You were calm the entire drive there, revealing to me how much you watched my brothers and me when we were younger, and the nicknames you’d given my two older brothers. Your recollections spurred me to telling you about what jack holes my brothers could be at times, and transgressed into stories about some of the cool things we’d done together, like when they taught me to drive at fourteen.

I parked our rental car in front of the restaurant and reluctantly pulled my key from the ignition. For the first time in my life, I felt afraid to do something: introduce you as my girlfriend to my entire family.

I think I felt a little more nervous at seeing how calm you were as you released your seatbelt and reached for the door, prompting me to place a hand on your knee. “Hang on. Let me get it.”

You looked reluctant, but complied.

“You look so beautiful.” The words fell from my mouth before I fully intended for them to. I was planning to say something slightly more original, but my head was in so many places it was difficult for me to focus.

You smiled and ran a hand across your midsection as if to press out an invisible crease, revealing your own nerves. “Thanks, it’s sort of a Jackie. Proper and feminine with a bit of flair.”

“Jackie?”

“Kennedy.”

I laughed and placed a hand to the small of your back as we traveled across the parking lot. “Is flair a synonym for sexy?” I was rewarded with a smile that was as genuine as your lack of knowing how incredibly beautiful you are.

“So what color of underwear does Jackie wear?” I asked, opening the door of the restaurant.

You stopped and looked at me for a second, then leaned forward. I still remember the feeling of your lips grazing the bottom of my ear as you whispered, “Jackie doesn’t wear underwear,” and then sauntered through the door.

My thoughts that seemed to be in so many places all zeroed in. I could barely keep my eyes away from your ass to see if I could find the faint traces of underwear lines as we were shown to a door where my family had already gathered.

As the hostess left, I pulled you closer to me. My nerves were going crazy and I was distracted as all hell by your comment. You looked up at me and smirked knowingly, then leaned up and kissed me. It was intended to be a short kiss, one to convey comfort rather than sensuality, but I placed a hand to your lower back and brought you so close I could feel the curve of your hip. It broke the thin thread of self control I had. I pressed you even tighter against me and slanted my mouth to fit fully over yours, trying to resist pulling the pins that I couldn’t see but was willing to find from your hair. Instead, my hand ran along your neck, stopping at your shoulder, and I regrettably pulled away.

“Are you ready to meet the Millers?” My pinky brushed beneath the strap of your dress, searching for a bra strap. Although, the last thing I needed was to get more worked up, my curiosity was killing me.

It made your eyebrows lift, and your lips to twitch. “What are you looking for?”

My pinky found nothing but the smoothness of your skin, and you answered my silent question with another knowing grin.

“You don’t want to play this game with me, Ace, I’ll win,” I warned.

As if I needed a reason to be even more crazy about you, your grin stretched into a smile, and your eyes lit up with a dare. You pulled open the door standing between us and my family and my hand returned to the small of your back as I followed you inside.

My family was milling around, carrying small plates filled with appetizers and glasses of alcohol. I noticed Grandma Miller, who I’d never introduced to anyone aside from Wes, and turned in the other direction. Grandma Miller was still barely tolerant of Sarah, and she’d been in the family for several years now.

“Max?”

I turned around, still holding a hand to your waist, and saw Aunt Louise walking with my great aunt Agnes.

“Max, it’s so good to see you! We were just talking about how long it’s been since we saw you last, and I think it was the summer before you turned eighteen!” Aunt Louise smiled; her round cheeks looked even rounder with her dark brown hair pulled back so tight, it made my scalp hurt.

“Who is this? Your mom’s been so busy I’ve hardly seen her, but she mentioned you’ve been dating.”

I frowned at her word choice, since dating could imply that I was seeing multiple women. Mom made it abundantly clear by that time, that if you and I ever broke up, she was keeping you and I’d have to find a new mom. She of course doesn’t say that these days. No one expected you to leave.

“This is my girlfriend, Ace. Ace, this is Aunt Louise and Aunt Agnes.” You took a step closer and smiled warmly with both of your hands extended. I knew you were trying to calculate if my family was the hugging type or the hand shaking kind. Really most of them preferred just formal introductions, but you didn’t seem to mind my aunts and their awkward stances when you deftly wrapped your arms around each of them in a hug.

“Wow, you smell amazing! I love your perfume, it’s very elegant and fresh.”

My aunt beamed with acceptance. She reached a pudgy hand forward to rest on your satin-covered shoulder.

“Would you believe my husband hates it?” she whispered.

She reeked of moth balls, so I’m sure my uncle Albert did. I appreciated your efforts though, even if you did lie. Growing up in environments like this, I’m sure you had sensed that my aunt Louise held some clout amongst the family.

“Men.” You said the word like it was the answer to all problems and smiled back at my aunt. I tried to hide my amusement as my aunt began discussing shoes and her bunions, which had me searching the crowds, desperate for a distraction.

“There you guys are!”

I turned to see my mom approaching us. She took me into a hug and whispered, “Are you trying to scare her away?”

“Louise, did you see they brought out the tenderloin you wanted to try?” Louise took Agnes’s arm and led her in the direction my mom pointed without hesitation.

“I swear it’s not genetic, don’t be afraid!” Mom said apologetically, hugging you.

“One of my uncles hangs a confederate flag and won’t allow my father in his house. Believe me, I understand.” Your words were light, but your lips pressed together. I wish I had asked you more about him. About what happened, because it’s obvious now looking back that there was more to that story.

“Hey, Little Miller isn’t so little anymore!” My jaw still clenches when I think of my cousin Kiefer greeting me with a hard slap on the back.

“Kiefer!” Mom called, catching the glint of anger in my eye. “I didn’t know you made it! Let me introduce you to Ace. She’s Max’s girlfriend,” Mom said proudly, holding you close. It was probably so Kiefer wouldn’t touch you and push my dislike for him.

“Kiefer, do you mind taking me to where your dad is?” Mom shifted, her arm still tight around you, moving you both closer to me like she was handing you off. “I’ve been looking everywhere for him!” She linked her arm with his and turned them both away.

You caught her protectiveness as well as you looked up at me with raised eyebrows. “Is he like Marshall?”

“He’s worse than Marshall,” I growled. “Come this way.” I gripped your hand and headed to where I spotted Hank and Sarah.

“There’s my baby brother!” Hank greeted me with a hug and firm pat to my shoulder. As he released me, I grabbed Sarah and enjoyed the laugh she let out as she hugged me.

“You must be the infamous neighbor,” Sarah said, turning to see you better.

“I don’t know about infamous, but neighbor, yes.”

“I’ve heard all about you girls!” Sarah said, looking to both Hank and me. “I’m Sarah, I’m the one that bosses this guy around.” She pointed a thumb at Hank, and I smiled as Hank emphatically nodded.