Page 18 of Darrin: The Wolves

And they wanted her to be happy.

She was definitely happiest with Dare.

Her dad asked about King Lake and The Howl, her mom asked about his brothers and, after checking out the social media account, how she could get a burger named after her.

“Come on,The Elainesounds like a fabulous burger,” she said, her eyes dancing.

“It sounds like a fancy apartment complex,” her dad said.

She elbowed him. “You’re just mad because I beat you at Boggle last night.”

Mark’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not mad. I’m keeping my game face on so I can kick your butt at pickleball tonight.”

“I thought you were on the same team?” Audrey asked.

“Sometimes we play men against women,” Mark said. “And your mom cheats at pickleball too.”

“Oh,” Elaine scoffed. “This is why we stopped playing Scrabble. You just can’t handle how awesome I am. Butanyway, about this burger of the week.”

“Mom, you’re so crazy,” Audrey said, laughing.

“I’ll see what I can do, but burgers are the cook’s specialty. Now if you’d like a custom drink, I can definitely do that,” Dare said.

“Now that’s a good idea!” Elaine said with a grin.

When she and her mom stopped in the bathroom before they left, her mom said, “You know, honey, things are moving pretty fast with him.”

Audrey rinsed the soap off her hands and shut off the water. “Mom.”

“I didn’t say it was bad, I said it was fast. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just… fast.”

“How long did you and dad date before you moved in together?”

“A year. We moved in together a month before the wedding. Your grandma thought it was scandalous and that the women in her sewing circle were going to think she failed as a parent. But that was a different generation, and honestly, your grandma was a bit of a hussy as a young woman herself, but she didn’t tell me until I was married.”

“Grandma was a hussy?”

“I saida bit of a hussy. And yes.”

Audrey dried off her hands and stared at her mom in the mirror as she washed her own hands.

She laughed. “You’re so casual about it.”

“Well, it’s the truth. And I think we got sidetracked here. Anyway, I’m just pointing out that before we met Dare, your dad and I thought things were moving way too fast. But it’s clear that he’s crazy about you, and I’m not trying to meddle. I’d just feelstrange if I didn’t say what was on my mind.” She dried off her hands. “Do you love him?”

Audrey pressed her lips together, then said, “Yeah. I haven’t said it yet.”

“Why?”

“Because it hasn’t been a week, and I also don’t want to just blurt it out, I want it to be special.”

“That’s sweet.” Her mom turned to face her. “Your dad and I had a different kind of relationship. We’d known each other for a long time before we started to date. But honestly, I think if we’d been strangers and met out of the blue that I would have fallen for him fast, too. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I don’t think Dare is planning to hurt me.”

“I don’t think so either. And I’m happy for you. Dad and me.”

They walked out of the bathroom arm in arm, and Audrey felt a little lighter, knowing her parents approved. Now she just had to meet his family.