Chapter 19

The following day, Graham drove me back from school.

After football practice, he surprised me when he changed into a different set of clothes.

“You’re taking this meeting with my parents very seriously,” I eyed his jeans and white button-down shirt. The muscles of his arms stretched against the material. My eyes lingered there, drinking in the defined muscles.

“Of course,” he said, adjusting his cuff. “I don’t half-ass anything.”

I smiled, stepping toward him and adjusting his neck. “You look amazing.” I ran my hands down his chest, and he raised his eyebrows playfully.

“Try to keep your hands to yourself, Miller,” his husky voice caused a shudder down my spine. “I don’t want to scandalize your parents—yet—with your vulgar behavior. Besides, remember, we are friends in your mother’s eyes.”

I laughed, throwing my head back.

He helped me into his car and drove us to my house. When we parked, Graham kissed me before grabbing sunflowers and a football ball from the back seat.

I studied them. “You came ready. You really want them to like you.”

He winked at me and grabbed my hand, but I stopped, removed my hand from his, and shot him a meaningful look. He shook his head at my behavior but nodded for me to go ahead. I was actually mourning the limitation in our interactions.

No touching, no lingering looks, or flirty smiles. This was why I didn’t lie—it was exhausting keeping the lie alive and credible.

“Miller, friends who come to meet parents and bring gifts aren’t ~just friends~,” he said. “They’ll know.”

I frowned at him. I didn’t know the protocol. My parents had only met Jacob and I’d forewarned them about our relationship status. I hesitated. “Maybe you should leave the gifts in the car.”

“No way, babe. I’m making a good first impression. The best first impression ever. I want them praying every night that you manage to seduce me and rob my heart.”

I laughed.

Graham brushed past me and rang the door. I threw him wide eyes and opened the door with my key. He mouthed something about manners. I opened the door and yelled for my parents.

“Mom? Dad?”

Mom showed up from the kitchen and smiled at Graham. She seemed surprised when she saw him. Probably not what she expected as my new friend: a huge, muscular guy with a disarming smile. Every inch was irresistible.

“Hi—” Mom began when Dad appeared from the living room, a wide smile on his face.

“St. Claire, right?” Dad extended his hand. “It’s a pleasure meeting you. I’m a huge football fan.”

“Good taste, sir,” Graham nodded. “I brought this for you.”

He handed the signed ball to my father, who gaped at him.

“It’s signed by my father and his team back in the day,” Graham explained.

Dad nodded, accepting the gift gladly. “Yes. Thank you, son.” Dad tilted his head. “It wasn’t necessary.”

I blinked back at my father. Did he call Graham ~son~? He’d never done that with Jacob.

“It was nothing,” Graham brushed it off. Turning to my mother, he smiled charmingly. “These are for you, ma’am.” He passed her the sunflowers.

Mom put a hand to her chest, touched by the gesture. “Oh, aren’t you thoughtful? I’m sorry, we weren’t introduced.”

“Mom, he’s Graham,” I introduced him, speaking for the first time.

Mom smiled back at Graham, and then she shot me a look I couldn’t decipher.

When Dad started to discuss football with Graham, I knew he had managed to charm my father first; though, from the slight blush on Mom’s cheeks, I didn’t believe she was far behind in liking him.

***

Dinner went well.

Graham joked with my father about football while Mom and I frowned, not understanding anything. Then Graham complimented my mother’s cooking and she blushed.

When it was time to leave, Graham stood up.

“Honey,” Mom started. “Show Graham to the door.”

Graham moved to shake Dad’s hand and grinned at Mom, bowing his head. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Miller. Mr. Miller.”

“The pleasure was ours,” Dad admitted earnestly. Dad took a photo with Graham, proclaiming Graham was going to be a legend too. Of course, Dad was more than glad to meet him.

I led Graham to the exit, and he put a hand on my lower back, whispering over my shoulder. “That went great. Thank the in-laws for having such a beautiful daughter.”

I shivered and rolled my eyes. I was a bit too focused on his hands. He’d managed to keep his hands to himself all night.

When we reached the door, I opened it and smiled at him.

“Thanks for coming.” ~And for not freaking out or ditching me.~

Graham’s arm landed on the wall next to my head. He lifted his other one, boxing me in. I slumped against the wall as he leaned toward me.

“Thanks for inviting me.”

I gulped, smiling weakly. “Have a good night, Graham.”

“You too, baby,” he said but didn’t move. He kept looking me in the eye, expecting something.

“Uh, Graham…”

“Baby…” He grinned, amused.

“Not to sound rude, but…” I cleared my throat. “It’s getting really late.”

He nodded. “I’m not leaving before a goodnight kiss.”

I blushed. I thought we’d fooled my parents into thinking everything was platonic. For now. I was scared my parents were eavesdropping on us or could walk in on us in this position.

I grabbed Graham’s arm and pulled him outside, closing the door behind us. I lifted to my tiptoes and kissed his cheek quickly. I smiled at him before stepping back to retreat home, but Graham took my waist and stopped me.

“Hold on there, baby,” he whispered against my face. My heart pummeled hard in my throat. “You call that a goodnight kiss?”

Those were the goodnight kisses I gave Jacob whenever he came to dinner at my house. “Well, yes—”

Graham grabbed my hair to keep my face secured before he kissed me hard, pressing our bodies together. I felt his chest against my curves and his semi-hard cock against my stomach. His other hand tugged my ass possessively. His mouth laced with my tongue until I was breathless. He grunted as he pressed us closer.

The kiss was indecent for the front porch.

Once he moved back, I was red from head to toe.

“Tomorrow, ten p.m.,” he said, breathless.

I frowned.

“Be ready by then. I’m picking you up,” he explained, yet I remained confused.

“Ten p.m.?” I asked again. He had to be mistaken.

“Yes.”

“What for?”

“A date,” he answered. “Be ready.”

He kissed me one last time, softer this time, before leaving me stupefied. My stomach was giddy and knotting.

A date? A date tomorrow at ten p.m.? Were we going to the movies? Wouldn’t it be too late? Besides, it was a school night, and I couldn’t stay late. I had to wake up early the next day.

I decided not to protest since he was gone, but the next day at school I was going to speak seriously about it. We should move our date to Friday, at least.

I shook my head before reentering my home.

It took a few seconds to sink in. It would be our first official date.

A huge grin spread across my cheeks.