Marcus

I walk into the living room, the anticipation coiling in my chest like a tightly wound spring. My family is gathered on the couches, engaged in animated conversation. I clear my throat, hoping to capture their attention. They all turn to look at me, expressions ranging from curiosity to amusement.

"I want everyone to behave," I say, my voice steady but tinged with a hint of pleading. "I'm sure Melanie is nervous about tonight, so please, just... behave, okay?"

Sophia and Natalie exchange glances, smirking mischievously. Emily grins and pipes up, "You got it, Marcus."

Sophia nudges Emily, and Emily looks at her, then back to me, and shrugs. "Or not, whatever."

Natalie rolls her eyes, and Sophia shakes her head, chuckling under her breath. I rub my temples, trying to ward off the headache that threatens to engulf me. "Please, guys, just be nice."

My mom stands up from her spot on the couch and walks over to me, her smile warm and reassuring. "Don't worry, honey," she says, placing a hand on my arm. "They're just messing with you. They're very excited to meet Melanie, as are we." With that, she gives me a gentle squeeze and walks out of the living room.

My shoulders slump as I watch them giggling like a bunch of schoolgirls. I point a finger at them, my tone stern. "I'm serious, no funny business, okay?"

Natalie pretends to pout, her bottom lip jutting out in an exaggerated display of innocence. "Oh, Marcus, you're no fun."

"I'm plenty fun, okay?" I retort, my patience wearing thin.

"I'm plenty fun, okay?" I retort, crossing my arms defensively.

Just then, the doorbell rings, interrupting us. I glance at the door, my heart racing with anticipation. Turning back to my sisters, I plead once more, "Just be nice, please."

Sophia laughs and rolls her eyes. "God, okay, now go open the door!" she urges, shooing me away with a playful wave of her hand.

Heart hammering in my chest, I turn and walk toward the door. As I reach out to grasp the handle, a surge of nervous energy courses through me. With a deep breath, I pull the door open and there she is—Melanie, grinning widely and holding a box in her hands.

"Hey," she says softly, her voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves.

"Hey," I reply, my own voice barely above a whisper. Stepping to the side, I gesture for her to come in. As she does, I can't help but notice my sisters lined up behind the doorway, their eyes flickering between Melanie and me with eager anticipation.

Taking the box from Melanie's hands, I ask, "What's this?"

Melanie smiles, shrugging off her coat. "Cheesecake," she replies with a grin. "I asked Kylie to make one for tonight. She makes the best cheesecake ever."

Natalie approaches, reaching for Melanie's coat. "Let me get that for you," she says politely.

Melanie smiles warmly at her. "Thank you, Natalie."

Melanie nods gratefully, handing over her coat. "Thank you, Natalie," she says, returning the smile. "Nice to see you again."

Natalie's smile widens at the gesture. "You too," she replies warmly before walking down the entrance hall to hang Melanie's coat as she calls out, "Melanie's here!"

I take a deep breath, gathering my courage as I turn to Melanie. "I should introduce you to my other two sisters," I say, gesturing towards Sophia and Emily. "This is Sophia," I say, gesturing towards my sister on the left, "and this is Emily," I add, indicating the one on the right.

To my surprise, Sophia closes the distance between her and Melanie, wrapping her arms around her in a warm embrace. "It's so nice to meet you, Melanie," she says, her voice genuine and welcoming.

Melanie returns the hug, a smile lighting up her face. "Nice to meet you too, Sophia," she replies warmly.

As Sophia pulls back, I notice Emily shifting nervously on her feet. But when Sophia releases Melanie, Emily steps forward, her face breaking into a shy smile as she wraps her arms around Melanie in a gentle hug. "We're very excited to meet you," Emily says softly.

Melanie returns the hug, her warmth and kindness evident in every gesture. "Same here," she replies, her voice filled with genuine sincerity.

I stand there, dumbfounded, as I watch my sisters extend such a warm welcome to Melanie. It's a stark contrast to the apprehension I had felt earlier, and I can't help but feel a surge of gratitude and relief wash over me.

Before I can fully process the moment, my mom appears, followed closely by my dad. She opens her arms wide, a warm smile lighting up her face. "Melanie, welcome," she says warmly, pulling Melanie into a tight embrace.

As they pull back, my mom's eyes sparkle with warmth and sincerity. "We've heard so many great things about you," she says, her voice filled with affection.

