Page 116 of Wardrobe Malfunction

“No, we don’t. I burned them,” Vaughn says.

“Don’t tell lies, Vaughn. You never burned them. I know exactly where they are.” His mom gets up from the table. “I’ll go get them now before we have dessert, so Charly can have a look. I’ll get your baby photos, too.”

Dessert? Good God, I might die from overfeeding.

“Jesus Christ,” he complains. “Can’t you stop her, Dad?”

“I wish I could, son. But this is the first time you’ve brought a girl home. Your mom and sisters have been waiting years for this.”

He looks at me with a help-me expression on his face. He looks so adorable, I can’t help but smile.

“Sorry, West. But I really want to see your baby pictures. And, of course, the ones of you dressed as Tallulah.”

“Traitor,” he grumbles.

I can see a smile teasing the corner of his lips.

I tug on his bottom lip, and that smile finally makes an appearance. His eyes soften on me, and he takes hold of my hand and kisses it.

When I turn back to the table, his sisters are looking at us like we’re magic.

Honestly, I feel like magic when I’m with him. This whole thing with Vaughn feels like magic. Not real. I keep expecting to wake up at any moment.

Being here is so wonderful. I did worry that being in a family environment like this would be weird for me. It’s not something I’m used to, so I wasn’t sure if I would know how to act around his family, but they make it easy. They’re so warm and friendly. I feel lucky to be a part of this even if for a short time.

“Got them!” Vaughn’s mom comes bustling back into the dining room with a stack of photo albums in her arms. She hands them to Meg, who gives a wicked grin to Vaughn.

“Oh God,” Vaughn grumbles.

“Girls, why don’t you take Charly into the living room to look through these? The men and kids can help me clear the table. And we’ll have dessert in there.”

“Can I go with Mommy, Charly, and Aunt Meg to look at the pictures?” Nora asks.

“Sure you can, baby.”

“That’s not fair!” Parker complains.

“Life ain’t fair sometimes, kiddo.” She ruffles his hair.

I get up from the table, pressing a kiss to the side of Vaughn’s head.

He catches my hand. “Whatever you see in that living room stays in that room, Pins. I never want to hear of it again.”

I grin. “Sure thing, Tallulah.”

I head off toward the living room with his sisters and Nora, who catches hold of my hand, surprising me.

Jester jumps up from his spot in the hallway. Vaughn’s mom put him out here, as he wouldn’t leave me alone at dinner. He kept trying to climb onto my lap.

I felt so bad for him. He’s so cute.

He comes trotting over to me, tail wagging.

“Hey, Jester.” I lean down, patting his head.

“Jester likes you a lot,” Nora says.

“Yeah. I like him, too.”