All At Once (Completed) - Finding You Book 1

Camden, cont.

An hour and a half later we're walking through the doorway of Harper's childhood home. She goes in first and is immediately pulled into her mother's arms. She holds the dip out for me to take as she's squeezed by her dad next. Her smile is big and beautiful, and it's so nice to see her comfortable and surrounded by the people she loves.

"Oh, honey. You look so good today," her mom says with a big, relieved smile. "You're smiling. What more could I ask for?" she asks, kissing Harper on the cheek before her eyes find mine. I was warned this night could be interesting.

"And Camden," she says sweetly. Harper pulls out of her Dad's arms and stands next to me as I reach out toward her mother.

"Oh we don't shake hands in this family," she says, wrapping her arms around me. I smile at the warm welcome.

These are good people. I'm grateful for their kindness, but completely understand Harper's concern. They have high expectations for a man who might finally make their baby girl fall in love again.

"Mrs. Ryan," I say with a smile. "It's so nice to meet you. Thanks for letting us just barge in like this," I smile and a tint of color rises in her cheeks.

"Call me Lainey, sweetheart," she says. "Cuter than I thought," she whispers to Harper as I walk toward her father.

"He can hear you," she whispers back loudly. I smirk at her. "His head's going to explode as it is,"

Harper puts her hands on Chase's shoulders and walks him over to her parents. "And this is Chase, Camden's nephew," she says softly. Lainey looks nervous, but when she meets Harper's eyes, she visibly relaxes.

"It's nice to meet you, Chase. How old are you, dear?" she asks.

"Fourteen," he answers politely. Now it's Gray's turn to watch his daughter.

Something is definitely up.

Lainey smiles gently. "Well I'm glad you were able to come," she says, clapping her hands together as she changes the subject quickly.

"So, I hope you boys like pool because Gray's been itching to play lately and I just don't see the sense," she says, smiling at Harper.

"Sounds fun, but if we do teams we're one short," Gray says, laughing at his wife.

"How about I help mom in the kitchen and I'll come downstairs to play when dinner's in the oven?" Harper suggests. "Until then, you guys can play darts,"

What?

I look at her nervously. They seem cool and all, but I'm not sure I'm ready to be alone with her father. Chase is my only hope at a distraction.

"Are you sure you don't need help or something?" I ask, tugging her to the side for a moment. Lainey's eyes are locked on us.

"Behave," she warns, playfully raising an eyebrow. "No stories about us from before. No suggestions that we've already had sex," she whispers in my ear. "My dad still thinks of me as a little girl in some ways. We've got to ease him into this," she says.

"I got this, baby," I tell her softly and her eyes lighten. I'm gonna do this for her, no how freaked out I am. I'm going to prove to her parents that I deserve her. That I won't hurt her. I want them to trust me.

I glance at Lainey out of the corner of my eye, and when it seems she's not looking, I press a kiss to Harper's cheek before following Chase and Gray downstairs.

I've never cared what people think of me, but it's my personal mission to make sure Gray Ryan understands just what Harper means to me.

"Want a beer, Camden?" He asks, walking to the fridge.