Page 83 of Give Me a Reason

“It’s more for me too.”

“I don’t want you to worry about me meeting your parents. I already know they’re amazing people because they raised you.” I reached over and held her hand on her thigh.

Aria looked at me as if she’d never really seen me before.

“I’m all in with you, Aria. I want our night together. I’m collecting.”

A slow smile spread over her face. “Okay.”

“Yeah?” I glanced over at her, and she smiled at me. We were finally doing this. We weren’t ignoring what we meant to each other or pretending it wasn’t as serious as it was. It felt good, like a weight had been lifted from my chest.

The closer we got to her parents’, the higher her shoulders moved. She was still worried despite my assurances. When she told me to turn into a trailer park, her voice was tight.

“I don’t think less of you if that’s what you’re worried about. You don’t choose your circumstances when you’re born. Besides, you grew up with love and support. That’s priceless.”

“You’re saying the right things.”

“I’m saying them because they’re true. You’ll see,” I said as I parked in the small gravel driveway in front of a small building that I think used to be a shed. It was caved in and looked like it had been that way for a while.

The door to the trailer had a welcome sign on it, and there were well-kept bushes around the perimeter, as if her parents had tried to make it homey. Aria took a deep breath before turning the knob and heading inside.

The small table in the kitchen was set for five. The plates and glasses were mismatched, but it didn’t matter. We stood in the kitchen, holding hands.

“Mom. Dad. We’re here,” Aria said.

The TV in the living room clicked off and who looked to be her younger sister came into the room with a bright smile. She hugged Aria and then me. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

“Finn, this is my sister, Iris.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Aria waved a hand at the two people behind Iris. “And these are my parents.”

They were younger than I expected, maybe mid-fifties. Her father had a slight paunch, but his hair wasn’t gray yet. It was clear Aria looked like her mother, with her long, wavy chestnut hair and blue eyes. “You’re beautiful, Mrs. Hunter.”

“Thank you. You can call me Kim, and this is Kenny.”

I shook his hand firmly, wanting to make a good impression. “Nice to meet you.”

There was an awkward silence where we all stood and looked at each other after the introductions, and then Iris said, “I signed up for classes next semester.”

Aria squealed and gave her another hug. “Do you need anything? Books, help with tuition, an apartment?”

Iris smiled like she’d expected her offer. “I’ve got it covered.”

“Are you sure? I’ve been saving so we could get a place together.”

“You don’t have to do that. There’s a program that’s helping me with living expenses.”

“Really?”

“My advisor is helping me.”

“That’s great news. But I’m happy to help.”

“I know that,” Iris said with a smile.

Kim bustled around the room, pulling baked potatoes out of the oven. “We’re so proud of her. Our first child to go to college.”

---