32. Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

T omorrow is Thanksgiving, and I am freaking out! Should I invite the guys to my family dinner? But that would probably be really awkward since I'm not exactly allowed to date them. Well... maybe I am, but not officially I suppose.

I facepalm as I debate whether to text my mom first to see if it's even okay for me to invite them. But it would be really weird if I asked, and she said it was okay and then the guys say they already have plans and can't come.

I'm... overthinking this aren't I? I hear a groan from the corner of the room and find Dean lounging on the loveseat. We spent the night at my apartment, so it's only us until we go back to the common house. Although, with everyone leaving to spend the holidays with their families no one will be there.

"What's up?" Mac asks.

Dean thumps his head on the back of the seat as he closes his eyes, looking pained. "Mom just texted me."

Mac huffs. "Let me guess, she wants you to come home, doesn't she?"

Dean's voice changes into a high-pitched, mocking tone as he answers. "Dean we expect you home tomorrow for family dinner. This is an occasion to be thankful for what we have. Do not disappoint me by not showing up."

Mac snorts. "God forbid you be ungrateful for your shitty parents."

"It's just going to be another shitty holiday where Dad praises the ground my sister walks on and points out all of my faults. Ugh!" He drops his phone as he covers his face and groans. "I don't want to go," he whines.

"I'll go with you if you want," Mac offers.

Dean uncovers his face. "As much as I would LOVE for you to come with me, you know my parents hate you."

Mac huffs out a laugh. "It's because they can't control me. I also don't care what they think about me and have made it very clear how I feel about them."

Decision made for Thanksgiving, I hop off the couch. Both guys look at me with wide eyes. "Give me a second, I have an idea."

"An idea?" Dean asks as I rush toward my bedroom.

"Give me a second," I yell over my shoulder. Bouncing onto my bed, I pull up my mom's number and text her. I'm too much of a wimp to call.

Hey Mama, I have a question about Thanksgiving tomorrow.

A few minutes later, I see the little bubbles at the bottom of the screen that show she's replying. I feel like I'm about to vomit with nerves. Why am I so damn nervous about asking my mom if the guys can come? Because you care about them, you dumbass.

Mama

Please tell me you can still come!

I can move some things around if you are going to be late.

I smile down at the screen. This will be the first holiday I will be home since I moved. I couldn't afford to go home for every holiday. Just from her text, I can already tell she is beginning to panic that I won't make it home because of work.

Mama I'll be home. I wanted ask if it's okay to bring two friends with me?

A few minutes pass before the dots indicate she's typing.

Mama

What type of friends?

Damn her and her intuition. I've never brought a friend home for the holidays, let alone two. How can I put this so she won't ask more questions? Though, let's be honest, the questions would happen anyway.

A few guys from the team. They don't have anywhere to go.

Mama

I know you are lying. but you know I won't say no to extra guests.

Thank you, Mama!

I jump out of bed with a grin and make my way out the door. Now, I just have to convince the guys to come. Considering how Dean acted about going home, I doubt it will take much convincing.

The guys look my way the moment I walk into the room. I grin as I hold up my phone, waving it. "So... I may have a way to get you out of going home."

Dean's eyes widen, begging for any excuse. "No way!"

My cheeks heat when I say, "This is an open offer, and it's only if you don't want to go home. You don't have to say yes."

Mac's grin widens as he asks, "What did you do, Chérie?"

Tapping the phone to my thigh, I shrug. "I may have asked my mama if you guys could come to Thanksgiving dinner, so you could avoid family drama."

"And your mom said yes?" Dean asks excitedly.

I nod. "Yes."

Dean hops up from the loveseat before jumping over the back of the couch. He lifts me into the air with a laugh. "Yes! I'm totally down!" He spins me around, then lets my feet touch the floor. Before I know what's happening, he smashes his lips to mine and then jumps back over the couch to smash his lips to Mac's cheek.

Mac laughs and shakes his head. "I've never seen you this excited about Thanksgiving before."

Dean points at Mac. "I've never had an excuse to tell my parents I couldn't go!" He pulls out his phone and his fingers fly across the screen as he types.

"What are you going to tell your parents?" I ask in curiosity.

"I'm telling them I can't come because I have to impress my girlfriend's parents." He replies distractedly.

"Girlfriend?" I squeak.

Mac snorts a laugh. "Did you think we considered you anything else?"

I shrug because I'm not sure how to reply to that. I plop down on the couch as I say, "I guess I don't really know what we are."

Mac leans over to press a kiss to my cheek. "You are our girlfriend. At least outside of work. Is that alright with you, Chérie?"

I can't do anything but nod. I like that I mean something to them. We are something to each other, but I'm not sure I should tell my parents that. "Do you mind if we keep it on the downlow with my parents for right now?"

Dean waves a dismissive hand into the air. "It's fine. I mainly want to rub this in my parents' face."

Mac weaves his fingers with mine before giving my hand a squeeze. "Don't worry. We won't embarrass you in front of your family."

I shake my head. "I'm not afraid of you embarrassing me. I'm just not ready to explain this"—I gesture between the three of us—"to my parents just yet."

"Do you think they won't except us?" he asks curiously.

