Page 53 of Right Place, Right Time (Second Chances)
“How are you going to break the news to your parents?”
She shrugs and pops another forkful of eggs in her mouth. “They’ll be here in a few weeks. I guess I’ll tell them then. It’ll be better to do it in person. They’ll actually have to listen to me and they’llseethat I’m serious.”
I nearly choke on my toast. Her parents are going to be here in a few weeks? The two most detached people I’ve ever had described to me. I hope she doesn’t ask me to meet them.
“I’d love it if you’d be there with me,” she says, flipping her hand over and threading her fingers with mine. “They’re not going to take it well, and I could really use someone in my corner. I can’t ask Casey right now…”
Fuck.
“Of course, I’ll be there for you,” I choke out after taking a healthy swig of orange juice to clear the toast that’s suddenly too dry from my throat. Because despite how I feel about her awful parents, I would do anything for her, though she’d never know since my agreement just came out like I consented to a death sentence.
“It’s not gonna bethatbad,” she laughs. “They’ll barely pay any attention to you. It’ll be the ideal ‘meet the parents’ scenario. They’ll be so pissed at me that they won’t have any time to criticize you.”
“Way to make a guy feel special, babe,” I shake my head with a smirk, letting her know I’m joking with her.
“It’s just my parents have something to say about everyone. I had a boyfriend sophomore year, Paul…”
I sort of tune her out as she talks about her old boyfriend. I know she’s not a virgin, and I didn’t expect her to be, but I don’t exactly want to hear about the guys she’s been with. Plus, I’m not too sure I want to hear how even “the perfect guy” wasn’t good enough for her parents. IfPaulwasn’t good enough, there’s no way in hell they’d accept me.
“So anyway,” she continues, oddly dipping her sausage in ketchup, “he was totally clean cut, and my parents quizzed him on his lineage. Hislineage.As if being valedictorian of his private school and pre-law with early acceptance to pretty much any law school he wanted wasn’t enough, he had to have an excellent pedigree as well. The shit really hit the fan when they found out he was from ‘new money.’ I swear, my parents are certifiable.”
“Can’t argue with that,” I agree.
“Look, I know this is fast. I mean we only just committed to doing this, and I’m already throwing you to the wolves. It’s just…this decision could really set me apart from them, and it really means a lot to me to have your support. To be honest, I’m going to be terrified. I’m going to need you, Jay.”
I look into her brown eyes and see the fear in them. Not just fear of her parents, but fear of the unknown. Fear of taking a giant, blind leap of faith and not knowing where she’s going to land. It suddenly makes me realize that my worries about meeting her parents aren’t all that large or important. What’s important is sitting right in front of me, and as long as she’s by my side—as long as we’re by each other’s side—I have a feeling everything is going to be okay.
I squeeze her hand. “I’ve got you, Sunshine. We’re a team, right?” Her answering smile is totally worth suppressing my own qualms and being there for her.
“Yeah, we’re a team. Me and you against the world!” She shouts the last part, pumping her free fist in the air. She’s so serious most of the time, I absolutely love it when she acts like a goofball.
“You’re a goober,” I tell her, laughing at her antics.
“Yeah, but you love it,” she says, returning to her breakfast.
Yeah…I do love it…and I’m pretty sure I love her, too.
