“You’re being weird,” Kevin says, looking at Jacob and I quickly look down at my phone before his gaze pans to mine and can potentially see something in my eyes that I can’t hide from one of the people responsible for bringing me into this world.

No more than a minute later, my mom and Georgina are back in the room and suddenly I feel like my spacious living room is again way too small. Georgina sits next to Jacob on the love seat as it’s one of the few seats open and why not? Despite her sitting next to him and the whole reason for her being here, she turns her attention to me.

“Congratulations by the way! How excited are you?” She leans across and holds her hand out. “Let me see your ring!” I’m used to this. It’s all I’ve heard for the past month. I hold out my hand and she beams. “It’s beautiful! He did good!” Typical response. My eyes flit toward Jacob for no more than a second who’s staring daggers at my finger.

Good, now we’re both annoyed.

“I feel like I haven’t heard the story of how you two met anyway?” Jacob asks. “Don’t tell me a dating app?” he jokes condescendingly.

I furrow my brows at the judgment in his voice. My dad chuckles before taking a sip of his drink and my mother chimes in, ever my biggest fan. “Don’t be like that Jacob, that’s how all the kids are meeting people these days!”

His eyes dart to mine and he doesn’t even attempt to hide the anger. “You went out with some guy you met online? Alone? Was Chloe at least with you the first time?”

“Calm down, dad,” I snap and his blue eyes darken and narrow in response. I didn’t call you daddy so don’t even look at me like that.

“That’s exactly what I said,” my father interjects and I snap my gaze to him who’s shaking his head at Jacob.

“Which is why you didn’t know until way after the fact,” I sass. “I am alive, you know. I’m fine. He wasn’t a serial killer. And for your information, Jacob. Yes, he and his friend met Chloe and I for dinner for us to meet for the first time… and the second time if you must know.”

“So, you met this joker online. He couldn’t meet a girl in person? Bad social skills?” Jacob asks sarcastically with a scrunch of his nose.

“Yes,” my dad pipes up without taking his eyes away from the screen again.

“Kevin!” my mom exclaims at the same time I say, “Dad!”

“What? Miche, come on. And Whit, don’t act like you don’t know we feel that way. JP, wait till you meet this guy, he’s just so… not like us.”