We enter a huge kitchen accented by a large stone fireplace and cherry cabinets. Five people are either sitting or standing around a massive granite island in the center of the room.
“Guys! Sydney and Drew are here!” Allie yells out so everyone can hear, and probably everyone in the next house as well. Difficulty with volume control is obviously a Forrester family trait that Drew shares with his sister.
Andy Forrester walks around the island and shakes hands with his son, doing the whole man-style pat on the back hug that guys do. “Sydney,” Andy says as he hugs me. “This is Patricia and Anthony Grady.” He motions to a couple in their fifties and we shake hands.
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Great to meet you Sydney,” Patricia says. “We’ve known Drew since he was just a little kid and he’s never brought anyone home before, has he Caroline?”
I’m surprised at her words. She can’t be serious that Drew never had a girlfriend that he introduced to his parents before. Then again, I never asked and truthfully, I’m twenty-four and have never had a boyfriend before so maybe it is true.
“Stop embarrassing me Patty,” Drew says, hugging her and kissing her cheek.
“Hello Sydney. Call me Tony,” says a tall blonde man in a Red Sox shirt.
Jeez, the people in this town are really obsessed with baseball.
“Hi Tony, nice to meet you.”
Andy turns me to the other couple in the room, a guy and girl about Drew’s age. “This is Mike Grady and his wife Sandy.”
Drew and Mike hug and backslap, smiling like crazy. “Way to go breaking your hand, buddy!” Mike says. Drew just shakes his head and laughs. They immediately begin to discuss baseball.
I roll my eyes and shake hands with Sandy, a raven-haired woman who seems to be a little shy, which I’m sure doesn’t help her much around this boisterous crowd. “Hi Sydney,” she says to me, revealing her gorgeous smile.
“Hi Sandy. Quite the group here,” I joke. She agrees.
“Syd, this is my best friend Mike,” Drew says, pulling Mike over to me. “Mike, this is my girl, Sydney,” he says proudly.
“Hi Mike, I’ve heard a lot about you.” I offer my hand to shake.
He looks at my hand like it’s poisonous, then at my face. “Hell no! This is how we do it around here!” He pulls me into a bear hug and swings me around in a circle as I let out a small squeak in surprise.
“Hey, stop groping my girl,” Drew says in mock irritation, chuckling at my discomfort. Now I know this is his best friend, because if anyone else touched me like that, Drew would have knocked them out cold.
Mike sets me down and pulls his wife into his side, grinning like a loon. “Sydney, did this guy ever tell you about the time that we put firecrackers down in the …”
“Hey now!” Drew interrupts. “We don’t have to go there already, you’ll scare her off.”
Mike leans in close and fake whispers, “I’ll tell you later. I have tons of ‘em to fill you in on.” He winks playfully and steps back.
“Okay everyone! Let’s get drinks,” says Drew’s dad as he uncorks a bottle of wine.
The ride home is quiet after the lively and boisterous conversation at the Forrester house. I’m starting to think maybe uncontrollable volume is a New England thing and not just a Forrester thing. Sandy and I were the only ones who kept it under 100 decibels the entire night, and she’s originally from Seattle.
“I had a great time,” I tell Drew as he plays with my fingers, drawing circles on the palm of my hand and stroking each finger sensually.
“Me too. You should see when we get the entire extended family together, my mom’s sister and dad’s brother and sister plus all of my cousins. Some of my cousins even have kids, so it gets pretty rowdy when they’re all under one roof.” He’s bursting with pride as he describes his family.
My eyes tear up and despite my attempt to squeeze them back one escapes down my cheek. I move to wipe it away but Drew catches it with his thumb before I can get it.
“What’s wrong?” He places his hand on my chin to turn my face towards him.
“Nothing, I was just thinking.” I pause for a moment and he waits patiently for me to continue. “I haven’t got any family. Just my mom … and my dad who I haven’t even seen in twelve years. My mom’s parents died in a car crash when I was a baby, my dad’s father was dead before he even graduated high school, and my dad’s mom died when I was seven. Neither of them had any siblings.”
Drew tilts his head until we’re nose to nose, his green eyes barely visible in the dark car. “I’ll be your family Syd.” My heart nearly bursts from the emotions coursing through me at that moment. He kisses me, almost reverently, then holds me tight for the rest of the ride home.