Have you read Idol AU yet? This is a bonus scene best enjoyed after reading the book. You can read Idol AU here.
Rowan
As always with first meetings, especially ones pertaining to my family, chaos is imminent. And if we add on the goblin that is my loving boyfriend, then I don’t expect to walk out of Raina’s house without it feeling like I’ve tackled a hurricane.
“Do you think they’ll like me?” Milo asks in my passenger seat. He’s nibbled on his bottom lip until it’s a kissable red. Thank god, he didn’t break skin, because we’re already in my sister’s driveway, and I didn’t bring any ointment for him.
I unbuckle my seat belt and turn to him. Milo does the same and finds my hand. My touch seems to help, and Milo releases his poor abused lip from between his teeth. He relaxes, and it’s like a shot straight to my heart.
I hate seeing him stressed like this, but knowing that my touch can help ease him so quickly is a powerful feeling. Not in a power trip kind of way, but powerful in the fact that he finds comfort in me.
I’m becoming his safe space, and I’m protecting him like I vowed I’d do.
Bringing his hand to my lips to kiss his fingertips, I tell him, “They’re going to love you for the simple fact that I love you, and that you tolerate being in my presence.”
His grays crinkle, as I hope they would. “Being with you isn’t really a hardship,” he says lightly. “It’s the exact opposite, in fact. It’s more like you putting up with me. I’m not too delusional to know that I can be a handful.”
I frown. “The only handful thing about you is the way your ass fits in my hand.”
Milo snorts, but the corner of his lips twitch in a smile. “I’m being serious here.”
“So am I”—I press another kiss to his fingertips—”They’re going to love you, babe. In fact, Reagan is going to be all over you, and soon you’ll forget all about little ‘ol me.”
“You’re pretty hard to forgot, and there is nothing little about you.” His grays darken to a sizzling heat that lights my body on fire.
“Don’t get me worked up when the masses are about to descend upon us,” I say huskily. As soon as the words leave my mouth, I spot two heads peeking through the slightly ajar front door. Identical faces peer back at me with sparkling eyes. “Speak of the devils.”
Milo looks over to them and gives the twins a little wave.
I can’t hear them from inside the car, but I can just imagine their squeals that probably rivals the pitch of jubilant dogs. From what I know, Roana isn’t Milo’s “number one fan” like Reagan is, but the twins have always been close despite their constant bickering. If one twin liked something, the other is more than happy to share in their joy.
“You ready to face the music?” I ask Milo.
He smirks. “Music is my language. It’ll be a piece of cake,” he teases.
I chuckle.
I’m reminded of my conversation with Price when he first explained the bodyguard trail period with Milo. He’d said it’d be a piece of cake for me to land the job, and he wasn’t wrong in that aspect. I just don’t think he considered how easily I’d give my heart to Milo as well.
With one last kiss to his fingertips, we exit the car and meet up in front of it. Milo’s hand immediately finds mine, his grip on me is tight, but his smile is brilliant as he faces my nieces, who have found their way to us.
“Wow, I can’t believe you’re here! When Uncle Rowan told us you were coming, I didn’t really believe him. Because you dating him?”
“Hey!” I protest at the verbal jab. “And didn’t we agree you two would be chill and normal teenagers tonight?”
“What even is a normal teenager?” Reagan asks. Roana nods her agreement.
I pause, because good point, but they don’t need to know that.
“It’s you not putting strange ideas into my boyfriend’s head about being with me,” I grumble and lightly flick them both on their foreheads.
In sync, they dramatically cover the spot I flicked and complained about the pain. It’s a little eerily when they do the twin thing and move as if they’re one. I suspect they know it freaks us out and now do it on purpose just to mess with us.
Reagan is the first to recover and grabs Milo’s free hand. “They’re all really excited to meet you! Uncle Ruben even came on time today! But he’s still on Mom’s shit list for dumping cake on her rug, so don’t even think about sneaking him dessert.”
Milo shoots me a confused look, and I just shake my head. “My sister Raina is the warmest out of all of us, but you’ll learn really quick she’s the one who runs the entire clan. It’s best not to get on her shit list, so no dessert for Ruben even if he begs.”
“Duly noted. And I’ll remember not to dirty her rugs,” Milo teases with a smirk that tells me he’s going to fit right in with the family.
Milo
“Do you think milk or cereal should go in the bowl first? Uncle Rowan insists milk goes first, and well, we all know he’s wrong, isn’t he?” Reagan says with a tongue out to Rowan.
I gasp in mock horror. “Milk before the cereal? Maybe I do have to rethink this relationship, Rowan,” I tease.
Rowan chuckles to himself and shakes his head. I can see the good humor in his eyes.
“I’m afraid you’re stuck with me now,” he says and pops a loud kiss to my cheek in front of his entire family.
The others laugh and tease him about being all mushy and out of character. Rowan seems to preen under their accusation and only pulls me closer to his side, which makes me feel all mushy inside.
The entire family is close, that’s for sure, and it’s easy to see where he gets his nurturing side.
Minus the physical appearance, Rowan is the most like his eldest sister Raina, who is a total sweetheart, like he’d said. She’d greeted me with a giant hug that was all gentle warmth and coziness that I hadn’t known I’ve been craving.
Rowan hugs me, as do Ray and Ethel, but this is completely different. It’s the warmth of a mother and of being accepted into the family despite it being our first meeting.
The hug had caused a stir of jealousy among the twins, which had led to giant hug pile with me at the center of it all.
