Page 64 of Chasing Stars
“He wants me to meet his parents on Friday. For dinner at their house.” I gulp dramatically, but Joy doesn’t falter.
“Mr. and Mrs. Corbin are literally the nicest people in the world,” Joy says, patting my arm.“It’ll be perfect.”
“I guess so. And then on Saturday, I’m having dinner with Jake and Aunt Leona. I honestly never thought I’d see that day,” I say wryly. “It’s going to be an interesting few days.”
“You’ll be fine—you’re you.” Joy stands up, reaching for my hand to help me up too. “But more importantly, what are you going to wear to meet his parents?”
32
MILES
The rest of October passes by in a blur. Halloween comes and Jenna buys candy to give out to trick-or-treaters. We only get two at my condo and Jenna ends up giving them the whole bowl. Friday, November first, the entire town switches over to Christmas. The streetlamps have wreaths and angels that light up at night. The Washington Street Mall is ornately decorated with twinkling lights, greenery, and ornaments. The speakers play Christmas music twenty-four-seven for everyone to hear. The excitement in the air is infectious. Even I catch myself whistling along this year.
I would be more excited if I weren’t so nervous about dinner at my parents' tonight. I want them to like Jenna as much as I do because I like herso much. After only a couple of months, I like her more than anyone I have ever been with. More than I liked Erin at this stage.
Jenna and I have fallen into an easy rhythm, waking up and drinking our coffee together on the balcony overlooking the ocean before going our separate ways for the day. When the end of the day comes, I can hardly wait to get home. I drive as quickly as possible, knowing a hot meal—and Jenna and Pete—are waiting for me. They are both as happy to see me as I am them. To be fair, Pete has always been thrilled when I get home, but I wasn’t always in such a hurry. Now, someone is waiting for me—someone I can’t believe I’ve gone my whole life without. Obviously, we shouldn’t live together permanently. It would be way too soon. But calling her my girlfriend and coming home to her every day? It feelssoright.
I don’t think I’ve really been living these past couple years since my divorce. I’ve woken up, gone to work, gone surfing, and did the mundane adult things that are required of me. But Jenna lights everything up again. I can hardly believe my dumb luck that I found her.
I still haven’t gotten the courage to tell her about her dad though.I know, I know. It’s bad.We’re having a great time together, and I am so afraid of what this information will do to us. What if it shakes everything up, and Jenna doesn’t want to be with me anymore? The longer I wait, the worse it’ll be for me if she finds out before I tell her. That’s why I decided after kissing her goodbye this morning, that if everything goes well tonight with my family, I will finally tell her. So, that’s the plan.
Nate’s already at the office when I get there this morning. He’s busy at his computer and doesn’t even look up as I walk inside, whistling “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”
“What’s with you?” He smirks without looking up.
I scowl at him from across the room. “What do you mean, what’s with me? I’m just happy.”
Nate grins, “Oh? And that happiness wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain client you’ve been entertaining, would it?” In true Nate form, he can’t help himself from antagonizing me.
“I’d say she’s far from a client now, wouldn’t you?” I frown, pulling out my desk chair and booting up my desktop.
“I don’t know, bro. You’re the only one who knows the answer to that,” Nate says, still not looking my way. He clicksthrough on a listing he signed yesterday, adding photos and a description of the house.
“Well, considering I made her my girlfriend this week, I’d sure hope so,” I say, tipping back in my chair and daring my brother to look my way.
He spins in his chair to face me. “Girlfriend, yeah?” He raises his eyebrows. “So, you told her about your suspected connection to her dad?” The question sounds accusatory, and I know Nate already knows what my answer will be.
I push back in my chair and walk to the coffee pot in the back of the office, selecting a K-cup and pressing brew before I answer him. He clears his throat as if to encourage me.
“Not exactly,” I say, hemming and hawing. “I will. But I wanted to see how dinner with Mom and Dad goes tonight.”
“Dinner?” Nate’s jaw drops. “No one told me about a dinner.” He scowls.
I laugh, slurping my coffee and then hissing when it’s too hot. “Now you know how I felt the other night.”
“Yeah, well, at least wetriedto invite you. You just didn’t answer,” Nate retorts sourly.
“Maybe Mom and Dad just want to meet Jenna without your input,” I suggest. “Did you ever think of that?”
Nate furrows his brow. “Absolutely not. I’m calling Mom.” He crosses his arms indignantly.
“What are you five?” I growl. “I don’t care if you come, for what it’s worth.”
But Nate is already on the phone asking our mom why he wasn’t invited to dinner. Mom must give in like she always does withher Nathan,because he offers me a smug grin upon hanging up. “Guess I’ll see you at dinner.” He looks pleased with himself. “Me and Caden.”
I smack my lips. “Great.”
It turnsout that Jenna is putty in Caden’s sticky little hands. As soon as he sees her, he is dragging her from room to room, giving her a tour of my parents’ house. I follow behind to make sure he doesn’t show her anything embarrassing but I’m trying to remain inconspicuous. Jenna didn’t get more than two minutes with my parents before Caden latched onto her like Velcro.
