Selene had spent practically all week preparing for dinner with Declan's family.
For some reason, at first she thought that it would just be with his parents but the day after Declan's request, he informed her that all six of his siblings would also be in attendance. Being an only child, this freaked Selene out.
She had spent her time in between Calculus questions and scrolling mindlessly on social media, memorizing their names--and their mothers since Declan's father had four wives and a mistress.
Barron Grey Senior had cheated on his first wife with his mistress, both ladies gave birth within the same twenty-four hours to Declan's siblings Adalyn and Addison after which wife no. 1 divorced him and he turned his mistress into his second wife. Wife no. 2 left him after four years. Wife no. 3--Declan's mother-- gave birth to Declan's brother Barron Junior. Senior went back to old habits and cheated on wife no. 3 and had Caden. Wife no. 3 stuck it out and had Declan three years later and then they separated. Barron Senior lived the bachelor life despite still being legally married and had Eden with his soon to be the fourth wife. Wife no. 3 finally filed for divorce and he got married to wife no. 4 and had his five-month-old son, Fen.
Declan had given her a guide on what topics to bring up and what topics to not bring up and how not to fail at dinner with his family.
She had worn an olive green silk button up with high waisted black dress pants. Black Louboutins adorned her feet and her hair was in a sleek ponytail.
She carried a bottle of red wine from Declan's car, his hand firmly on the small of her back.
"What are my brothers' names?" he asked.
"Addison, Barron, Caden and Fen."
He nodded. "My sisters?"
"Adalyn and Eden."
"You're ready," he said. He twirled his keys. "Let's do this." He kissed her quickly before unlocking the door. "I'm home!"
Selene followed him inside, pasting a smile on her face.
"Declan!" a little girl screamed, running up to hug him.
She looked about seven and Declan laughed as he hugged her. Her hair was silky black like ink, her eyes hazel. Her face was round, with pink chubby cheeks and skin that was only a few shades darker than Declan's.
Selene searched her brain for the little girl's name. Eden.
Eden pulled away from Declan, turning to look at her.
"Hi," Selene said. "I'm Selene."
"This is my girlfriend," Declan said, pulling Selene into his side. "The one I told you about."
"Hi," Eden said shyly. She turned back to Declan and began talking a mile a minute. "My mom said we're having salmon, I thought we were having crab legs."
Declan furrowed his brow as the three walked into the dining room. "I think that'll be tomorrow."
"But Adalyn, Addison and Caden are leaving tomorrow."
"They can have crab legs on the plane," he responded easily, pulling out a chair for Eden and pushing it in once she had climbed up. He pulled out a chair for Selene and pushed her in once she had settled.
He leaned next to her ear, "I'm going to go say hi to the rest of my family. I'll be back."
She nodded and he kissed her on the cheek before kissing Eden's cheek, causing her to giggle.
"Do you know rock, scissors, paper?" Eden asked.
Selene nodded and the two played for a while, smiling and laughing.
Declan returned just before the rest of his family filed into the dining room, sitting at the large rectangular table.
"Where's your dad?" Declan's stepmom--and Barron Senior's fourth wife-- Tatiana, asked.
"Probably making Grey spawn number eight with his new assistant," Caden said from beside Selene.
"Caden," Tatiana hissed.
Caden had olive skin, with green eyes that could have been contacts but Selene didn't want to ask. His hair was the same shade as Declan's, even cut and styled the same way. His eyes were smaller, almond shaped with monolids.
Caden's eyes turned into slits. "You are not nor will you ever be my mother."
"Caden, shut up," Adalyn said. "We have a guest, save it for after she says goodbye."
Selene shrunk in her seat.
"Addison, go get your father," Tatiana said, which caused snickers from Adalyn, Barron, Caden and Declan as Addison nearly knocked over his chair standing up and running out of the room.
Declan leaned over and whispered to Selene, "Addison totally just wants to fuck her."
"What?" She was appalled. That was his father's wife. Even though Addison's mother was black and his light brown skin and curly textured hair caused him to look the least like his father.
