teases.
“I’ll never get used to seeing men maul my baby girls.”
“It’s been weeks since we’ve seen each other,” I defend, refusing to let go of Griffin’s hand.
“You’re too young for…” Dad twirls his hand around, pointing at Griffin and me. “That,” he finally says.
I thought I would be stressed out if and when Griffin met my family, but I’m so excited he’s here that I don’t even care that my dad is acting a fool. “Sorry, Daddy,” I say sweetly. “He’s sticking around.”
“Figures,” he grumbles. With Mom tugging on his arm, he follows her into the kitchen.
“You’re welcome,” Paisley and Parker say at the same time.
“What?” I ask, confused.
“We prepared him for this day. Cam and Holden got his wrath,” Paisley reminds me.
“You’re getting off easy,” Cam tells Griffin.
“So you’ve said.” He laughs. “I’m willing to take all of it.” Griffin pulls me into his arms.
“Aw.” Paisley smiles before turning to look at Parker. “You’re right. He is the best.”
“Hey,” Cam says, kissing her cheek and placing his hand on her swollen belly.
“You’re still the very best,” she soothes her husband.
“And what about you?” Holden crosses his arms over his chest and frowns at Parker.
She leans up on her tiptoes and presses her lips to his. “You’re my number one.”
“Damn right,” he says, pulling her close and kissing her as if no one else is standing in the room.
“Bailey!” Dad booms. “What did I tell you about that shit? Cut it out,” Dad grumbles, making the room erupt in laughter.
“Come on, let’s go eat.” I turn to Karina. “Can you save Oliver?” I laugh.
“I’m on it.” She moves to stand by Oliver, giving him a hug and leading him into the kitchen.
I don’t move, and neither does Griffin, as my family filters out of the foyer. When it’s just the two of us, I turn to face him. He bends at the knees, places his hands on the back of my thighs, and lifts me. I wrap myself around him and bury my face in his neck.
“I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I had to see you on your birthday.”
“How long do you get to stay?”
“We fly out tomorrow afternoon.”
“So soon?” I ask, already feeling tears well in my eyes.
“I’m not leaving your side until I have to get on that plane,” he assures me.
I lift my head to look into his eyes. I want him to see the sincerity of my words. “Thank you, Griff. I was missing you something fierce today, and I was in a pissy mood, and I just… I can’t believe you’re here.”
He rests his forehead against mine. “I missed you, too, and I told you. We’ve got this.”
“Lady?” I hear my dad’s voice behind us.
Griffin slowly lowers me to my feet, and I turn to face my father. “We’ll be right there.”
My dad studies me for a few long seconds before nodding and leaving us alone.
“I love that he calls you lady. Earlier, he was talking about you to your sisters and using their names as well. I told him it was genius, and you were right. He kind of puffed his chest out a little,” he tells me.
“Oh, so you were sucking up to him?” I tease.
“Hey. You’re the one who told me I should tell him that I loved the names when I met him.”
“Come on, let’s go eat some of my mom’s famous lasagna.” Hand in hand, we make our way into the kitchen to make our plates. We’re the last two to settle in the dining room. Griffin and I take the last two chairs that happen to be at the opposite end of the table as my parents.
Holden and Cam pull him into a conversation about his season. “You’re kicking ass on the mound,” Cam praises.
“It’s been a good season,” Griffin replies.
“You’re a pitcher?” my dad asks.
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you any good?”
“Dad,” Parker scolds him. “You just heard Cam tell him he was kicking ass on the mound.”
Dad shrugs. “Could be luck.”
Griffin turns to look at me. “Yeah,” he says wistfully. “I’m definitely having a lucky year.”
I don’t make eye contact with anyone but him. My heart is pounding in my chest, and all I want to do is kiss him. So that’s what I do. I lean into him and press my lips to his cheek.