He knew he needed to tread lightly. “I told them that I’ve been seeing you for a while and have fallen head over heels for you.” She groaned as he continued on. “I told them that I would love to meet them, as I have an important question to ask them. I invited them over this weekend, and they agreed to come.”
She doubled over laughing. After a good five minutes, she straightened and said, “No, really, what did you say? Because I know it didn’t go like that. It took me three years to convince them I was grown up enough to move away. They call me every day, sometimes more. I turned on my mobile before I came down here and it said I have twelve missed calls from them. So what did you really say, Rane?”
Grabbing her around the waist, he pulled her to him and moved them to the lounge, sitting her on his lap and curling his arms around her. If he held her and kissed her, maybe she would be less angry. “Let me just start off by saying that your mother sounds really nice.”
Kirby raised her eyebrow.
“Well, she did.” In a softer voice he added, “At the start.”
She laughed at him and snuggled in.
“I introduced myself and said that I had heard a lot about them, and that you were apprehensive about telling them about me as I’m quite a bit older and you weren’t sure how they would react, especially with everything happening so fast. I told them I had asked you to move in and you had said yes. This is where it started to get…dicey. When your father got on the phone…let’s just say that he is very creative.”
Kirby was laughing so hard she was holding her stomach. “Oh, I can just imagine what he said. My dad makes my brothers look like pussycats.”
Rane frowned and hugged her closer. “I kind of thought I might get a little sympathy?”
She stopped laughing. “You went behind my back, so you don’t get any sympathy.”
“Well, after some discussing of how long we had known each other and that we had meet through your friend, your mother got on the other line and said her bags were packed and she would be here by tonight.” He mumbled the next bit against her head. “I told them that your brothers were here and not to worry.”
“Oh my frigging God!” Kirby laughed. “You had to play the brother card.”
He grunted. “I invited them to stay this weekend, to see how happy you are. They still wanted to come, but I convinced them to wait until the weekend as we both work all week, and I told them that you are even helping out at the military base. What got them to agree in the end was that your two brothers will be here this weekend as well as my own parents.”
She laughed again. “I’m the only girl, and there are seven years between Hayden and I, and eight between Logan and I. They tried for another child for years after Hayden was born, and they had given up when I came along. So I was Mummy and Daddy’s little angel surprise. My mother was extra excited because I was a girl and I would get her gift.” She giggled as she continued, “I always forget that she has an animal affinity the same as me. Mum’s gift doesn’t seem to be as strong as mine, but she is going to know what you are.” Kirby frowned. “Do you think she’ll know what you are, or be like me and think she’s crazy?”
Rane kissed her forehead. He had forgotten himself that her mother or someone in her family had to have the supernatural ability for her to have one. “I don’t know, my little red. I guess we’ll find out on Saturday.”
* * * *
It felt weird to be back in her tiny two bedroom apartment, and Rane made it feel so much smaller. His massive form looked like it barely fit in her room. Her roommate was at work, thank God.
“Does everything in your room need to come when we pack up?”
Turning to Rane, she shook her head. “No. Don’t forget that you said I could leave your house if you stuff up. If I move everything and we pay the lease out, where will I go if you do?”
“You can always stay with Kane and Faith. You can never come back here though, because it’s too dangerous, I won’t let you risk it. Can you imagine what would happen if they found you?”
She gasped and took a step back.
Rane swore and came to her. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just don’t want anything to happen to you. I need you.”
He pulled her up so he could kiss her. His kiss started out sweet, but as his hands moved down he cupped her arse. They were interrupted by the phone as it rang and rang until she couldn’t ignore it any longer.
Letting go of Rane, she told him to chuck all of her clothes into the boxes and she would sort them out later. Kirby answered the phone, knowing it would be her parents. “Hi, Mum.”