“Of course,” I say. “I didn’t know your parents even knew about me.”
“Shoot, are you kidding me?” he says with a laugh. “You’re all I can talk about.”
I blush and look away, trying not to smile too wide. It’s silly, but it means a lot that he’s talked to his mother about me. It somehow makes this whole thing feel more real.
“When? And should I bring something?” I ask.
“Sunday night,” he says. “And only if you want to. I’d love for my family to taste some of your amazing cooking. I’ve already bragged to my sisters about your barbecue, but you don’t have to go to any trouble.”
“You bragged about my barbecue?” I ask.
“You’re my girl,” he says. “That’s what you do.”
I laugh and grab a few beers for the two regulars who always come in about this time. They say thank you and go back to their conversation.
The door opens again and the night is a steady stream of customers. I barely have a chance to get back to our conversation all night, but I can’t stop thinking about it.
I’m finally going to meet Colton’s family this weekend, and I can’t stop smiling.
Just when I start to let my fears take over, fate steps in to give me a little push in the right direction. It’s a journey, but I’m slowly learning to trust again.
Chapter Thirty-Three
I head downstairs with a spring in my step. I cannot wait to introduce Jo to my family. Hopefully they will be on their best behavior. It’s been a long time since I brought a girl out to meet them. Not since I asked my first girlfriend to prom.
I know they are going to love her.
I’m surprised to find Jo outside standing beside the truck. She catches sight of me, and quickly throws a blanket over something in the back of the truck.
“Okay, sneaky, what are you up to out here?” I ask.
She laughs. “You’ll find out later,” she says. “You look handsome.”
I spin and kick my cowboy boots out for her to see. “I bought myself some new boots for my birthday,” I say. “I figure I deserve it after all the hard work at the bar.”
She whistles. “Very nice,” she says. “Of course you do realize that other people are supposed to buy you presents for your birthday, right? You’re not supposed to have to buy them for yourself.”
“Well, I’ve always been a rebel,” I say.
“I’ve heard that about you,” she says, and she smiles so wide it lights up her eyes.
I step around the truck and do a double-take. She’s wearing a dress, and it’s the first time I’ve seen her in anything but jeans in all the months I’ve known her, with the very memorable exception of the night she wore my plaid button-down.
“Wow,” I say. “Let me get a look at you.”
She blushes and steps away from the truck, taking my hand as I spin her around.
The dress is bright yellow, and it looks amazing in contrast to her dark features. She’s wearing a blue-jean jacket over the top, and I’m dying to know if there are spaghetti straps on that dress. I really hope I get to find out at the end of the night, because I can’t wait to push them down her shoulders.
“You’re stunning,” I say.
“Thank you,” she says. “I wanted to look nice to meet your family. I’m nervous.”
“They are going to adore you,” I say. “You ready to get going?”
“I’m just going to run in and say goodbye to Daddy,” she says. “Kelly’s coming over again tonight.”
I raise an eyebrow. The two of them have been spending a lot of time together lately, and I can see how happy it makes Jo to see them together. She’s told me that her dad and Kelly used to date years ago, and it seems like there’s a possibility of them rekindling that romance.
I’m happy for Rob. He deserves it with everything he’s been going through lately. Jo’s taking his mysterious illness pretty hard, but Rob is always in good spirits whenever I see him. He’s really an incredible guy, and I hope they get the answers they’re looking for soon.
Jo disappears into the house for a few minutes, and I’m so tempted to look under the blanket she’s put in the back of my truck. Just what does she have up her sleeve for tonight?
I resist temptation, though, and wait patiently until she comes back out, carrying a large covered plate.