Page 139 of The Odds of Happily Ever After
As he told me about the stories his family shared and the food they forced on him, I had a vision of us five years from now. We’d run our own businesses and come home to each other and talk about our day. Though I couldn’t predict how our story would unfold, I knew there was no other person I wanted to do life with.
That meant I had to work up the courage to introduce him to my family.
chapter forty-four
luna
Luna
Finally done with finals! Talk soon?
I’d held offon that conversation with my brother, but after I completed my requirements for the semester, I knew I couldn’t procrastinate any further. I didn’t expect to hear back from Lonzo for a couple of hours, but my phone rang less than thirty minutes after I texted him.
So much for having time to prep for this conversation.
Taking a deep breath, I hit accept. Lonzo’s face appeared on my screen, looking like he’d just showered. “Did you just wake up?” I asked in greeting. It was eleven p.m. in Sterling, which meant it was eleven in the morning in Manila.
“More like I just finished my workout,” he said as he toweled off his hair.
“On a Saturday morning?” I shook my head, secretly thankful for the easy back-and-forth. “What happened to sleeping in?”
“I did sleep in. You know I’m usually out for a run before six.”
“But it’s the weekend. I cannot.”
Lonzo laughed. “How was finals?”
“Pretty good.” He’d given me an opening, so I went for it. “I was mostly worried about econ, but I had a good tutor.” I held my breath in anticipation of his reaction.
His brows slammed together. “Don’t tell me you’re talking about that guy.”
“His name is Gabe.”
“I don’t need to say it because he’s not relevant to me.”
“If I matter to you at all, then itisrelevant to you,” I shot back. “You need to get used to hearing it because he’ll be in my life for the foreseeable future.” Hopefully, forever.
His eyes widened. “No.”
“Yes. I’m in love with Gabe, Lonzo,” I said firmly despite the scowl he leveled at me. “And I’m not telling you that you have to like him, but if you care about me and my happiness, then you’ll at least give him a chance.”
“He’s too old for you.”
“How about you try to get to know him first, and then you can judge? You’re in pre-law. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?”
“That doesn’t always apply.”
“It should when it comes to your family.” I glared at him, hurt by his harsh words. “Look, if you don’t trust my judgment, you should at least trust Ate’s. She’s known Gabe longer than I have and she supports our relationship. Why can’t you?”
He shook his head. “Her judgment isn’t exactly sound when it comes to him.”
“And yours is? You decided to dislike him the moment you met him.”
“Because he’s messing around with you!”
My head pounded, and I tipped it backward, closing my eyes. “I’m not going over this again.” After the long week of studying, I was all out of energy and patience.
Lonzo sighed. “Look, it’s not that I don’t trust you. It’shim.”