Being in the middle of a group of giants? Not gonna lie, it was a little terrifying but a blast overall.
Besides the initial excitement of meeting a celebrity for the first time, the twins’ interest in me turns more into curiosity for the person their uncle is dating. They adore Rowan and have spent the last hour asking me everything, including and not limited to what my intentions are for their uncle, and if I’m serious about the relationship.
It feels like the entire room goes silent at the question. All ears perk up awaiting my answer, and Rowen immediately comes to my defense.
“You don’t have to answer that.” He turns to glare at the twins. “I think we need a reminder of what questions are appropriate.”
The twins deflate a bit under their uncle’s chastising.
“It’s okay,” I tell Rowan. “I’m not afraid to tell them the truth.” Turning to the twins, I continue, “Truth is, music is my first love. Always has been, and for the longest time, I thought nothing else would come close to it, that is until Rowan.”
A collective awww rings through the room, and the others don’t even bother pretending like they’re not listening in anymore. All eyes are on me, but I can only focus on the hazels that glow warm gold and peaceful blue as he looks at me.
“Music is my first love, but you’re my last, Rowan. And I want to make music and do all the crazy things with you by my side.”
The room goes silent—and much like it often does when I’m with him—it’s just Rowan and me. Nothing else exists as I get lost in those beautiful eyes of his. Our hands find each other’s, and Rowan pulls me in for a sweet much-too-chaste-for-my-tastes kiss that ends all too soon.
“I love you,” he whispers. His words burrow its way deep into my heart, making me think once again how lucky I am that Rowan found his way to me.
“You hear that? The psycho’s in love,” Rowan’s second oldest sister, Riley, says. Her tone is flat and even, but despite the lack of teasing in her voice, I know she’s doing just that.
“I think it’s cute,” Troy says. As Rowan’s best friend and brother-in-law, I can’t tell if he’s also teasing or genuine in his statement.
Rowan rolls his eyes and tries to give them both a subtle middle finger by pretending to scratch his ear.
Riley snorts, and Troy just shakes his head and tops up his wife’s wine glass. Raina accepts the glass and shoots Rowan a glare, probably disapproving the middle finger around her kids.
“Our little baby is finally all grown up,” Ruben, Rowan’s only brother, says and pretends to wipe away tears from his eyes.
“Funny, considering you still act like the baby of the family,” Raina mutters.
“Aw, c’mon. It was an accident. You can’t stay mad at me forever.”
“Watch me.”
“Are you really not going to give me any of tonight’s chocolate cake? It’s my favorite,” Ruben asks with a pout.
“I know,” Raina says with a smirk that’s all motherly warmth, yet looks chillingly evil at this moment. “It’s why I got it.”
The twins snicker, and Rowan shakes his head and whispers into my ear, “Better he takes the heat than me.”
I chuckle and turn to face him. “What? You don’t like professing your love to me in front of your family?”
Some pink creeps up to the tips of his ears. “I could do without the commentary from Riley. Honestly, I thought I was a psycho by how much I was bothered by you when we first met.”
“Bothered in a bad way or…?”
“Bad for my professionalism, definitely. But I was captured by you, Milo. The moment I laid eyes on you, it’s like something clicked. The thing that’s been missing in my life, it’s you.”
My cheeks hurt from smiling. “Do you believe in soulmates?” I ask.
Rowan takes a minute to think before shooting out a blunt, “No.” Before my smile can even falter, he continues, “But if there was such a thing in this world, I think you’d be mine, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
There’s no way I wouldn’t throw myself at him after that confession. Rowan is quick to react and catches me on his lap.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way either,” I murmur and press our foreheads together.
Rowan chuckles. “Even if it means I come with a ridiculous family?”
I look around the noisy dining room. The twins are whispering quietly to each other and giggling while glancing at Ruben, who was currently persuading—or more like begging—Raina to give him back his dessert privileges. Riley flicks Ruben on the forehead and taunts his futile attempts. I’m starting to think teasing is Riley’s love language.
Raina and Troy are laughing at their siblings. Raina catches my eye and smiles at me like I’m one of her own.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I repeat.
Rowan beams and presses a quick kiss to my lips. It’s all he has time for before Ruben somehow comes crashing our way, pulling Rowan and me from the chair. I land in a very familiar position on top of Rowan. He’s holding me carefully in his arms as if to protect me, but his eyes are laser focused on his brother.
After making sure I’m okay and guiding me to my chair, Rowan takes menacing steps towards Ruben.
“Sorry, bro. You know it was an accident, right?” Ruben says with his hands out in front of him. Rowan doesn’t stop and continues making his way to his retreating brother. Then we’re all laughing as we watch Rowan try and catch Ruben.
“And that’s Ruben for ya,” Riley deadpans, which causes another bout of laughter in the group.
Reagan slides into the seat beside mine and starts chattering my ear off regarding the latest celebrity gossip she heard from who-knows-where. I listen to her intently and watch Rowan and Ruben’s sudden arm wrestling match out of the corner of my eye.
It’s been so long since I had this. A room full of people who loved each other without strings attached. A sense of belonging to more than one person for a small block of time out of the day. And someone who holds my heart as preciously as he regards the people he loves deeply.
Rowan wins the arm wrestling match and catches my eye with his. A swirl of calm green meets me, and I know, with him, I’m finally home.
I’m going to miss these boys sooo much!! I hope you loved them!!
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