Jake kisses her cheek and rises to announce, “Guys, screw Caden’s return! We just got f-bombed by Grams. Now it’s a party!”
The hollering and applause is ridiculous. Emma calls out, “Grandma Nance, we have an empty pitcher here. We drank it already!”
“I had two, but I should have made more! It’s so cold out I opted for Cider.”
Ethan yells, “Did you spike it? Because I just gave some to Kaya!”
“No, I didn’t spike it!”
“Bummer!”
“Ethan!” Grandpa Michael laughs from where he’s talking with Uncle Justin.
I place my hand on the small of Elizabeth’s back, loving the warm feel of her silk dress as I whisper, “Didn’t I tell you?”
She turns her head and kisses me, smiling up into my eyes since she wore flats to avoid sinking into the grass. “I want to meet your Grams.”
“First you have to meet me!” Lexi says, red hair straightened and sleek. She and Samantha have walked up, and of course Lexi is the one talking. “Max told us he and Natalie had drinks with you guys and I feel insulted.”
Sam smiles, “I’m Caden’s sister, Samantha.”
“Elizabeth. Nice to meet you.” They hug as Lex watches with her mouth scrunched up, waiting her turn.
Hunter walks up, eyes narrowing. “I get it now!” He points between us. “I thought you went to Digby’s to impress her for work. You were nailing her the whole time!”
Lexi shoves him in the chest. “Hunter! And I thought I was rude!” Whipping around, she finds Elizabeth stifling a smile. “I’m Lexi, and yes, I can be a bitch. Sorry. It’s just…” Her green eyes flick from the ground to me because vulnerability is difficult for her. “I just missed you, Caden.”
I pull her to me and squeeze. “You’re not a bitch, Lex. You’ve got big feelings is all.”
“And she doesn’t know where to put them, so they come out in the wrong places,” Samantha quietly adds.
Hunter, Lexi, and I blink at her. It might just be the sole instance where she’s ever acknowledged one of her big sister’s failings.
Our parents join us. I’ve spent time with them since returning, but they haven’t had a chance to meet Elizabeth yet, since she was working the times I had free.
The drinks with Max and Natalie we didn’t want parents around for. It was just me, my best friend, and our girls—a big deal for he and I, considering our slutty pasts. And we had lots to celebrate.
“Mom, Dad, this is Elizabeth. You’ve heard me talking about her for a couple years. She was my attending before I switched to Cardiology. Looks like I fell for my boss.”
Myers covers her face a second, and when she drops her hand to shake Dad’s, she’s blushing. Feeling pretty proud of myself, I watch Mom hug her as they exchange introductions and small-talk, my mother glowing with happiness now that I’m back home.
My smile travels across the crowd of Cockers and the people they’ve chosen to spend their lives with. Some of their closest friends are here, too. Like Silvia—Aunt Rachel’s best friend—and her husband. My cousin Nicholas’s best friend, Matt, is with him and Madison, drinking hot cider. Samantha’s best guy friend, Logan is chatting with Ryder, Tanner’s nephew who Zoe is gazing at like he sliced the first bread. And Ryder has no clue she’s staring. Tobias’s manager Andy is with him and Hannah, and I know whatever they’re drinking, it’s got Woodford Reserve splashed in. Pregnant Paige would be talking with her friend Shelby if she and Ben had made it, but from the looks of things, they’re not here.
Max walks up with his new fiancé, completing my immediate family. Lexi sees the engagement ring winking at her and grabs Natalie’s hand. “I can’t get over this! So beautiful, you guys!”
Elizabeth bumps her hip into mine. I glance over and remember, “Oh! You want to meet Grams. Excuse me, everyone. We must get the approval of our favorite judge and jury.”
Elizabeth laughs, “I changed my mind!”
“Too late. You didn’t know she would be the deciding factor for our future, but here goes!”
Hunter whispers like a horror movie, “Turn back now!” and the others laugh and make room for us.
Tugging my hand, Elizabeth says, “Okay, there’s something you don’t know about me, Caden.”
“What?” She sounds so serious I stop walking and frown.
“I’m a big sports fan. Kinda star-struck by your quarterback cousin.”
Snorting with relief I continue on our path. “Good! Because I love football. Better if you don’t hate it.”
“I’ll be shouting at the screen.”
“You’ll be shouting in the stadium.”
Her beautiful eyes widen and she bounces, “Are you serious?”
“Calm down. You’re a fucking surgeon. Get it together.”
She forces a straight face, and we turn to see Grams watching us with sharp blue eyes in nearly translucent skin that glows because of her huge heart.
Myers quiets, her fingers softening in my grip. We complete the walk with me presenting her like a trophy. “Well, Grams, what do you think of Elizabeth?”
With a southern drawl she never lost from being raised in rural Georgia, Grams announces, “She’s too good for you.”
I balk, eyebrows shooting up. “You haven’t even talked to her!”
“I don’t have to.” Twilight eyes glitter as she points at me. “I know you, Caden. A challenge is what you need. You’ve always been that way since you were born second, and looked up to your older brother so much. Never forget that she’s your biggest one. It takes much to have a happy life with someone. It’s not easy. If you succeed at this game, you’ve won the real prize of life.”
I could tell her that we’ve just become exclusive. I could say that those three magic words haven’t even slipped from our tongues yet, it’s so new. But I know how I feel about Elizabeth, so I’m listening. “Thank you, Grams.”
“Don’t forget,” she smiles, “I married a man who loved a challenge, so I know what I’m talking about.”
I bend to kiss her cheek, and Elizabeth asks, “You mind if I hug you?”
Grams
