League of Her Own (Carmichael Series #2)✔️

First Impressions

"It's been four hours already?" She exclaimed, shocked. I just laughed and nodded in reply. I unbuckled her seat belt and pulled her out, kissing her sweetly on the lips as she leaned her weight against me. Hearing a shrill, yet muffled, squeal from behind me I glanced over my shoulder only to see my mother peeking through the living room curtains. As soon as she realized I'd caught her red handed, her eyes widened and she dashed away. I shook my head and rolled my eyes at her antics.

"Home sweet home." I said, amusement lacing my tone. Swinging both Aurora and I's duffle bags over my shoulder, I lightly smacked her ass in a gesture for her to start walking. She yipped in surprise before throwing me a dirty side look to which I just winked in return. Pushing my key into the front door, I twisted the knob and pushed the door open.

"Just don't forget what I told you. If you get overwhelmed and need a break from the women in my family, don't hesitate to say you have to use the bathroom." I said seriously. She scoffed and rolled her eyes at me.

"Please. I bet you're just being dramatic." She stated with an eye roll of her own. Slapping her ass once again, she blushed deliciously.

"Watch the attitude, baby girl." I warned playfully. "And don't say I didn't warn you." I said finished in a taunting voice before entering the house.

"Shhh! Act natural! They're coming!" I heard my mom whisper yell excitedly from the kitchen. I laughed lightly at her ridiculousness, but decided to let it slide. I've never brought a girl home with me before, no matter how much she's prodded into my love life – if you could even label my past as a love life that is.

My sisters were both pretending to help my mother chop up vegetables for whatever dish she was preparing for dinner tonight. They glanced back and forth between Aurora and I's linked hands and my face in what I'm assuming they thought to be an inconspicuous manner.

Then, there was my mother. She was making absolutely no effort to hide her blatant staring. Her eyes filled with tears as she covered her mouth with her hand – emotions getting the best of her.

"My baby boy is finally home!" She sobbed before rushing towards me, snatching me into her tight embrace. For such a small woman, she's got a mean grip I thought to myself as I groaned loudly. My cheeks tinted a light shade of pink in embarrassment at her nickname for me.

"Ma, how many times have I told you I'm not a baby anymore?" I questioned, exasperated. She pulled away while wiping at her watery eyes.

"You could tell me a million and one times and it still won't change the fact that you'll always be my baby." She snapped sternly, eyeing me with her no nonsense look. "Now where's my kiss?" She demanded impatiently. I shook my head with a small smile on my face before leaning down and pecking her cheek.

"Missed you." I mumbled while giving her a quick side hug.

"The house isn't the same without you around." She mumbled sadly while patting my back affectionately.

"Hey! What the fuck mom? We're both literally right here!" Ellie yelled in mock outrage. I threw my head back and burst into laughter while my mom eyed the two of them sheepishly.

"Oh, don't give me that crap! You two ignored me for the first ten years of your life because you only ever wanted your dad's attention. At least he used to tell me I was his favorite whenever I'd cook for him." She said, jerking her thumb towards me as she spoke.

"That's total bullshit!" Evan sputtered.

"How many times have I told you all to watch your potty mouths?" My mom demanded. "I'm so sorry for my family's crude tongue, sweetheart! What's your name?" My mom asked sweetly while extending her hand to Aurora, who'd been watching the scene unfold before her with an amused smile on her face.