We once again find ourselves outside of the Fischer residence. I feel as though our roles, however, have completely reversed as she is the one serene and I am about to jump out of my skin, I'm so nervous.

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?" she asks as she turns off the car and gathers her keys and phone to throw into her purse.

"How are you so calm about all of this?"

I watch her remove her engagement ring. She takes off her necklace and adds the ring to it and then tucks it inside her shirt. Now I'm even more confused.

Her eyes meet mine, she frowns. "Look, I just want to wait for the right time to break the news about the engagement. My mom and dad can be very observant and if they see the ring..."

"Isn't it better that way? It would give us an automatic opening to talk about it, wouldn't it? Instead of waiting around, wondering?"

"I just want to handle things one step at a time."

"So what do you believe is our first step?"

"Getting into the house."

She has the nerve to smirk at me.

"Ha-ha, hilarious. You know what I mean."

"I do, and because of that I'm going to let you in on a little secret." I don't know if she is taking pity on me or if she has been holding out on me, but she definitely has me curious.

"Oh, really? And that would be...?"

"Dillion has already talked with my mom. She knows you're not gay, and she's quite happy that we are in a relationship together."

This took me by complete surprise. "When did you find this out?"

"When she did her standard "When are you coming call?" this morning. She asked if you are coming. I told her you were. She said not to worry, that Dillion told her everything and she couldn't be more thrilled."

"So, she knows about the engagement?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing but I if what Cat was saying is true, the battle is more than half over before we even step into the door.

"Well... no... not about the engagement, just about us ... and you not being gay."

My head hurt. I shook it in confusion. "Wait, didn't you just say Dillion told her everything?"

"He did... well... everything that Dillion knows about."

I pull back, uncertain what meaning to take from what she just revealed. "Are you saying that you told your brother that I'm not gay, that we are a couple but you ..." I lean in towards her and am staring her down, "never told him about my asking you to marry me?"

Her eyes dart away for a moment. "Look, it's not what you think."

I lean back and fold my arms over my chest. Oh, I'm going to love hearing what she thinks I'm thinking. "And what is that?"

"I didn't leave the information out on purpose. I'm not trying to hide the fact that we are engaged from anyone. It's just that the last time I had spoken to my brother about you was before we got engaged."

"Have you told anyone... you know besides William?" I didn't want to sound hurt, but when I saw her flinch, I knew I wasn't very successful. I am hurt. I don't know why exactly, maybe because if I had someone other than William to tell, I would spread the news everywhere to everyone, but I don't. Yet, I know she does, and she hasn't and I can't help but wonder, why?

"Olivia knows," she offers tentatively.

"Yeah, okay," I say and unfasten my seatbelt to get out of the car, but she puts her hand on my arm and it causes me to pause. I look at her.

"I'm trying to handle things in small bites. Does that make sense? First friends who I know would be very supportive of the idea. Now family... who some may be happy, but the jury is still out? It has nothing to do with how I feel about you."

"I know."

"Do you?" she challenges, and I'm guessing she can read me like the open book I am.

My doubt must be clearly visible to her. I don't want to feel this insecure about us, but we came together under some unusual circumstances and she was going through a lot which everyone including her brother kept warning me about. Part of me can't help but wonder as her life settles if she won't regret her decision and feel as though she settled for me.

She grabs my face in her palms. They feel so warm against my cheeks.

"Alex, I love you." She stares into my eyes, trying to reassure me with her words. "I thank God every day that He decided you should be a part of my life. I don't know what I've done to deserve you but I'm so grateful for you, for your love, for your concern for me and Peanut."

Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears. "Please don't doubt me. Don't doubt that I love you. I love you so much it hurts sometimes. I know that may seem like a strange thing to say..."

"No," I interrupt her. "No, it's not strange. It's exactly how I feel about you."

She smiles slightly, and I reach out and pull her face towards mine, and we kiss. I taste a tear that must have escaped her lashes when she closed her eyes. I swipe it away.

There's a knock on the window. I pull away to see Dillion bent over his face, looking into my window. He's saying something but is muffled. I can't lower the window since Cat already took out the key. 

"You think you can stop manhandling my sister long enough to get your butts in the house? Mom is kind of going crazy waiting in there for you two."

Cat giggles and I just nod my head, yes. Dillion gives me a thumbs up before stepping away from the door so I can open it. I step out and Dillion immediately pulls me into a bro hug.

"Nice to see you again, Alex." He looks over my shoulder and grins. "I can see you've been taking good care of Tiger over there. She's positively glowing."

