Page 37 of How We Fooled

I laugh out loud and step to where he’s standing, wrapping my arms around him and looking up at him. “Why would I mind?”

He tucks a few strands of my hair behind one ear. “So beautiful,” he says more to himself than me—something he does often. Then, he continues, “I just didn’t want you to be bored.”

I playfully tap his chest with my hand. “Meeting your parents will not be boring. I want to hear all the baby stories and see all the pictures.”

He drops his head back with a laugh. “Oh jeez, maybe I should say no.”

I reach on my tiptoes to give him a quick kiss. “No way. I’m coming. I can’t wait to meet your sister too.”

That puts a big grin on his face. I know he loves his sister, and I can’t wait to get to know her too.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Eli

I’ve never wanted to not leave somewhere as bad as I don’t want to right now. If I could live right here for the rest of my life, with her, I would. My entire life has been sports, spending my last three summers on the road. I thought I was living the dream, but knowing I have to leave tomorrow for another tournament has me dreading the thought.

People warned me how girls could distract you from your goals, but I never believed it would happen to me. I know I need to get my shit together and stay focused. I will, but I just want to live one more day like this.

Knowing we need to get going, I kiss the top of her head while curled up with her on the hammock. “We need to get packed up. Especially if you want to stop by your house to get cleaned up before we go back to my place for dinner.”

She jumps up so fast that I can’t help but laugh.

She smooths her hair down, trying to calm the random curls that have snuck out from her messy ponytail. “I absolutely have to shower before I meet your parents. I can’t meet them, looking like this.” Her voice rises a few octaves in panic.

I sit up and hop off the hammock with a laugh. “You look amazing. Don’t forget, they know we were camping.”

“Yeah, but meeting them for the first time is a big deal. I need to get cleaned up.”

I bring her in for a hug. “They’re going to love you. Don’t worry.”

We kiss, and then she pulls away and heads toward the tent to get everything ready to go.

We’re on the road within the hour. I drive with her hand in mine as we go to her place first. I’m surprised when she showers and gets ready much quicker than I would have imagined as I sit on the couch, watching a baseball game with her uncle.

After saying our goodbyes to her aunt and uncle, we head to my place back in Leighton River.

“This will be my first time visiting Leighton River,” she admits, looking around the area once we pull into town.

“Seriously?”

She shrugs. “Why would I have come here? You’ve always come to see me, and I haven’t had a reason to come here while you’ve been gone.”

“Well, this is where I call home,” I say, holding my arm out at the Stop sign on the main road through town.

She takes it all in. “Do you live close to the downtown area?”

I shake my head. “Nope. We live up in those hills.” I point to the hills that are dotted with houses.

“Oh.” She pauses when she sees what I’m talking about.

These aren’t just any houses. You can see the mansions that line the landscape from where we are.

I make the right turn toward them and start our ascent up the hill, which changes the feel of Leighton River from a small town to a fancy master-planned community.

“How did I forget that your dad helped create TimeLand?” she asks more under her breath than to me.

I squeeze her hand. “I’m glad you did. But don’t be shocked when you see where I live. It doesn’t change anything. It’s just a house.”

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