Deflected Hearts: Chapter 18

Riding back home the next morning has my stomach in my throat. With August’s parents in town, it only made sense to have them come to my parents’ house for dinner this evening. My mother was ecstatic. She has been dealing with my pregnant ass for long enough, she’s just happy to have everyone else involved. Especially August, even though I know she would like to get to know him better.

I’m nervous to meet his parents, since I’ve never met them before. And it’s a little awkward meeting them now when I’m already pregnant. There’s a part of me that wishes I would have had the opportunity to meet them before, but we weren’t an exclusive thing then. August wouldn’t bring a girl home that he was just messing around with.

From what August has already told me, it seems like he has told them a lot about me. And they already know I’m pregnant and are excited about it. Isla made sure to tell me that their mother is beside herself, already planning their move closer to us, even though their father doesn’t want to move.

It warms my heart, knowing our child will have so many people involved in its life that love it. That doesn’t calm my nerves at all, though. I won’t feel better until after we get the awkwardness of meeting over and hopefully settle into a comfortable conversation. I’ve never had an issue with first impressions, but it’s a little different in this situation.

This isn’t just meeting my boyfriend’s family… it’s meeting the family that will be in my child’s life.

“You okay?” August asks, his expression soft as his eyes find mine. He turns to face me, his hand resting on my thigh as we sit in the back seat of Isla’s car.

Nodding, I swallow back my anxiety and offer him a small smile. “Just a little nervous for this afternoon.”

August’s grin spreads across his face, his eyes lighting up as they stare directly through mine. “You have nothing to worry about, baby,” he breathes, his breath warm on my skin as he leans forward and presses his lips to my forehead. “They already love you and haven’t met you yet. Trust me when I say you’re already part of the family.”

Isla glances over her shoulder from the passenger seat, her hand in Logan’s as he drives her car down the freeway. “Our mom has been talking nonstop about meeting you, Poppy. Just be prepared, she might be a little overbearing, meeting her golden child’s girlfriend.”

Logan chokes out a laugh, attempting to cover it up as he forces out a fake cough. August chuckles, shaking his head as he glances at his sister. Her eyes are on his, narrowed with irritation. First it was directed at Logan and now it’s toward August. I feel like there’s something I’m missing and I hope it doesn’t have anything to do with me.

“Don’t mind her,” August whispers to me, winking as he looks back at his sister with a smile. “Isla’s just jealous that I’ve always been Mom’s favorite.”

“Bullshit,” she mumbles, shaking her head in disapproval. “The only reason you’re the favorite is because you just had to follow in Dad’s footsteps. If you weren’t his little hockey prodigy, they wouldn’t have had their worlds centered around yours.”

The air in the car is tense and I shift uncomfortably in my seat. A fluttering feeling ripples inside my stomach and I place my hand over it instinctively as I look between August and Isla.

“Whoa,” Logan warns Isla, glancing at her as he switches lanes. “Just calm down, babe.”

She looks at Logan and sighs, her shoulders sagging as she dials back her irritation. Turning around in her seat, she glances at me, a sympathetic smile on her face. “I’m sorry, Poppy,” she says softly, her eyes searching mine. “I’ve had a lot going on lately between my parents and I, and I didn’t mean to take it out on August in front of you like that.”

“She’s family now, Isla,” August interjects, his hand squeezing my thigh. “If you’re going to let your bitchy side come out, I think she can take it.”

“August. Just shut up?” Logan glances at him through the rearview mirror. “You know your parents aren’t thrilled with her decision to major in fine art. You’re not exactly helping the situation here.”

“You’ve never dealt with their disappointment,” Isla practically whispers, her eyes burning holes through August’s. “I’ve been dealing with it most of my life.”

August grows tense beside me for a moment before he releases the breath he was holding. “I’m sorry, Isla,” he tells her, his voice soft and gentle. “They’re not disappointed in you, they just want to make sure that you’re doing what is in your best interest.”

“And that has nothing to do with what makes me happy, does it?”

They’re caught up in an intense stare-down as the tension in the air grows thicker. It’s suffocating and I resist the urge to put down my window to let some oxygen wash it out. There’s a tug on my heart and I find myself missing my sister in this moment. I remember the arguments with Evie, the disputes like what August and Isla are having right now.

I wish Evie was here to talk to right now. If she were in the car, she would know exactly what to say to diffuse the situation—to make it less awkward. Evie always knew how to make everyone smile, even when they were having the worst day. That was the charm of her good side, the side of her that wasn’t intent on destroying everything.

“You good?” August’s voice probes my eardrum, drawing me out of my thoughts as I glance over to him. His eyes search mine with concern, but he doesn’t voice it in front of everyone. “I’m sorry if our arguing bothered you.”

