Page 64 of Scrubbing In
I look over to see a man about my age sauntering behind an older woman who must be Leena’s mother. Her resemblance to both her daughters is striking. Where Mina has lighter hair that is pulled away from her slightly more-rounded face and hazel eyes, Leena’s eyes, nose, and hair could be exact replicas of their mother.
“Matteo,” Audrey scolds their brother, causing snickers from both Leena and her sister. Matteo gives Leena an apologetic look as he plucks the boy from her arms before giving her a quick hug.
“This is my mom, Audrey, and my brother, Matteo. And this adorable little guy is my nephew, Micah.” She says the last part with a tickle to the little boy’s chubby tummy. Turning back to me, she beams. “This is Julian, my boyfriend.”
Taller than Leena, Audrey still goes up on her toes to hug and kiss my cheek, eager to greet me as Mina and Sylvie both did. “Welcome, Julian.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
“Oh,psst. Call me, Audrey,” she says with a pat on the arm. Then she’s pretending to feel my bicep and turns to Leena, bouncing her eyebrows.
“Mom, oh my god!”
“Mom! Don’t ever do that again.”
At the sisters’ simultaneous exclamations, Michael frowns, Matteo scowls, and Charlie and Sylvie titter.
Setting the squirming little boy down, Matteo elbows his mother out of the way, and holds his hand out to me. “Good to meet you, man. Please do not let my mother scare you off.”
“Hey! I’m a delight!” Audrey huffs.
Charlie calls out, “Mama Audrey, I want to be you when I grow up,”at the same time I chuckle and say, “You, too.”
“Thank you, darling,” Audrey chirps down the table. “Come on now. Everyone sit down and let’s serve the food.”
Dinner is delicious, and just like any meal with my family, it’s loud. Well the women are, whereas Michael and Matteo offer very little at first.
They seem to be watching me, trying to determine if I’m worthy of Leena. I’m not, no man ever could be. But I know no one will ever love or cherish her the way I can and will. So, whenever our eyes meet, I hold their gaze and give a respectful tip of my chin. I think it earns me a few points of respect because they seem to be less indifferent towards me.
Throughout the meal, there is lots of laughter and teasing, with plenty of questions for me that I never stray away from. But most of all, the kids are the center of attention. Everyone dotes on and engages with Micah as baby Samuel is passed around and snuggled.
That is something that my family has not experienced yet. But it may be a possibility sooner than any of us realize with the new dream sparking to life inside me. One of Leena, round with our child.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Julian
Slumped on the couch,I tip the bottle of beer I’ve been nursing to my lips. Swallowing without even tasting the hoppy brew, my unseeing eyes remain locked on the basketball game on TV. The announcers calling the game feels like static in my ears.
Basketball has always been the sport I enjoyed playing and watching the most. Tonight, I was hoping watching a college buddy, who made it to the pros, would help take my mind off Leena. She’s out having a girls’ night and it was really nice of her to include Quinn, who came up from school to join them. Giving my head a shake and tuning back into the players running up the court in what looks to be an intense game. However, it’s unable to hold my attention for long.
It’s not that I mind Leena going out, I’ve just gotten so used to hunkering down at home—god, I am so gone for this girl, thinking of her house as home—spending our time together in private to keep our relationship on the down low.
But she looked fine as hell when she and Charlie stopped by to pick up Quinn. I would have much preferred taking her to my bedroom to undress her instead of kissing her goodbye.
I’m not sure what’s going on with Jace. He’s been going between giving me hell about Leena all evening and being jittery and constantly looking at his phone. “You gonna be able to handle being away from your girl for a whole night?” he teases without even looking up from his phone.
“Fuck off. I’ll be fine. Besides, she’s having fun. Quinn sent a picture of them.”
I barely register his head popping up, brow furrowed because the phone laying on the cushion between us vibrates. We both look down as I scramble to get it.
Sissy: Your girlfriend might be tiny but she sure is feisty when she turns a dude down.
Nostrils flaring, I glare at my screen. If I was there, no man would get close enough to approach my girl. I suddenly feel not so okay with Leena being out. Of course she is going to be fucking hit on.
“You all right, bro?” Jace’s question penetrates my brooding.
“I’m currently wishing this wasn’t a girls’ night,” I intone, then recite the message out loud.
