Gabriel’s new, black, electric Ferrari is as quiet as a feather floating across the ground as we glide up to his grandparent’s home in Buckhead. He parks and strolls around to help me out. I’m sitting here dutifully waiting while I stare at the green expanse of lawn that leads to their beautiful and enormous house. Taking his hand I stand up but can’t take my eyes off their front door. It’s open and people are walking inside, a few waving to him and calling out, “Hi Gabriel!”

“That’s my Grandpa’s sister, Marie. She’s married to him, Don, who used to own the construction company…You know what. Fuck it.” He leads me to the driveway so we don’t walk on this bright green, expertly trimmed grass. “Don’t even try to memorize their names today. Too fucking many. Just smile and nod.”

Laughing under my breath from nerves and a strong desire to run, I tell him, “I’m glad you suggested the long summer dress. If I’d worn the knee-length one I’d feel more…exposed. Especially after what we just did.”

He kisses my fingers. “You look beautiful.”

“You’re not going to punch Ben, are you?”

Gabriel’s eyes flicker. “I said I wouldn’t.”

“But why won’t you promise?”

“Because I don’t want to break it.”

Tugging on his fingers I try to impress upon him that I really need this to go smoothly, but he ignores my signal and goes to hug his sister. She smiles at me and comes in for a hug. “I was just holding Kaya and I told my husband I can’t wait anymore. I need one!”

Smiling I agree, “Kaya’s so cute, Hannah. I don’t blame you.”

Gabriel’s still got the edge in his voice as he asks, “Ben here?”

She answers no, without noticing the tension. Her mind is still full of rattles and strollers. “We’ve been trying but it just hasn’t happened yet.”

Gabriel’s intense grip is stopping the blood in my fingers. Smiling with a hint of pain I say, “It’ll happen for you guys. Don’t worry, Hannah. Maybe the worrying is stopping the flow of energy.” I glance to my boyfriend who doesn’t get the message.

“Ben’s not here yet?” he asks again.

Hannah frowns, “No, if you want to see him so badly why don’t you call and ask where he is.”

“Because he doesn’t return fucking phone calls!” Gabriel barks, tugging me inside.

Hannah calls after us, “What the hell was that?”

“He’s hungry,” I tell her over my shoulder. “Just have to get him some of that amazing chili he keeps telling me about.”

He’s not looking for food. What he’s really doing is searching the house just in case she was wrong. But as I’m introduced to cousins, aunts and uncles, Gabriel’s hand relaxes and his smile comes easily again.

Here he isn’t the celebrity he is with the general public. His family treats him like the boy they grew up with, and I can’t get enough of his laugh as they give him a hard time. He volleys back their joking insults, but with his aunts he shows nothing but respect.

They’re such a great family, so filled with humor, that my nerves disappear and I’m laughing more often than not, completely forgetting that I’m new here. They open their arms to me in a way that’s kind of amazing.

As Max, Caden and Gabriel are huddled together talking about who knows what, Mrs. Cocker brings me a glass that looks like a smokier lemonade, a knowing smile on her strikingly beautiful face. “You have to try this. It’s legendary.”

Taking a sip I react, “Mmmm! Oh my God, what is it?”

“Nancy’s fresh ginger-ale. There are stories that Jason used to drink it all before anyone could have some. He would hide the pitcher!”

“Sounds like Gabriel. He steals food from my plate all the time!”

With her usual poise she covers a mother’s curiosity. “So how are things going with you two?”

“He’s wonderful, Mrs. Cocker.”

“Are you thinking of moving in together soon?”

“Um…I just found another job and I want to wait a little while so we don’t rush.”

I can tell this impresses her. “Hmm,” she smiles and pauses as she hears her husband calling her name. “Near the base of the porch, Justin!”

He strolls down the three steps, eyeing his son and nephews as he walks to join us. “Paige, what do you think of the house I grew up in?”

“It’s beautiful. I love that it’s not a museum.”

He cocks his head. “How’s that?”

Self-conscious, I slowly explain, “Um…from the outside it looks very intimidating, but inside it’s cozy and homey. Like you and your brothers didn’t have to worry about breaking something and getting in trouble. There was room for you to be boys.”

Huffing through his nose he glances to his wife. “Insightful, this one.”

Mrs. Cocker nods and mutters from behind her glass, “Thank God Gabriel didn’t bring home a trashy groupie.”

Justin laughs and shows us that amazing smile again, the one I glimpsed in the hospital room. I think because it’s so rare it has an even greater impact. But then he locks eyes with me and asks, “How’s your brother?”

My heart quickens as I glance down for a second. “He went to a couple meetings, but he’s out again.”

Mr. Cocker nods, lips tightening in thought as he glances to his family. “Well, that’s improvement. Let’s just pray that he finds his way back in the rooms soon.” I give him a grateful smile before he walks away to yell at his brother, “Jason, what the fuck are you doing with all that corn bread?”

“Language!” comes a shockingly loud yet genteel southern drawl.

Gabriel hurries over. “Oh shit, I forgot to introduce you to Grams.” He takes his mother’s glass from her hands and downs it, handing it back to her. “Thanks, Mom.”

She and I exchange a shocked look. “Gabriel! The whole thing! I thought you’d just take a sip!”

He gives her a lopsided smile. “When have I ever had just a sip?” Taking my hand he guides me away but not before I hand my glass to her and she gives me the empty one. “Hey!” he cries out.

“I’ve got your back, Mrs. Cocker!”

“Thank you, Paige,” she laughs.

Gabriel grumbles, “Gonna have to come up with some new tactics,” as he guides me to a sweet old lady sitting atop two cushions on the long bench. “Grams, this is my future wife, Paige Miller.”

“Oh my Gosh,” I mumble, embarrassed at his bold announcement. He does these things just to watch me squirm. “Hi, Mrs. Cocker. We’re not officially engaged.”

“Call me Grams. Everybody does.” She shakes my hand with fragile fingers, a sharp gleam in her eyes. “Paige, do you know what you’re getting into with this one?”

“Yes. Unfortunately.”

The inspection she’s giving me melts into a warm smile. “Oh good, she’s witty. She can stay.”

Gabriel laughs with me, but his is louder and very proud. I didn’t know it until now, but his heart needed her to say that. “Grams is the reason we’re all here. She and my great grandpa Jerald fell in love during World War II.”

“Wow,” I breathe, eyes wide. “Are you a vampire? Your skin is amazing!”

Her cheeks flush light pink and she touches her chest. “Well, aren’t you sweet.” To Gabriel she smiles, “I think she meant that!”

“She did.” He winks and squeezes my hand. “Paige is a little too honest.”

“Well then I will take that compliment home with me! Oh look, Ben is here! And he brought a date, too! What a lucky day we’re having.”

Gabriel and I turn our heads.

Ben is strolling out to join everyone in the backyard. His hand is clasped with Shelby’s.