Page 70 of Muscle Cub

“Yeah? Okay. Cool.” For emotional safety, there sure was a lot of whiplash.

24

“Ta-da!” Austin stepped through my front door wearing a red-and-white gingham button-down with the sleeves ripped off, tight denim cut-offs, and work boots. “I wore my picnic shirt.”

“You did.” When I pulled him to me for a kiss, I noticed he’d also doused himself with extra cologne.

“You said it was a cookout.” His lips twisted. “Too hoochie?”

“Not at all,” I lied. Jesus Christ, he’s going to meet my entire family dressed like the Dukes of Hazard’s gay cousin. “You look great.”

“You always look handsome,” Austin said, adjusting the collar of my polo shirt. “I didn’t know if I was supposed to bring anything or if there’d be alcohol, but I’ve got a twelve-pack of Blue Moon in the Jeep. I was gonna pick up some flowers for your sister, but I didn’t know what her color story might be, and all they had at the convenience store were some sad-looking bouquets of carnations with baby’s breath.” He grimaced.

“That was very thoughtful. The beers’ll be great. Veronica’s having barbecue catered. I’m sure a few people will bring sides and other drinks, but I usually pick up extra bags of ice on my way. That’s my go-to for family gatherings. I’ve managed to keep their expectations of me pretty low.”

Knowing we wouldn’t have many private moments, I stole a few kisses before we headed out and a few more in my truck after we’d stopped for ice.

Pulling into Veronica’s neighborhood, I experienced a cold flash of nerves. I glanced at the pale skin at the tops of Austin’s thick, tanned thighs, where the tips of his pockets were peeking out of his denim shorts. He caught me looking.

“What?” he asked.

I shook my head, Nothing.

He reached over and pinched my knee. “Don’t worry. They’re gonna love me.”

I hummed skeptically. Other than my mom, I’d only seen him interact with drunk horny men on vacation, jocks at a workout class, and Honey Dean, Queen of the Edgewood Gays. “Well, if you could refrain from assigning people nicknames they’re not already aware of, that’d be great. And, for the love of God, don’t hug my mom this time.”

“Women love my hugs.”

“She didn’t.”

“Everybody loves my hugs.”

“Just… trust me about her, okay?”

“Can I hug your dad, then?”

He was aggravating me. I hoped.

“What?” His innocent expression did little to hide the mischievous gleam in his eye. “You said he was a hugger.”

I groaned. “Don’t make it weird.”

Veronica’s driveway was full of cars, and I had to park along the street a few houses away.

As soon as he jumped out of the truck, Austin cocked his head. “What’s that?”

I listened, hearing distant music and someone singing. I recognized the voice as belonging to my brother-in-law, John.

“Is that what I think it is?” Austin’s eyes lit up with excitement. He hoisted a bag of ice onto each shoulder the way I’d seen him do at the campground and headed toward the sound. “How could you keep this from me?”

With a sinking feeling, I recalled a few years back when there’d been a singing competition show on every network and platform. John, who’d been in bands in high school and college, had become obsessed with the idea of Sadie auditioning. My niece had a pretty voice, but she’d always been extremely shy. She hated getting up in front of people. As a little kid, she’d cried when we sang “Happy Birthday” to her.

I wouldn’t have put it past John, but… surely not. “Don’t get your hopes up,” I told Austin. “My niece and her friends just graduated from high school. I’m pretty sure people their age would rather die than sing in front of their family.”

In a singsong voice, Austin said, “When they get to college, they’re gonna wish they’d practiced.”

“Hey. I managed to obtain three degrees from three separate institutions without ever having performed a power ballad for a wasted crowd of my peers.”