Page 45 of Unwrapped

By the time I get back to my apartment, Asher has sent me a message he’s on his way back.

“How’d you get here so fast,” I laugh, swinging open my front door. He’s bent over, his hands on his knees as he pants, his hair still damp from the shower.

“Because I didn’t want to be away from you for another second.” He pulls me into a kiss, and I can't help but smile against his lips, thinking about Zane's words. I can't shake thefeeling that he knows something I don't, like he's watching the final pieces of a puzzle fall into place.

The day fliesby in a blur of excitement. After spending the quiet morning together, we finally get ready to face what’s next: introducing Asher to my family as not just a guy I went to high school with. As we pull up to my parents’ house for lunch, I can feel the nervous energy buzzing under my skin. It’s not that I don’t think they’ll like him—of course, they will—but telling them that I’m head over heels in love with a man I’ve only reconnected with a few short weeks ago after never really talking in high school… will be a bit of a shock.

Asher squeezes my hand as we walk up to the front door, his presence calming me just enough to keep my nerves at bay. “You ready?” he asks, his voice full of warmth.

I nod, squeezing his hand in return. “Ready.”

The door opens, and we’re immediately met with the familiar chaos of a family Christmas—laughter, the smell of food, and the sound of my mom calling out from the kitchen. My mom greets us first, her eyes widening in surprise when she sees Asher standing beside me.

“Well, look who’s here!” she exclaims, pulling me into a hug before turning to Asher. “And who’s this handsome man?”

I glance up at him, feeling a rush of warmth. “Mom, this is Asher Mercer.” Her brow furrows in confusion. “From high school.”

“Oh my goodness!” she exclaims, recognition coming into her eyes. “Oh my, you have certainly grown up. You are so handsome.” She gushes, making my cheeks flush in embarrassment.

“And he’s my… boyfriend.”

There’s a moment of silence as the word settles in, and I feel Asher’s hand tighten in mine. But then my mom breaks into a wide smile, immediately pulling him into a hug. “Well, it’s about time we met the man who’s been making our Ivy smile! Gary, come meet Ivy’s boyfriend; I told you, I knew it was a man that our girl all wound up!”

The ice is broken, and soon enough, Asher is introduced to the rest of my family. The conversation flows easily, and the tension I felt earlier slowly melts away. My dad and brothers seem to like him, and my mom is already chatting with him as if he’s been a part of the family for years.

Through it all, Asher never lets go of my hand, his presence a constant reminder that we’re in this together. And as the afternoon unfolds, I start to believe it—that maybe we really can make this work. The only thing still making doubt creep in, is the dinner tonight at his parents’ house.

Asher’s handrests on my knee, his thumb tracing slow, soothing circles against my skin as we navigate the winding roads toward his family’s grand home.

“You’re nervous again,” he says, glancing over at me with a small smile.

I laugh softly, nodding. “Of course I’m nervous. This is a big deal.”

He reaches over, taking my hand in his and bringing it to his lips for a quick kiss. “They’re going to love you, Ivy. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”

I smile at him, but the nerves are still there, bubbling just beneath the surface. Meeting Asher’s family feels different fromintroducing him to my own. There’s a weight to it—a significance that I can’t ignore. Asher’s world has always felt larger than life, filled with expectations and a spotlight that I’ve never quite been comfortable under. But being here with him, knowing he wants me by his side, gives me the courage to face whatever comes next.

As we pull into the long driveway leading up to the Mercer estate, the grand house looms ahead, festively lit with twinkling lights that reflect off the snow-covered lawn. The place is breathtaking, but it only makes my heart race faster. Asher must sense my nerves because he squeezes my hand again, his reassuring smile never wavering.

When we step inside, the warmth of the house immediately wraps around us, and I’m greeted by the sounds of laughter and the clinking of glasses. His family is gathered in the large living room, and the atmosphere is surprisingly cozy, considering the size and grandeur of the estate. It feels like a home—not the intimidating place I’d built up in my mind.

“Asher!” a voice calls out from across the room, and soon a tall woman with striking features approaches us, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she hugs him tightly. She looks familiar, not just because she’s related to Asher but because she was a few years younger than me in school and I remember seeing her in the hallways. “It’s about time you showed up.”

Asher chuckles and returns the hug before turning to me. “Ivy, this is my sister, Claire.”

Claire’s eyes soften as she takes my hand, her smile warm and genuine. “So, you’re the one we’ve heard so much about. It’s great to finally meet you.”

I blush, but her easygoing demeanor quickly puts me at ease. “It’s great to meet you too.”

“Oh, Asher, sweetheart.” His mother rounds the corner, then freezes, a megawatt smile that matches Asher’s spreading acrossher face. “Ivy Calloway?” Her eyes grow wide. “Oh my goodness, you’re just as striking as you were in school.” She reaches her hands out toward me and I’m shocked she remembers me.

“Hi, Mrs. Mercer, It’s so nice to?—”

“It’s Annabelle,” she cuts me off, her eyes already full of tears as she pulls me in for a hug so tight it almost squeezes the air out of my lungs. “I’m so happy he found you again,” she whispers softly in my ear.

I make a mental note to ask Asher what she means later, when we are alone.

“Now, let’s go introduce you to everyone,” she says, her hand in mine as she tugs me toward the kitchen.

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