“You get used to it,” Logan offers from the front seat, a soft chuckle falling from his lips. “These two argue like a married couple and then it blows over two seconds later. Just ignore them—that’s what I do.”

Isla lightly punches his shoulder as August shakes his head, the lilt of his laughter wrapping itself around me. “You’re supposed to be on my side, Logan Knight.”

“Another tip,” Logan tells me, smiling as he pretends to ignore Isla. “Never pick sides when it comes to either of them because the one you don’t choose will never let you live it down.”

Everyone falls into an easy laughter, the sound filling the car and banishing the awkwardness that hung heavily after their little argument. We continue our journey home with August’s hand in mine and the lightness filling my heart. This is how I want things to be—easy—but I know that will never happen… not with August Whitley.

We arrive at my parents’ house before August and Isla’s parents arrive. They called Isla when we were getting closer that they were still an hour out. The thought brought me relief because it gives me some time to prepare to meet them. My mom and August can also get better acquainted before his parents come too.

As we walk into the house, the soft hum from the TV comes from the living room and the aroma of dinner floats down the hall. We all file inside, August carrying my bag from the night with him. He sets it down on the floor by the stairs and everyone kicks off their shoes as my mother comes strolling into the foyer.

“Hey, Mom,” I say softly when I see her, and she pauses in front of us, wiping her hands on her apron with a smile on her face. “You remember August. This is his sister, Isla, and her boyfriend, Logan.”

My mother smiles at the three of them, extending her hand to shake theirs. “It’s so nice to meet the two of you. I’m Claudia.”

“It’s so nice to meet you,” Isla offers, shaking her hand after Logan does. “You have a lovely home and whatever you’re making smells amazing.”

August steps forward, overshadowing his sister, per usual. “Is there anything we can do to help you?”

I swear, my mother swoons at him before looking over at me. “Come along. I’ll put the three of you to work.”

Rolling my eyes, a soft laughter falls from my lips as Isla and Logan follow after her into the kitchen. August hangs back with me for a moment, his hand finding the small of my back as we begin to walk through the foyer together.

“I’m going to let your mom give them some jobs and then I want to talk to her, if that’s okay with you?”

Swallowing roughly over the emotion and anxiety that wells in my throat, I nod slowly. “What did you want to talk to her about?” My mother already expressed her desire to speak with August, but this is the first time he’s said anything about it. He’s the one who’s taking the initiative.

He pauses just outside the kitchen, his hand finding my arm as he pulls me to a stop and turns me to face him. Towering over me, I have to tilt my head back to look into his eyes and he’s staring at me intently. “I want her to know my intentions with you. I’ve never done this before, but I need her to know that you are safe with me. That I will do everything to take care of you and the baby.”

August’s hands find the sides of my face and he gently cups my cheeks, stroking my skin with the pads of his fingers. “Trust me, Poppy. I got you.”

Nodding, a smile tugs at the corners of my lips as I pull away from him, sliding my hand into his as we walk into the kitchen. My mom already has Logan washing dishes in the sink and Isla is helping her load different trays into the oven.

August leads me over to the island in the center of the kitchen, his hand leaving mine as he wraps his arm around the top of my shoulders. His lips are soft as he plants a kiss on the side of my head before meeting my mother’s gaze across the room.

“Mrs. Vance,” he says softly as he pulls away from me and walks closer to her. “Can we talk for a minute?”

“Of course.” Her voice is warm and the smile on her lips lights up her eyes. She takes off her apron and hangs it on the back of one of the chairs. “Please, call me Claudia. And let’s go talk in the den,” she offers, motioning for him to follow her.

I watch as the two of them disappear into the hall and make their way to the den. Isla is watching after them with a look of curiosity in her eyes. “August wants to talk to her about us and the baby. Since she doesn’t really know him, he wants to reassure her.”

Isla smiles, nodding. “Good,” she muses, glancing over at Logan who is also smiling like a proud parent. “It’s about time he does the right thing.”

Benjamin comes walking into the kitchen and I introduce him to the two of them. He and Logan fall into an easy conversation as he questions Logan about hockey. Benjamin has never been one for hockey, but he knows how to keep the conversation flowing and appears interested in everything Logan tells him.

Just as Isla and I settle on the chairs surrounding the island, the sound of the doorbell ringing echoes through the house. Isla’s eyes meet mine, a smile slowly tugging at the corners of her lips.

“I hope you’re ready to meet the parents, because they’re here.”

Smiling back at her, it doesn’t quite reach my eyes as my heart pounds anxiously inside my chest. I’m not ready, but there’s no better time than the present, right?