131. Nate

ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE

NATE

Beside me, Rosie tenses, her fingernails digging into my forearm.

I flex my arm, pinning her wrist to my side, trying to give her comfort without making it obvious.

"Mind if we join you?" I smile at my parents.

My mom makes a squeal of excitement, not having noticed our approach. But then she and Dad are pushing their chairs back to stand.

The other couple, a little older than my parents, also rise. And I recognize them but can't quite place them.

Mom grabs my cheeks, and I'm forced to let go of Rosie as she pulls me down to her much shorter height.

"My baby," she coos as I hug her.

"Hi, Mom."

She pats my back, then releases me, only to squeeze my cheeks again. "It's been too long."

"That's enough now. Let the boy go." Dad shoulders in between us, giving me his signature bear hug.

Unlike my mom, Dad is nearly my height, and when he pats my back, it knocks some of the air out of my lungs.

"Hey, Dad." I keep my arm around his shoulder as I angle away, reaching my other hand out to Rosie's shoulder. "This is Rosie. Rosie, my parents."

Rosie looks a little pale, and I wonder if my idea of familial affection is going to have the opposite effect. But it's too late to go back, because Mom is already stepping into Rosie's personal space, pulling her into a hug.

The move dislodges my hand from Rosie's shoulder, and I can see her tense, but she still makes an effort to embrace my mom in return. And it melts even more of my heart.

"So good to finally meet you, honey." Mom steps back just a bit, then grips Rosie's upper arms. "You're so pretty."

A puff of air leaves Rosie, and I know I need to rescue her. "I know, Mom, I've been telling you." I reach out and tuck Rosie into my side.

My dad holds his hand out. "Nice to meet you, young lady."

Rosie puts her palm in his, and Dad gives her one of his wide grins as they shake hands.

"Nate here won't shut up about you," he tells her as he lets go of her hand.

"Yeah, yeah. She already knows I'm obsessed with her." I shake my head. "No point in trying to embarrass me."

Mom gestures to the other woman as she steps around the table. "You remember Mr. and Mrs. Rooney?"

Once Mom says the name, it clicks. "Our old neighbors." I nod to them.

Mrs. Rooney beams up at me, and I once again let go of Rosie and bend down for the hug she clearly wants.

"So nice of you to remember us," the woman says as I embrace her small frame.

Straightening, I hold out my hand to Mr. Rooney. "Nice to see you again."

His handshake is firm. "We had a hell of a time following your career. You made the old street proud."

"Thank you," I tell him, then move so Rosie is back at my side. "You might recall my girlfriend, Rosie Edwards. She lived on the same street, directly across from you, if I'm remembering correctly."