Page 66 of Run Home

Griffin’s advice has been a constant drumbeat in my head, and I’m trying really hard to figure out what she needs from me. How to approach the complicated thoughts and emotions that I know she’s been having.

But even I know not to bring it up while we’re on our way to Griffin and Danae’s wedding rehearsal. When we’re about to interact with her family as a couple for the first time.

So I keep my mouth shut and my hand in hers.

Even with our . . . delay . . . we make it to Griffin’s house before anyone else has arrived, just like Sam wanted. I get out of the sports car and jog around to open Sam’s door. She smooths her dress as she stands, and I close the door without letting go of her hand. “Ready?” I ask.

She leans onto her toes and pecks a kiss to my lips, smiling as she pulls away. “Ready now.”

Keep your thoughts in the right place, menso. No kiss instant replays.

We walk up to the house, and Jason opens the front door to us, looking very dapper in dress pants and a polo shirt. Griffin stands next to him, and his eyes shoot daggers at me over Sam’s shoulder as she hugs him. He mouths, I saw that, and I give him a sharp look. A look I hope comes across as “I got this. I’m being intentional. Respectfully, butt out.”

Griffin provides one last unspoken communication in the form of an uncomfortable squeeze to my shoulder, and I shrug him off. When Jason scampers through the house to the backyard and Sam crosses the room to hug Danae, I whisper, “Scale back the overprotective-brother vibes. I’m not being stupid. I swear. You can chill and enjoy your wedding.”

He eyes me one last time and seems assured by whatever expression he finds in mine. With a short nod, he walks toward Danae and Sam in the kitchen, and I follow. “Anything I can do to help?” I ask.

“Distract my parents with your wit and charm?” Danae suggests with a grim smile. “Kidding. I put Kara’s husband on babysitting duty with my parents. I’m trying to limit their interactions with anyone from the team as much as possible tonight and tomorrow. They don’t need stories to embellish to all their rich friends.”

While I don’t know the entire history, I know Danae’s relationship with her posh parents has been strained for her entire adult life. When they suddenly showed interest in rebuilding their relationship after she started dating a star baseball player, Griffin had to step in to support Danae’s boundaries multiple times. From what he’s told me, Danae has taken some tentative steps to allow them back into her life, but the walls are still well guarded.

“I promise to be very boring if I get cornered,” I say.

Sam laughs. “Yeah, right. Like that’s possible.”

Her smile makes me grin, and I’d like nothing more than to kiss those tempting lips again, but I’m not stupid. I just promised Griffin I’m not.

The doorbell rings, and Danae says, “Why don’t you and Samantha stand outside to direct people around the side of the house to the backyard? That way Griffin and I can greet everyone back there as they arrive.”

“Consider it done,” I say, holding out the crook of my arm to Sam. Griffin gives me a final hard stare as he turns to follow Danae out the back door, and I start to sweat a little at the thought of six West family members eyeing me all night.

When I open the front door, I recognize Kara, the music teacher at Danae’s school, and her husband, Ron. I met them briefly when they came to a game with Griffin and Danae earlier this season. Ron—an avid Crowns fan—stiffens at the sight of me, and Kara not-so-subtly elbows him in the side while clearing her throat.

I hold out my hand to shake theirs. “Kara, Ron, nice to see you again!” I greet, and Sam gives Kara a quick hug.

“Adrian Ortiz, amazing to see you,” Ron says as he excitedly pumps my hand. “What a season you’re having. And the All-Star Game. It was—”

He grunts as Kara elbows him harder, and she smiles sweetly at me. “Where should we be?” she asks. Sam directs her to follow the stone path around the side of the house, and then we take up our place on the front porch.

Seconds later, Drew and Lily pull up. Drew gets Asher out of the car seat, and we oooh and ahhh over how adorable he looks in a miniature suit. I clap hands with Drew as Sam says, “You look gorgeous, Lily!”

Lily returns the compliment, then looks at Sam with a sly smile. “Why haven’t you joined me and the other WAGs up in the suite for a game? Tell Griff he can’t monopolize your attendance anymore.”

Sam blushes but grins. “I’d love to join you sometime. Especially for these blazing summer-afternoon games. It’s miserable in the stands. I got completely ruined by the suite life.”

We direct them to the backyard as three cars pull into the circle drive in succession, and I know the moment has come. Swallowing hard, I check to make sure my suit coat is buttoned and stand taller. Glancing over at Sam, I see her looking up at me with a combination of a smirk and a swoon. “You know, you’re kinda hot when you’re nervous,” she teases as she takes my hand.

“That doesn’t help get my head in the right place to meet your family,” I murmur.

“You’re not meeting them, menso. You’ve met them all before. Multiple times,” she says, still grinning.

“Not the same.”

“You’ll be fine,” she says as she squeezes my hand. “I’m the one who’s not fine. It’s very difficult to resist kissing you when nervous Adrian is so attractive.”

I stifle a growl as her family files up the walkway to where we’re standing. Sam lets go of my hand to hug her parents, then Ian, then her older siblings, then the three children.

Her hugs and greetings slow down the swarm, leaving me to individually greet each person as well. Cinda, her mom, is the first to reach me with an instant hug. “Adrian, it’s wonderful to see you. I’m positively delighted about everything,” she says, bringing an easy smile to my face.