Page 67 of My Big Fat Shifter Wedding

“Non mi aspettavo che fosse così pallido.”

“Santo cielo! Penso che anche lui sia un essere umano!”

“Hiya! Nice to meet the guy who got our Auntie Olivia out of the house!”

“Are… are you a lumberjack?”

When they were all done, I glanced at Olivia. She looked like she wanted to melt through the floor. Although the interest and compliments from her family flattered me, I didn’t like that they’d put Olivia on the spot. I didn’t mind meeting them en masse, but that wasn’t what Olivia had wanted. Did they always trample over her requests like this?

I hoped they didn’t. I hoped this was only a few busybodies being too curious for their own good, but I was on alert for it. I wanted to get along with the people who had influenced so much of Olivia’s life, but I wasn’t going to let them disrespect her right in front of me.

“Hello, everybody,” I said in what I hoped was a warm and amiable tone. “My name is Keith. Thank you for inviting me to your home.”

Was it a bit overwhelming to have to announce myself like a new character in a video game? A little. But it was well worth it if I made a good impression. Being with Olivia had allowed me to become more confident and better at finding my footing in situations like these. Besides, it was just meeting a few extra family members. How bad could it be?

15

KEITH

TOO MANY COOKS? TOO MANY GUESTS!

“And this is our altar to the moon,” one of the older women said. At least, that’s what I thought she said. It was difficult to tell with the accent and natural warble, not to mention that I nearly had to bend in half to be at eye-level with her.

“She means it’s for astrology,” Rolando said quickly beside me, sounding a little panicked. Why would he be panicked about the pretty thing I was looking at? Maybe he thought I would judge them for being spiritual?

“It looks lovely,” I said, taking in the small structure stuck in the hallway between the foyer and the family room.

I hadn’t expected to be taken on a tour of the house by the group that had swarmed us, but I decided to go with the flow, even as more people filtered in and out. More names were given to me, but they mostly faded into white noise as I tried to absorb as much information as I could.

Beside me, Olivia looked miserable. I kept trying to herd her away to check on her, but it was difficult to manage the throng.

“Auntie, why don’t you show him the fireplace Papa built?” Rolando suggested, but I held up a finger.

“If you don’t mind, I need a moment.” I said it to be polite, but I was firm enough that I managed to step away and gently loop my arm through Olivia’s. “Step into the hall with me?” I tried to ask lightly, so she didn’t panic, and quiet enough that not everyone within our vicinity instantly knew something was up.

She nodded, face pale. As soon as we were alone, I pulled her into my arms. It only lasted a moment, though, because Rolando popped his head around the corner and asked the question I was about to.

“Everything okay?”

Olivia shook her head against my chest. “They weren’t all supposed to be here.”

“I know, I know. Do you want to go? I don’t mind pretending to be sick,” I offered.

Her eyes went wide. She and Rolando exchanged a look I didn’t understand, like they were afraid people could hear my plot. But I was whispering, so unless the place was bugged, I doubted they could.

“No. We’re already here, so let’s get this over with. This is exactly what I was afraid of. My family can be a lot.”

She was so quiet that I could barely hear her even with her pressed against me. I nodded along. I wasn’t going to call her paranoid for being worried about being overheard, but it was pinging a whole lot of red flags in my mind.

“It’s okay. A lot or a little, they’re yours, and I’m happy to be here.”

She took another couple of deep breaths, then looked up at me with those gorgeous, amber eyes of hers. “Thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I assured.

“Oh, I worry, baby. I worry.”

I chuckled softly as I kissed her forehead. “It’s gonna be okay. I’m chill, I promise.”