Page 64 of Journey to Love

She’s fallen asleep in my arms and I pick her up and carry her to her room. As I lay Anya down in her bed and tuck her in, she stirs slightly, mumbling something so soft I almost miss it. "I love you too," she whispers, her words barely audible. I freeze for a moment, unsure if she meant to say it or if it slipped out in her sleep. But even so, those words hit me like a ton of bricks, filling me with a mix of joy and uncertainty.

I want to believe she meant it, but I know she's in a vulnerable state right now. The last thing I want to do is assume anything or pressure her into saying things she may not be ready to express. So instead, I brush a strand of hair from her face and place a gentle kiss on her forehead, whispering softly, "Sleep tight, Anya. I'll be right here." And with that, I quietly leave her room, my heart still racing with the weight of her words.

Anya’s Nana breezes through the front door, greeting me with a warm hug. “Oh, good morning, Jacob!” she chirps, her smile as bright as the morning sun. “I didn’t know you were coming over today?”

Returning her hug, I grin. “Hi, Mrs. Parker, yeah, I just wanted to check on Anya.”

She playfully swats at my arm. “Nana, Jacob! Mrs. Parker sounds so formal!” she insists with a laugh.

I chuckle in response. “Okay, Nana it is. Well, um, I’m gonna head out to grab some breakfast for me and Anya. Would you mind keeping an eye on her while I’m gone? She’s still sleeping in her room.”

“Of course, dear! If she wakes up before you get back, I’ll let her know where you went,” she assures me with a smile.

“Thanks, Nana,” I say gratefully, feeling reassured by her presence.

A short while later, I stride into Anya’s grandparents’ house, a box of doughnuts and a tray of coffee cups in hand. Just as I start setting everything down on the table, Anya shuffles into the kitchen, looking groggy and rubbing her eyes. My heart clenches at the sight of the black eye forming on her face, a painful reminder of what happened last night. I wish I could have been there to protect her, to shield her from harm.

“What’s all this?” she asks, her voice a mix of excitement and weariness.

“Breakfast,” I reply, flashing her a wide grin.

Her face lights up with delight. “You brought me Dunkin’ Donuts?” she exclaims eagerly.

“And coffee!” I add, gesturing to the tray.

“Oh my god, you are the best boyfriend ever!” she exclaims, grabbing a cup of coffee and eagerly digging into the box of doughnuts.

“I’m aware,” I tease, unable to suppress a smile at her enthusiasm.

"Hey, so I was talking to my mom earlier, and she's invited you to stay with us for a few days. I know it might not be the best timing, but she's really eager to meet you," I say to Anya.

Anya's eyes widen in surprise, and a flicker of fear crosses her face. "I can't meet your mom looking like this!" she exclaims, her voice tinged with anxiety. "I look like I've been through a boxing match! What will she think?"

I let out a laugh, trying to ease the tension. "Anya, she knows what happened. She's not going to judge you," I reassure her, noticing the apprehension in her expression. "I promise."

Taking a sip of her coffee, Anya nods slowly. "Okay," she replies, a hesitant smile playing on her lips.

"Wait, really?" I ask, feeling a surge of excitement. She nods in response. "Awesome! Can I help you pack?"

Anya's eyes widen in surprise. "Wait, are we talking about right now?" she asks nervously.

I nod enthusiastically. "Yeah, I remember you mentioning you were off this weekend."

Anya heads back to her room to pack, and I'm left sitting at the kitchen table with Nana. She looks at me with a warm smile, her eyes reflecting a sense of gratitude.

"I think it'll be good for her to get out for a bit," Nana says, her hand resting on top of mine. "Thank you for taking such care of my granddaughter."

"Of course," I reply sincerely. "She's someone special, and I do love her."

Nana's smile widens into a grin. "Oh, I am aware," she says, using the same words I had spoken to Anya earlier. "You wouldn't have spontaneously driven out the three hours out here if you didn't," she adds with a knowing look.

I chuckle, appreciating Nana's perceptiveness. Just then, Anya emerges from her room, dragging a suitcase behind her.

"Umm, so I didn't know what we were gonna be doing, so I kind of just brought one of everything," Anya says sheepishly.

I stand up and walk over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I think you'll be fine. We'll be back on Monday morning, so there won't be much you'll need."

"Well, you can never be too prepared," she quips, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

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