Thatch returned the smile. "Dude."
"Well, I'll be damned. Congrats, buddy. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks, man," Thatch answered. "We're almost to my parents' house. Give Georgia girl a kiss for me, okay?"
Kline flipped him off. "Tell Cass I'll have my wife call her when she's wrapped her head around this and forgiven you guys."
I ended the call as Thatch took a right onto a dirt road.
And before I could slip my phone back into my purse, it pinged with a text notification.
Georgia: We're not friends anymore.
Me: Yes, we are.
Georgia: You should've worn a bra to meet his parents.
Me: I know your game, G.
Georgia: His mom is going to think you're a floozy.
Yeah, she was definitely trying to freak me out as payback.
Me: I'm not taking the bait on this one.
Georgia: You really want me to be your matron of honor?
Me: And my future child's godmother.
Georgia: Even though I hate you right now, I love you. I'll be anything you need me to be. Even if I think you've lost your mind. You better call me tomorrow. You've got some serious explaining to do.
Me: I love you too, Wheorgie. We'll chat tomorrow.
A few minutes later, we pulled up in front of his parents' house, and he shut off the engine. He turned in his seat and took me in with amused eyes. "That was actually more fun than I thought it would be."
"I know, right?" I laughed. "I should probably feel a little bad about it, but man, I can't help myself. Georgia is easily one of my favorite people to mess with."
He glanced toward his parents' house and back at me. "You ready?"
Shutters and window boxes framed the summery floral wreath on the front door. Before I could think of what that might mean about Thatch's mom, I took a little breath and dove in with both feet.
"Let's do the damn thing. Let's show Ken and Sally I'm actually a really nice girl who just so happens to have a fabulous rack."
"Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves," he teased, and I flipped him off.
He laughed in response, but he hopped out of the car and walked around the front to open my door and help me out. "Come on, honey," he said as he led me up the porch steps. My feet felt a little heavier than normal, so I leaned on him a little extra. "I've got a surprise for you."
I tilted my head to the side, confused, but I didn't get a chance to question him. The door swung open, and both of his parents greeted us with wide smiles.
"Mom, Dad, this is my fiancée, Cassie," Thatch introduced us.
Wow. Introducing me as his fiancée right from the get-go. Definitely not joking, my brain taunted.
I held my breath for his mother's reaction to turn from welcoming to murderous-because, yeah, I generally made a great first impression, but my tits weren't usually mom-friendly, if you know what I mean. But she did the complete opposite of what I had expected. She ignored Thatch completely and made a beeline for me, pulling me straight into her arms.
"Cassie, it is so great to finally meet you!" she exclaimed and hugged me tightly. She leaned back and took me in with soft eyes and an easy smile. "I can't tell you how excited I am to finally meet the woman who can keep my Thatcher in line."
"Finally?" I blurted without thinking. We hadn't been together long enough to use words like finally.
"He's been talking about you since Kline got married."
I whipped my head to the side.
Thatch's deep chuckles filled my ears, and a barely-there blush rosied the cheeks under his scruff.
"It's so nice to meet you, Mrs. Kelly," I answered as I pulled myself together. My smile was confused but genuine. The idea of being on his mind that long made my chest ache.
"Please, call me Sally."
Thatch pouted. "No hug for me, Mom?"
She waved him off and wrapped her arm around my shoulder. "Isn't she gorgeous, Ken?" she asked her husband.
"Too pretty for Thatch, that's for damn sure," Ken remarked with a smirk. "Seriously, Cassie? Is he blackmailing you? Do we need to alert the authorities? Blink twice if he kidnapped you. Three times if you fear for your life."
The teasing personality was a family trait. I loved his parents already.
I blinked three times, and his dad cracked up.
"Turncoats," Thatch responded. "You've known her for all of two minutes, and immediately, you're on her side."
Both of his parents grinned, and his mom finally wrapped him up in a loving hug. "I'm glad you're home, sweetie. But I have a feeling she's less trouble than you are."
"Thanks, Mom," he replied with a grimace before smiling down at her with affectionate eyes. Right off the bat, it was apparent he was very close with his folks. The idea warmed my heart. "But she's definitely not less trouble."
My warm heart felt ragey all of a sudden.
"Well, let's go inside," Sally insisted, unfazed. "Dinner is almost ready."
"Dinner was delicious." I dried off the last dish and set it in the cabinet carefully. Sally had served us dinner on the good china, and a constant film reel played in my mind of somehow shattering all of them. But I wanted to make a good first impression, and if I knew anything from Rom Coms and my first encounter with Claire, helping a woman clean up when no one else did usually racked up serious points.
Sally grinned and wiped her hands off with a dish towel. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"I did. Thank you so much for having me."
"You're welcome here anytime, sweetheart." She lovingly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. It seemed intimate in a way I wasn't expecting, like she really did intend to consider me a daughter. My thought-crazed brain wasn't exactly sure what to make of it right then, but I knew I'd figure it out eventually. "I hope you'll force Thatcher to stop by and see us more often."
The longing in her voice made me nod without hesitation. "Consider it a done deal."
"I have a feeling you know all the right things to say and do to keep my son on a tight leash. And I can't tell you how happy that makes me. He's a good boy, but someone needs to keep his ass in line."
I laughed. Little did she know, I never had walked very straight myself. I'd do my best not to burst her bubble, though. "Speaking of him being a good boy, I'd love to see some baby photos." I thought it over. "Or blackmail-worthy stories and photos of teenage Thatch."
"Oh, sweetheart. All you have to do is say the word."
"Yeah, I think it's time I steal Cassie before you bust out the scrapbooks, Mom." Thatch walked into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around my waist. "I know your game, and this is me effectively blocking it before you get started."
Sally held up her middle finger in response, and I died laughing.
Thatch feigned offense. "I swear, the two most important women in my life are the ones who flip me the bird more than anyone else. I'm feeling seriously short on the love right now."
His mom grinned at me and retorted, "Your head is already big enough, Thatcher. If we showered you in love all the time, you wouldn't be able to walk upright."
"Sally! Come sit on the couch and give me some sugar, honey!" Ken called from his cozy spot on the sofa in the living room.
"I'm too busy cleaning up after you to toss out affection!" she shouted back, but she still managed to meander his way.
"Are you ready for your surprise?" Thatch whispered into my ear once we were alone in the kitchen.
I looked up at him with curious eyes. "What surprise?"
He kissed the tip of my nose and took my hand, leading me out the terrace doors and through the backyard. He urged me to sit down on a bench that rested beneath the shade of a big oak tree before taking a deep breath, reaching into his pocket, and pulling out a small black box.
Flies, small birds … waterfowl-any or all of them could have flown right into my mouth for as wide as it opened. "What are you doing?"
He smiled and got down on one knee in front of me. The tiny hinges squeaked lightly as he popped open the box, and my eyes met the sparkly, gorgeous, overwhelmingly beautiful sight of a pink diamond nestled in the center of a platinum band.
It was the one and only ring I had ever pictured as my perfect engagement ring.
Definitely, definitely not joking, my brain whispered in awe.
Was he fucking serious right now?
I slapped him clear across the face.
"Ow, fuck, Cass," he said, but he kept grinning like a lunatic.
I pointed an accusing finger in his direction. "How did you know about this ring?"
"Because I know you." I narrowed my eyes. He wasn't that good. "And maybe you mentioned this ring to me several months ago when we were searching for a missing cat."
I shoved his shoulder hard enough that he nearly fell back on his ass, but somehow, he stood his ground and just kept smiling like this crazy proposal made any sense. Like I wasn't completely losing my shit. Like it was normal to propose to someone. Twice.