love him?”
That had Grace taking another sip. “I’ve never felt so connected to anyone the way I do to Dameon.”
Her mom smiled and quietly drank her wine.
“He’s smart and funny. He treats me like an equal and values my opinion.”
“He’s good-looking,” her mom said.
“Right! Like how did I land that?”
“You’re beautiful.”
“You’re biased,” she told her mom.
“How is the sex?” Nora asked.
Grace wanted to pretend shock, but that wasn’t how their family rolled. “It’s off the charts, Mom. I never have to fake anything. Even if I’m tired he makes it happen for me.”
“I knew I liked that boy.”
Grace went back to cutting tomatoes. “Does Dad like him?”
“Your dad’s a hard sell. As long as Dameon asks him for your hand first, your dad will ignore the fact he wears a suit.”
She shook her head. “Oh, we’re not there. No one is getting on one knee anytime soon.”
“I wouldn’t bet on that. I know a man in love when I see one, and your Dameon is all of that and more.”
“Mom, don’t start the marriage talk or you’ll scare him away.”
Nora laughed. “You don’t have to worry about me. It’s your dad that will take that too far.”
“He should get on Matt. What’s taking him so long?” Grace asked.
Nora just smiled.
“What do you know?”
“You know Matt and Erin were just in Chicago visiting her sister.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m pretty sure he asked Erin’s father for his blessing.”
Grace stopped slicing. “You’re kidding. Erin isn’t close with her dad.”
Her mom shook her head. “That isn’t going to stop Matt from doing the right thing. And since everything that happened with Erin, I think her father is really trying.”
“It’s going to take some time to make up for being a bad parent all those years.”
Erin’s father had money to give, but not love, to his daughters. But as the man grew older, he started to realize what he missed out on.
“People make mistakes, honey.”
“I guess.”
Noise from the front room drifted in as the house began to fill. “We’re here,” Colin’s voice called out.
Dameon hadn’t seen his mom laugh this much since before his father died. Well, except when she was high on Christmas.
Here in the Hudson home, she sat beside Grace’s parents, and they all chatted as if they’d known each other for years.
Every once in a while, Grace would look at him silently and just smile.
In those moments, he smiled back and reached for her.
A hand on his thigh, a whisper in his ear of some private thought . . . he wasn’t sure how this had happened, but somehow she’d wedged herself into his world and he never wanted her to leave.
Sometime after dinner, Dameon was on the back porch with Matt and Colin. Matt had dragged them out there saying he needed help with something. Once they were out there, he stood on the side of the house and pulled out a cigar. “I’m going to ask Erin to marry me on Sunday.”
Colin pulled his brother in for a hug. “That’s huge. I’m so happy for you.”
Dameon felt honored to be a part of the conversation. “Congrats,” he said with a handshake.
Matt lifted the cigar to his brother with a laugh. “This is a new tradition,” Matt explained to Dameon. “Colin lit up a cigar when he told me he was asking Parker.”
Dameon didn’t smoke, but he had no problem taking a puff or two for brotherhood.
“Does she know?” Colin asked.
“I don’t think so.”
They both looked at Dameon. “Grace hasn’t said anything.”
“Good.”
“So, did you ask her dad?” Colin said.
“Of course. Dad would be pissed if I didn’t.”
Dameon took the stogie when it was offered. “You asked her dad if you could marry her?”
Matt nodded. “Our dad lives by the man code. If she’s pregnant . . .”
“You marry her,” Colin finished for him.
“If you want to marry her . . .”
“You ask her father first.” Colin gave his brother a fist bump.
Dameon laughed. “My dad would have liked your dad.”
Colin cupped Dameon’s shoulder. “That’s tough.”
“Thanks.”
Colin twisted quickly to Matt. “Wait, is Erin pregnant?”
Matt missed one beat.
One!
Colin tossed his hands in the air and pulled them both in for a hug.
“Holy shit.”
“Shhh. You don’t know this yet.” But Matt was all smiles.
Colin raised both his hands. “We need whiskey.”
“Hello, Captain Obvious.” Matt looked around the corner, then back.
Their smiles were contagious. Dameon felt himself laughing right along with them.
“We talked about kids, a lot.” Matt looked to Dameon. “Erin didn’t care about getting married again. She’s so excited.”
“Why hasn’t she said anything?”
“I asked her to