I look over in time to see Cat stick her tongue out at her brother and I laugh. "I'm trying my best," I say, walking to the trunk to help Cat with the bags.

"And from what I interrupted, I would say you were succeeding." Dillion teases. He comes around me and grabs a bag from Cat. "I got it." He looks into the trunk and makes a weird face. "What's with all the beach gear?"

"Oh!" Cat says excitedly, "One day this week I want us to go to the beach and maybe stay for a bonfire. You and Brittany will come too, right?"

Dillion shrugs. "I'll ask, but I don't see why not?"

Cat lets out a squeal of delight. "This is going to be SO MUCH fun!"

Dillion raises an eyebrow and inquires, "You fun deprived, little sis?"

He nudges my elbow. "Guess you aren't taking as good care of her as I thought." Dillion chuckles at his own joke and starts up the path to the house.

I just shake my head. I'm doomed. This family is going to eat me alive.

Cat follows her brother. When I get inside Cat's Mom nearly tackles me in the entryway. "ALEX! So happy you came to spend another holiday with us."

I laugh and hug her back. "Thank you, Mrs. Fischer."

"Oh please, call me Sarah."

"Uh... um... Sarah." Cat's Mom beams at me and Dillion and Cat are just standing behind her holding suitcases, with mouths wide open.

Mr. Fischer walks in at that moment. He smiles when he sees Cat. "Hey, Sweetheart." He gives Cat a kiss on the cheek and she looks both stunned and sweet, almost bashful that her Dad showed her some affection in public. She was simply adorable. I couldn't help grinning until I'd seen her father look at me and frown.

"You? Again? Don't you have a home to go home to?" he asks rather rudely.

"Tom!" "Dad!" Both women leap to my defense in unison.

"Actually, Mr. Fischer, it's sad to say but no I do not. Which makes me appreciate all the more that you opened your home up to me, thank you, Sir."

I hold out my outstretched hand to him and hope that he takes it. He does, and he tries to crush my hand in his, but I was prepared for that and give him enough strength that I know he'd feel it without actually causing damage. His eyes lit up for just a moment and he graciously nods at me. I could tell I impressed him. When he let go, I could see him stretch out his hand a bit before wiping is slightly on his jeans.

"Yeah... well ... any friend of a Cat's and all that," Mr. Fischer mumbles. He turns to Cat and takes her bag from her.

"So how are you doing?" he asks and motions with his hands for her to head up the stairs. I see Cat smile in a way that just lights her up from within. To have her father's interest in her life must feel so rewarding. I felt a pang of regret, or perhaps jealousy. It must be nice to have parents who cared.

I went follow Cat and her Dad but am held back by Dillion.

"And where do you think you're going?" Dillion inquires.

Thoroughly confused, I didn't know what to say so lamely just point up the stairs.

"Uh-uh, not this time Bright Eyes. You pulled the wool over Mama Bear's eyes once, but now that she knows the truth about you... no way that's happening again."

My spirits plummet into the depths of despair. No sleeping with Cat... for an entire week? Why am I being punished? The worst has already happened. She's already pregnant. For crying out loud, it's not like I can get her pregnant again.

I let out a slow audible sigh and Dillion just pats me on the back. "Don't worry. Cat's creative enough. She'll find a way around this. She always did with Liam."

I glare at Dillion. That was the last thing I needed to hear. Dillion just laughs at my distress. "Come on," he says, "you should feel honored. You're being set up in the Man Cave," Dillion explains with a raise of his eyebrows and an expression that says, Aren't you impressed?

My shoulders slump. I grab my bag, and I follow Dillion into the basement. I had to admit as far as a place to stay it was nice. There was a leather sofa, a large flat-screen TV, a small bar, a poker table, and a pool table.

"If you move the coffee table out of the way, the sofa opens up like a futon. You're tall, but you'll fit." Dillion sits down on the sofa and I put my bag down and sit next to him.

"I don't normally hang out down here, you know, because of the bar. A little too much temptation for someone like me."

I nod my head.

"Still with the frowny face? Come on, dude. It's not that bad."

I look up at Dillion and wonder, should I tell him? I feel like I want to tell someone but I don't feel like it's my place, he's Cat's brother, not mine. Then again, if we get married, he would become my Brother-In-Law. The thought of having a brother to confide in again pushed me over the edge.

"Uh, Dillion? What would you say if I told you that your sister and I...?"

"Are sleeping together? Are a couple? Yeah, don't sweat it, Bright Eyes. I already know."

I shake my head no. "No. That your sister and I are engaged."

"What?!" He looks at me a moment as if he is assessing if I'm joking or not. When he sees that I'm not, his look changes to deadly serious.