A wave of warmth washes over me as I watch my family immediately embrace Melanie, their warmth and kindness melting away any lingering doubts or worries. Even my dad steps forward, wrapping Melanie in a hug and greeting her with a warm "Welcome, sweetheart."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Thompson," Melanie replies, her voice filled with gratitude.

My mom waves her hand dismissively. "Honey, you should call us by our first names," she says, gesturing between herself and my dad. "Jack and Candance."

My dad nods in agreement, a warm smile on his face. "That's right," he says. "We're all family here."

Melanie nods, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "I'll try," she says softly, her voice tinged with nervousness.

I step forward, eager to change the subject and lighten the mood. "Melanie brought cheesecake," I say, gesturing towards the box in my hands.

My mom's eyes light up with excitement. "Oh, how thoughtful of you, Melanie," she says, her grin widening. "Thank you."

Melanie smiles warmly. "You're welcome," she says graciously.

Natalie interrupts, her voice filled with playful teasing. "Come on, guys," she says, rolling her eyes. "We've ambushed the poor girl in the doorway. We should move inside."

With a collective chuckle, my family begins to move further into the house, the warmth of their laughter filling the air. The evening passes quickly, filled with chatter and laughter as everyone eagerly gets to know Melanie. She tackles their questions with ease, her warmth and charm captivating them all.

I can't help but feel a swell of pride as I watch her effortlessly interact with my family. It's as if she's always belonged here, seamlessly fitting into the fabric of our lives. And the cheesecake she brought? A huge hit, even though everyone was disappointed to learn she didn't buy it, but it was made by a friend of Mallory's.

As the evening draws to a close, Melanie and I make our way upstairs to my room to gather the things I've prepared for my move to her apartment. As I close the door behind us, Melanie lets out a soft sigh, her eyes searching mine with uncertainty. "Do you think they liked me?" she asks, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Closing the distance between us, I reach out to cup her cheeks, my heart swelling with affection. "I know they did," I assure her, my voice filled with certainty.

Leaning in, I press my lips to hers, a surge of desire coursing through me. I've been wanting to do that all night, to feel her lips against mine, to taste her sweetness. Pulling back slightly, I gaze into her eyes, a smile playing on my lips. "Hi," I say softly.

Melanie grins, her eyes sparkling with affection. "Hi," she replies, her voice filled with warmth.

Wrapping her arms around my waist, Melanie turns her head to press he lips on my palm, a silent gesture of intimacy. My breath catches in my throat at the sensation, a low groan escaping me as I pull her head towards mine, capturing her lips in a hungry kiss.

Our tongues dance together in a frenzy of desire, exploring each other's mouths with fervent urgency. Breaking the kiss, I can feel the heat of arousal coursing through my veins, my body reacting to her touch in ways I never knew possible.

With a reluctant groan, I pull back, my erection straining against the confines of my pants. "We should get going," I say hoarsely, my voice thick with desire.

Melanie takes a step back, running a hand through her hair nervously. "Yeah, um, we should," she agrees.

I pick up the two duffel bags I've prepared, nodding in response to her words. Melanie looks at the bags and asks, "Is that all?"

I shake my head, a small smile playing on my lips. "Um, no," I explain, "I just thought it would be better to bring a few at a time, so it won't be overwhelming."

Melanie nods in understanding. "Good thinking," she says, her smile brightening. Grinning, I start walking towards the door, feeling a surge of excitement coursing through me. Melanie falls into step beside me, "Do you need help?" she asks, her voice filled with concern.

I shake my head, a warm feeling spreading through me at her offer. "Nope, just need you by my side," I reply, my voice filled with affection.

Melanie gives me a sweet smile, and I can't help but return it as I beckon her to follow me with a tilt of my head. Together, we make our way downstairs, where we find my family lined up by the entrance, waiting for us.

Chuckling, I shake my head in amusement. "Jeez, guys, I'm not going that far away," I tease.

Sophia chimes in, her tone playful. "We're just waiting to say goodbye to Melanie, numbnuts," she quips.

Rolling my eyes, I step back to let Melanie say her goodbyes. I stand back and watch as Melanie receives hugs and well-wishes from my family, each embrace filling me with warmth and happiness. Seeing her surrounded by my loved ones, it's as if everything has fallen into place, and I can't stop smiling.

After my mom hugs Melanie, she turns to me, a proud smile on her lips. Leaning in close, she whispers in my ear, "Good job, honey." I grin back at her, feeling a swell of pride at her words. It means the world to me to have her approval and support.

With a final round of goodnights, I take Melanie's hand in mine, the warmth of her touch grounding me as we make our way towards the door.

Time to go home.