Find Me (The Found Duet #2)(56)
Author: Laurelin Paige

“It’s fine,” I said, echoing her earlier statement, including the weary subtext. “Everything’s going to be fine.” I turned back to JC and attempted to look on the bright side. “You’ll get to meet my sister.”

“Do you want me to keep your ring in my pocket?” he asked quietly so that Alayna wouldn’t hear.

“No!” Except, if I wasn’t going to tell anyone about our engagement—and with Chandler present, it probably was best not to—then I did need to hide the evidence. I didn’t want to part with the ring, though, so I shifted it from my left hand to my right and turned the stone into my palm, hoping that would conceal it for now. “I’m still deciding what I want to do,” I explained, “but I can’t really stand the idea of taking it off.”

He nodded in understanding. “I can’t really stand the idea of you taking it off either.”

“Are you going to hover over there all night,” Ben shouted across the room, “or are you going to join us?”

No running away now. I took a deep breath, and with my hand tightly clamped to JC’s, I entered the lion’s den.

Introductions went better than I could have hoped, everyone welcoming despite any underlying tension they may have picked up on.

Ben pounced on us first. “So, is this still the same date that I helped my sister get ready for a day ago?”

“Nope. Second date.” My blush said otherwise. Thankfully no one mentioned it.

Ben clapped JC on the back. “Second date! I’m impressed. You must be a good man. Not many people can stand her for more than twenty minutes.”

“Ha ha.” I stuck my tongue out at him for good measure.

“I’m not sure if I’d call me a good man.” JC swept his gaze over to me. “I’d say lucky. Very, very lucky.”

Hudson was next in the lineup. He welcomed JC to his home with a sturdy handshake and offered him a drink that was declined.

Mira rolled her eyes at JC’s hand, pulling him into a hug instead as she mouthed to me over his shoulder, “Hot!”

Adam, who I discovered was several years older than his wife, had been at Yale at the same time JC had, and the two spent several minutes reminiscing about campus life.

Norma took the opportunity to sneak in a word with me. “I would have called to warn you, but Alayna said she already had.”

“She did. I didn’t get the message. It’s fine.”

She nodded at my fiancé. “Things are good then?”

“Yes. Very good. I’m so glad you finally get to meet him. And you brought Boyd?” I hoped that meant their relationship was out in the open now.

“It’s not as exciting as you think,” she said, guessing my thoughts. “Hudson said I had to keep appearances for the staff, which we did on the cruise yesterday. Tonight I said fuck it. Hudson hasn’t said a word about it being a problem yet, so fingers crossed.”

“So both the Anders girls are causing drama tonight. Fabulous.” Noticing a break in the Yale conversation, I jumped in. “JC, I want you to meet my sister, Norma. She hates it when I say that she’s practically my mother, because she’s much too young for that, but I say it anyway because, one, I like to annoy her, and, two, it’s true.”

“Then you’re the one I need to impress.” JC shook her hand, using the same intimate gesture he had with Laynie. “I’m not sure I have the best reputation in the Anders household, but I assure you, I’m in love with your sister, and I promise to do everything I can to honor her from now on.”

Norma raised her eyebrow in a way that I knew meant she was impressed. “I’m extremely glad to hear that, JC. I don’t think I need to tell you what that means to me. Gwen is the strongest woman I know, but she’s still very breakable.”

It was a warning that simultaneously irritated and moved me.

“Trust me. I’m fully aware of what she is,” he said, his eyes locked with Norma’s.

They exchanged a look that seemed to indicate that they’d reached some sort of silent understanding. I’d been half kidding when I’d said she was my mother, but Jesus, she was certainly filling the role.

“Okay, okay. Enough bonding.” I tugged JC away and regretted it immediately. Because when we turned from Norma, Chandler was waiting.

“Justin,” Chandler said, even though I’d introduced him as JC. “I’ve been wanting to meet you.” He offered his hand, his eyes narrowed as he sized up the man he surely saw as competition.

JC accepted his hand. “Chandler, is it? Yes. I think Gwen may have mentioned you.” His tone was layered with condescension.