Devotion

29

"Well, are you going to invite me in or not? Honestly..."

"Welcome," I said to his mom. "My parents can't wait to meet you."

"I'm sure they can't," she said and walked through the front door.

"What just happened?" James said when the door closed.

"James, I'm so sorry. I never should have pushed you to invite them. I should have respected how your relationship was with them. I want us to be a team. We should be making decisions together. And I'm so, so sorry."

"Penny." He grabbed my waist. "I get it. I see the way you were raised. You expected to be marrying into one big happy family. I understand why you wanted a relationship with them."

"But I never should have forced it."

"You didn't force it. I wanted it because you wanted it."

I put my hand on the side of his face. "Well, I was wrong. All I want is you."

He smiled. "Well, they're here now."

I laughed. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I think maybe you're right. I would have been disappointed if they hadn't shown. The timing could have been better though."

"I loved Mr. Caldwell's speech. You never told me all those things about your relationship with him. James, he considers you to be one of his sons."

"I didn't know that before tonight."

"Open your eyes, James. Everyone loves you."

"Hmm." He touched the side of my face. "Maybe."

"They do."

"I kind of wish we didn't have a whole house full of people right now. I can't take my eyes off you. This brings me back to when we first moved here." He ran his fingers across the fabric of my dress. "Do you remember what we did after walking around Central Park that night?"

I'd never forget. "We christened the new apartment." Several rooms of it.

"Exactly." He pushed my back against the wall and buried his face in my neck.

Fuck.

"I know everyone's waiting for us, but I want you so badly right now." He grabbed my thigh and pushed my skirt up. "Tell me to stop now, or I'll be too far gone."

I laughed and grabbed his face. "I'd like to be there to introduce our parents to each other."

"That's not going to go well."

"So optimistic." I looked up into his dark brown eyes.

He smiled. His dimples pooled in his cheeks. "Just honest."

"Do you think your mom is really going to make a speech?"

James lowered both his eyebrows. "You're right, we should probably get in there." He let go of my leg. "But, just for the record, I will have you one last time as my fiancée."

I smiled. "I can't wait." Although I had no idea when he was planning to fit that in.

He grabbed my hand and held it tightly as we walked back into our home. I was surprised to see James' father and Mr. Caldwell sitting together laughing. James' mother was at the bar. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Daphne kiss Rob's cheek and whisper something in his ear. He had a bad temper like his brother and I was surprised to see that he had calmed down so quickly. Daphne must have secret powers. Maybe she could tell me how she did it. I couldn't wait to get to know her better.

"So where are your parents, darling?" Mrs. Hunter said as she walked up to us. She drew out the word darling. She was clearly mocking me, but I didn't really care.

My mom peered out of the kitchen. She pulled my father out beside her and came over to us.

"You must be James' mother," my mom said. "I'm Julia, Penny's mom. You have such a lovely son."

"Do you know my son well?"

"Well, yes. We all try to get together a few times a month for dinner and board games. James is the undefeated champion of Sequence."

"That doesn't surprise me at all."

"It's a team game, though," my mom said. "Penny's always his partner. They make such a good team."

"Mhm."

"And I'm Peter," my dad said. "Penny's father."

"Are either of you employed?" Mrs. Hunter asked.

"Excuse me?" my father said.

"My husband is missing all the niceties. Jonathan, please get over here," she said. "Now."

Mr. Hunter clapped Mr. Caldwell on the back as he stood up. He walked over with a smile on his face. "You must be Penny's parents," he said with a smile. "You can call me Jon." He stuck his hand out for my dad.

I was shocked at the exchange. James' dad had always seemed as snooty as his wife. But here he was making an effort at least. He was so much warmer than Mrs. Hunter.

"We are so happy to finally meet you," he said with a smile.

Finally? He had only just met me a few weeks ago. I didn't care if it was just a show, it was nice of him to try. He looked genuinely pleased to meet them.

"We love your son dearly," my mom said as she shook his hand. "He's such a wonderful addition to our family."

Mrs. Hunter frowned. "I'd like to make a toast," she said loudly so that everyone could hear. "Can someone turn off that retched music?"

I saw Rory press some buttons on the sound system. First it got louder and then he successfully turned it off. He gave me a thumbs up.

"Honestly, you should get some better help," Mrs. Hunter mumbled.

Rory's friend that had been flirting with Melissa laughed. After getting a death stare from Mrs. Hunter, he grabbed Rory's arm and they both retreated into the kitchen.

Mrs. Hunter cleared her throat and lifted her drink in the air. "I'd just like to make a toast to the happy couple. Clearly there is some kind of substance there since they're actually going through with this whole thing. It's definitely not the arrangement we would have hoped for." She glanced at me. "Clearly. I admire a girl for marrying up, but how this young girl got her claws in..."

"What my wife is trying to say," Mr. Hunter interrupted and grabbed the glass out of her hand, "is that we are very happy that the two of you found each other. Happiness is the most important thing in this world. Life is much too short. It goes by in a flash. So hold onto each other. Hold onto that feeling that you have right now. And, Penny, you seem like such a lovely girl. My wife and I are both excited to get to know you better. I'm just sorry it took so long. Welcome to the family. Cheers to the happy couple." He raised the glass in the air.

Everyone clinked glasses.

"We're happy for you, son," he said and put his hand on James' shoulder.

James looked down at his dad's hand like it was a foreign object. "Thanks." He said it more like a question than a statement.

"If you'll excuse us for a second." He grabbed his wife's arm and pulled her toward the kitchen. A second later, the catering staff came running out.