Page 48 of The Inevitable Us

He stops rubbing my back and pauses for a minute as if thinking. “I wanted us to have complete independence from your father. I didn’t want to use his friends to start my business. He’ll respect it more if I didn’t. And if someone’s pissed that we’re together, and they break our contract, then I’ll find another one. It’ll all work out.”

Biting my lip, I look up at him. “You’re not worried about my parents being upset?”

He scowls. “God, no. I mean, Ethan’s definitely going to be pissed, but he’ll calm down eventually. All men want for their daughter’s partners is someone who respects them and treats them well. He’ll calm down when he realizes we’re not just a fling.”

I move away from him, leaning against the back of the couch. “Dad doesn’t seem to like Josie’s boyfriends, no matter how long she dates them,” I remind him.

“That’s a totally different scenario.” His words are clipped, annoyed. None of the men seem to like Josie’s boyfriends, and while Dad has never been unkind or unfair to Sawyer, he’s never seemed to completely like him, either.

He rubs his hands together, his gaze vacant for a moment. “We’re a totally different scenario, Baby Girl. I’ll bring you to meet my family soon, and you can get to know everyone. Your parents should be back soon after that, so we can do the whole ‘meet the parents’ thing in one go.”

“Are you sure it’s going to be ok?” I ask one more time nervously.

“Rosalie, I can’t promise that things aren’t going to blow up when your family finds out. But I promise I’ll do everything possible to make it easier for you.”

Chapter twenty-four

Rosalie

Nosie Josie: How’s school

Rosalie: I hate it. Hate. I can’t keep up!

Nosie Josie: The others just have more kitchen experience, that’s all.

Nosie Josie: Are you ever going to tell me who the guy is?

Rosalie: Ok, fine, I’m dating someone, ok?

Nosie Josie: No, really? Because the hickey didn’t give that away at all. How much older is he?

Rosalie: Who said he’s older?

Nosie Josie: 19 year old boys don’t wear suits on random Wednesdays. Your guy was wearing a suit.

Nosie Josie: He’s not married is he? That’s not why you’re being so secretive?

Rosalie: OMG NO! Is that what you think? He’s never been married, no kids etc. Geeze! I just want some privacy ok?

“Wannagotomyparents this weekend? I took two days off this weekend to go up to see them.”

“Oh, I’d love to meet them. How far away are they?”

“Not far at all. An hour?” He shrugs. “It was a long drive when I lived in Nashville, but it’s much shorter here. One of the reasons I love that we’re settling here.”

“I didn’t realize they lived so close?” I ask.

“Yeah, it’s not a bad drive. It’s closer to four hours away from your parents’ house. Probably why you think it’s so far away.”

I stopped and turned to face him. “Do they know yet? I mean that you’re so much older and stuff?”

He full belly chuckled. “Oh, Angelique went straight to Mom. They were shocked. Brody was even more shocked. But they’re ok with it.”

“You’re sure? I mean, they probably think it’s just a fling or something or that we’re not taking this seriously because of our age difference.”

“Rosalie, I’ve never brought anyone home. They know you’re special to me.”

“They’regoingtoloveyou; stop fidgeting,” he tells me for the dozenth time on our drive to his family’s home. I’ve spent every second of the last hour jiggling my legs, fussing over my hair, and trying not to bite a hole in my lower lip.

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