"Are you really sure they won’t mind? Your whole family is going to be here and I don’t want to-"
"Stop worrying. It’s totally fine." Austin squeezed my hand reassuringly as we grabbed our bags out of the cab we’d taken from the Florida airport. "They’ll love you."
I followed him up to the door of his dad’s house, watching as he knocked. A girl I’d never seen came to the door. “Austin!”
"Oh, hey, Josie. I didn’t know you’d be here." Austin said, awkwardly hugging her back.
I felt the jealous part of me get pissed off immediately. Who the hell was this girl?
Josie was thinking the same thing. “Who’s this?”
Austin smiled. “This is my friend Avery.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Josie.”
"Nice to meet you." I said flatly.
"Come on in. Everyone is excited to see you." She said. I noticed she only spoke to Austin, not me.
Austin was holding in his laughter at this point. He shut the door behind us and smirked at me. “Jealous much?”
"Who is she?" I asked innocently.
"My cousin’s girlfriend. She’s had a crush on me since, like, forever." He rolled his eyes. "I can’t stand her actually."
"Mmm. Nice to know." I said.
"And believe me, there’s no reason to be jealous. I’d do you over her any day." He said, wide eyed.
"Very mature, Austin." I shook my head.
"There they are! We were beginning to wonder what happened to you two!" Austin’s Aunt Lisa said as we came into the living room. There were easily ten people I’d never met anticipating us. "Come on, Avery dear. You’ve got to meet the whole family!"
"Nice to see you." I smiled as she hugged me.
"You get prettier and prettier every time I see you. You’re a bigger dumbass than I thought you were if you’re just friends." She added, looking at Austin. "Okay everyone, this is Austin’s friend Avery. Her family lives in Italy and she couldn’t make it home for Christmas so she’s staying with us. Avery, you remember my husband Howard. There are Austin’s cousins Addie, Josh, Jay, Michael, Nick, and Sara. Then there’s Grandma Rose and Grandpa Greg, and then Aunt Daisy and Uncle Mason. That’s everyone I think." She said, introducing me to everyone.
"Hi." I smiled shyly.
"You’re Avery Carter!" Austin’s cousin Addie exclaimed. "You’re such a good model!"
"Thank you." I laughed.
"Dude. You’re dating a model?" His cousin Jay asked, impressed. "Nice."
"We’re not dating!" Austin and I said simultaneously, me blushing furiously.
"Hey, no need to be shy." One of his other cousins said.
"Give her a day to meet you all and she’ll never shut up." Austin said. "We’re going to go put our bags away."
"Your family is so cute." I smiled.
"You’re cute." He replied. "Are you ready to see my teenage bedroom?"
"Very excited actually." I said as he opened the door. It was just as I imagined; posters on the walls and Spiderman blankets on the bed. "Nice."
He pulled me onto his bed. “I’ve never actually had sex on this bed. Just jerked off a lot.”
"What are you saying?" I grinned.
"If you wanted to be the first- and the only, might I add- I wouldn’t object." He shrugged.
"That could be arranged." I smiled.
He leaned over and kissed me, then pulled away. “I’m starving.”
"Way to ruin the moment." I rolled my eyes.
Christmas with the Carlile family was sure to be interesting.

Notes

:) xxxx