I think on that for a moment. I think my mom would be okay with it, honestly. It's my dad I'd have to worry about. "To be honest, I think the only person who may freak out is my dad. But considering you guys play hockey, he may be okay with it." I smirk.

Dean jumps off the couch. "Let's get going!" he yells and runs off toward his bedroom.

I look at Mac with a smile. "He does realize we don't have to be there until tomorrow, right?"

He grins back. "I don't think he cares."

I yell over the back of the couch, "Dean, we don't have to be there until tomorrow!"

"These are your parents, Lizzy! We need to make a great impression. Let's go tonight and see if they need help with anything.".

"I don't think you are going to win this one, Chérie," Mac says with a huff of laughter.

Pushing myself off the couch, I look down at my pajamas, then back up to Mac. "I suppose I should get dressed, then."

Mac leans down to kiss my cheek. "I'll make myself presentable as well."

"You look fine," I say, then close my bedroom door behind me. Once in the walk-in closet, I pick out a baby-blue sweater dress and a pair of black leggings. I can finally wear the new pair of boots I got for the winter weather. It was a shock to my wardrobe having to change from sunscreen, sandals, and shorts to sweaters, boots, and beanie hats.

I quickly change before leaving to find the others in the living room waiting for me. I bite my lip as I look over my two boys. Dean has on a pair of dark-washed jeans with a black shirt and leather jacket. Mac contrasts his dark look with a pair of light-blue jeans and a crisp white shirt.

Mac winks when my eyes meet his. "Do I pass inspection?"

My cheeks heat as I roll my eyes. "I always think you look good."

Mac gestures toward the door. "I suppose we should be off."

Fifteen minutes later, we pull up to my childhood home. I let out a sigh as I take in the old house with a smile. "This place hasn't changed a bit."

Mac takes in the house. "Is this the house you grew up in?"

I nod as I unbuckle and open the passenger door. "Till the day I left for college."

Dean hums as we make our way up the drive to the front door. "It's cute."

I snort a laugh and knock. "Cute? I don't think I've ever heard you describe anything as cute."

"I think you're cute."

My eyes widen as the door opens, and my mother greets me with a look of shock. My cheeks are burning as I give her a shy smile. "Hey, Mama"—I point to the guys—"these are the hockey players I invited for dinner tomorrow. They wanted to introduce themselves."

As if summoned by the word hockey, my dad appears in the doorway. "Well, this is a pleasant surprise, little bit."

I groan at the old nickname. "Dad..."

His gruff face softens before shifting to the guys. "Who's with you, Iz?"

Pointing to Dean first, I awkwardly begin introductions from the front porch, since they haven't invited us in yet. "This is Dean Lewis one of the players I'm in charge of and"—I switch to Mac— "this is Mac Oliver."

My dad's eyes widen as he shoves himself through the door. He jerks his hand out to Dean first. "It's a pleasure to meet two of the men on the Washington Wraiths."

Dean smiles as he shakes my father's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet our athletic therapist's parents, sir."

My dad waves a dismissive hand before turning to shake Mac's hand. "No need for formality. I'm Johanthan Monroe, but you can call me John."

My mother squeezes in front of my dad and smiles up at the guys. "I'm Katy Monroe, but you can call me Kate."

A few moments of uncomfortable silence pass, though I'm not sure if I'm the only one who feels that way. Considering the soft smile on my mom's face and the admiration shining through my father's smile; I think it's only me. I point inside of the house. "Could we possibly come inside?"

My mother gasps as she swats at my father. "Of course! Johnny, move out of the way so our daughter and her friends can come inside."

I never thought the word ‘friends' coming out of my mother's mouth could make me feel like I was sixteen all over again, nervous to invite new friends over. The moment we step inside, it's like my father is a hawk, and he descends on the guys asking them non-stop questions about the season so far.

I shake my head with a smirk as I sit down beside my mom on the couch. The guys answer every question my dad throws at them with a chuckle or a smile. Mac must feel my eyes on him because he looks in my direction.

His wide smile turns soft as he gives me a little wave. I feel my cheeks heat as I can't help but smile back and give him a small wave. The gesture catches Dean's attention, and he gives me a wink before turning back to the conversation with my dad. I feel something poke my thigh, and I look over to find my mom smirking at me. She pulls back her foot and looks at the guys before focusing on me. "Is there something I should know, Iz?"

I bite my lip as I shrug. "We're friends."

She hums, but I'm not sure she believes me. "I'm sure. Do they know that?"

"Of course they do," I huff out.

She lowers her voice to whisper, "I'm not so sure. They way they look at you says otherwise." Something must change on my face because her teasing smile turns soft. "As long as you're not lying to yourself, that's all I care about. You look at them the same way they look at you."

"And how's that?" I whisper.

She taps the corner of her eye before whispering back, "The eyes are the window to the soul"—she points to the guys before pointing back at me—"and your souls show me everything I need to know." She presses a finger to her lips. "I won't say anything, Iz."

"Thank you." My chest fills with love for my mother.

"Are you happy?" she asks quietly.

I shift my gaze from her over to my guys before meeting hers once more. "Yes."