"She's like three months older than him and I guess he got his taste from our dad."
Tatiana sighed. "I'm sorry, Selene. We're not always this chaotic."
"Yes we are," Barron corrected.
Tatiana sat up straighter. "Well, maybe we wouldn't be so chaotic if someone was on time. Nice of you to join us, Barron."
"I told you I'd be on a conference call," he responded, taking his seat at the head of the table.
Declan and Barron Jr looked the most like their father. They matched in almost even feature, looking like triplets--sans Barron Sr's salt and pepper hair.
"Thank you, Addison," Tatiana said.
"No problem, mom."
All the older children and Selene groaned.
The dinner was started in almost silence. Adalyn was talking to both Barron's, Declan to Eden, baby Fen gibbering in his high chair.
"So Selene?" Tatiana started, bringing all attention to them both. "What are your plans for after graduation?"
"Well, I got accepted Ryerson, University of Alberta and Simon Fraser."
Adalyn whistled. "Declan got a smart one for once?"
"I don't think I'm familiar with Ryerson," Tatiana said.
"It's in Toronto," Selene responded.
"What are you studying?" Addison asked.
"Uh, currently undeclared."
"Maybe not so smart," remarked Caden.
"Shut the fuck up, Caden," Declan snapped.
"Declan!" Tatiana hissed.
"Sorry," Declan apologized quickly.
"It's nice to see that you're going to university, Selene," Barron Sr said. "At least you're getting an education."
"It's only one year off," Declan sighed.
"To explore yourself?" Barron Sr said. "You can explore during university. You can study abroad."
"I got it," Declan snapped.
"Just another night with the Greys," Caden mumbled.
"Caden!" Tatiana and Addison hissed in unison.
"Jesus Christ," Caden said. "Father dearest, may I be excused?"
"Once you apologize to your mother," Barron Sr responded.
Caden stood up, pushing his chair out. "Will do. What time do you think it is in Japan? I'll call her right up." He exited the dining room quickly.
"I'll talk to him," Adalyn said, standing. "Big sister duties." She leaned into her father's ear and whispered something to him which caused him to nod before she strolled off. "Nice to meet you, Selene."
"You too!" Selene called after her.
Declan glanced down at Eden who was tugging on the sleeve of his button up.
"Can I have ice cream?" the little girl asked.
Declan glanced at Tatiana who nodded while she fed Fen.
"Sure," Declan responded. "Selene come with us?"
She nodded, standing up. "Dinner tasted amazing," she said to Tatiana throwing her a smile as she grabbed Declan's hand and followed him to the kitchen, Eden skipping happily along in front of them.
She breathed out a sigh when they reached the kitchen.
Declan chuckled as he grabbed two bowls and three spoons.
Eden sat happily in front of a TV that was playing children shows and Selene sat on the kitchen counter.
Declan passed a bowl of vanilla ice cream to Eden before walking over to Selene with the bowl that housed two spoons and two scoops of ice cream. He stood between her legs, holding up the bowl like a peace offering.
She graciously took a spoon and dug it into the hard cream.
She lifted the spoon to his lips, smiling when he graciously opened his mouth to accept.
"Dinner was good," she said, bringing the spoon to her own mouth.
"I'm sorry about that," he said. "I would like to say they aren't usually like this but they are."
"I get it," she responded. "Family is crazy."
"Your family is not as crazy as mine," he said. "At least you're an only child." He scooped more ice cream into his mouth.
Her brows furrowed. "You want to be an only child?"
He sighed. "Sometimes. But I don't think I'd survive without them."
She nodded.
"They're annoying as fuck, but I love them. Even Caden."
She chuckled.
"What's your family like?" he asked. "I want to know for when I meet them."
She paused, taking a deep breath and shrugged.
"Come on," he prodded. "You don't tell me anything about them."
She took another spoonful of ice cream for courage. "My mom got pregnant really young," she started. "She was like sixteen-seventeen? And her parents were Catholic so my parents got married. And they tried raising me together but they both knew they were just meant to be a high school relationship that fades after prom. So my mom left when I was seven and my father raised me alone."
Declan nodded, sympathy in his eyes.
"Well not alone," she corrected. "I mean he met his boyfriend Carter when I was like fourteen and Carter's been living with us since so."
"Your dad is gay?"
"Bi."
"Great, now I have to deal with two dads?"
"And a mom," she added. "My mom came back the other day and is staying indefinitely. And we have... an eff load of bad history so that's been freaking fantastic."
Declan's eyebrows furrowed. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because it's not your problem?"
"Selene, you're my girlfriend. Even if it's 'not my problem' you can still tell me. You can trust me." He held her hand and brought it to his lips, placing a kiss on her knuckles.
Her shoulders relaxed. "You can trust me too."
"I already do," he replied quickly, kissing her knuckles again. "I trust you with my whole life."
»
"I'm home," Selene announced as she opened her front door.
"How was dinner with your not-boyfriend-boyfriend's family?" Lucille asked.
Selene sat down on the couch next to her mother, an episode of Real Housewives on the flat screen, her feet up on the table, a wine glass dangling from her fingertips.
"Interesting," Selene responded.
Carter quickly walked in, another wine glass in hand and passed it to Lucille. "Here you go, Lucille. Another pink Moscato."
"You're an angel, Carter." She rolled her shoulders.
"Are you okay?" Carter asked.
Lucille nodded. "It's just the room you have me in on the second floor, the bed is so uncomfortable. I'm used to sleeping in the master bedroom."
That was a lie. When Lucille Calloway had left, they were still staying in a tiny condo. Only when Selene's father became superintendent four years after she left did they get their house in their gated community.
Carter paused. "I'll uh ask Micah later."
"Oh, you don't have to. I'm fine, truly."
"It's not a problem. We want you to be comfortable. You are the matriarch after all." Carter laughed nervously before exiting the room.
Selene shook her head and followed after him. "'You're the matriarch'? Really, Carter?" she asked once they were out of earshot.
"I will not hesitate to ground you," he threatened, avoiding eye contact.
"Carter, what's going on?"
"I feel threatened."
"By my mom?"
Carter nodded.
Selene laughed.
"She was married to Micah! They made you! They were in love."
"That was ages ago. My dad loves you now."
"You sure?"
"Carter, my dad is letting her stay because she has nowhere else to go. He's letting you stay because he wants to be with you. He's your boyfriend."
Carter nodded and Selene placed a hand on his shoulder. "And don't give up your room to her. Those guest room beds are memory foam. She's fine."
Carter sighed. "Great. I was not ready to give up my California king."
She laughed. "Mom will survive. What you should worry about is your exams at the end of the month."
Carter groaned.
Selene attempted to cheer him up. "Just a few weeks until you're Dr. Carter Nichols."
He nodded. "After I get your mom her pink Moscato." He turned to the fridge.
Selene stepped in front of him. "Carter, go study or I'm coming home past curfew and not texting you in advance."
Carter whined. "You can't do that, you know how much I worry."
"You know who's going to worry?" she asked. "My dad if you fail your exams and he realizes you spent almost fifty k on an education you didn't get."
"I hate you," he said.
She nodded, pushing him out of the kitchen and towards the staircase. "Love you too, Carter."
"But--"
"Mom won't die if she gets up herself, trust me."
He deflated as if something had been stretching him out and finally released him. "Okay." He climbed the staircase.
Selene headed back to the living room and blocked her mother's view of the TV.
Lucille's eyes passed over her. "It was on commercial anyways."
Selene crossed her arms. "Stop asking Carter for favours. He has his final exams in a few weeks and he's already stressed enough. Be glad he's even letting you stay."
Lucille scoffed. "I'm here because of Micah."
"Who would have sent you to a hotel if Carter asked," she retorted. "Dad loves Carter and would never want him to be upset. Piss off Carter and you're going to find yourself in a motel six with shitty air conditioning."
Lucille blanched.
"Enjoy your show, mother. Sleep tight."