Page 94 of Yours, Unexpectedly

It feels as though a bomb just detonated in the middle of the bathroom. Alice apparently decides she doesn’t need to reapply her lipstick after all, placing it back in her purse as she walks toward the door.

“Oh, and Rebecca dear?” My head whips in her direction, noting the conspiratorial glint in her eyes. “Do tell my son I’d like to see him next time he’s in town.”

Before I can reply, she’s gone.

I get the job.

“How many cookies do you think it is physically possible to make in one night?”

I can pretty easily follow Gabe’s train of thought. “Well, we can fit two baking sheets inside the oven at once. Each of them will fit about a dozen cookies. How late do you want to stay up?” I ask.

Gabe is silent long enough that I look up to see that he has teared up. “You get me.”

“Alright, weirdo. Let’s go get some ingredients. Snickerdoodles, right?”

He nods. “I love you, man.”

“Love you, too, Gabe.”

Bex hasn’t responded to my texts all week. I’m losing sleep—not that I ever really did much of that before. I brought coffee to her acting class every time they met this week, but tried to respect her desire for space so I really only caught glimpses from across the way as she walked into the building. I’m acting like a fucking creep, and I don’t even have it in me to care.

Which is why I show up to Bardot family dinner on Sunday with a bouquet of the same flowers we had on our first—our only—real date. Gabe is out of town for work and I’ve never been without him, but I can’t wait anymore—I need to see Bex. Need to make sure she’s okay. That we’re going to be okay.

I don’t know what I’ll do if we aren’t.

Elaine answers the door and I see a split second of confusion pass over her expression before she schools it. “Anders, my cabbage!” she greets, using the nickname she has for her children. “I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight! Come in, come in. I’ll have Hugo set an extra plate.”

“I hope I’m not intruding.” I am absolutely intruding. “Is…” How do I ask this nonchalantly? “Is Bex here?” Okay, that was full chalant.

Elaine tuts several times while patting me on the arm. “No, darling. She’s in New York. Actually, she’s probably on a train back by now.”

New York?!

I must wear my thoughts plainly across my face, because Elaine continues with, “She didn’t tell you.” It’s less of a question and more of a statement seeped in disappointment.

I shake my head as she guides me into the dining room, but I stop abruptly when I see that the table is only set for two.

“Oh, God. I really am intruding. I should leave.”

“Nonsense. None of my children could be bothered to come to family dinner this week. It happens occasionally, and I loathe when it does, but now you are here! And you’ve always been my favorite.” She winks. I’m all but forced into a seat as she calls out, “Hugo, darling! Grab another plate for Anders.”

A moment later, Hugo rounds the corner carrying an extra plate, glass, and set of silverware. “Anders! Glad someone bothered to show up tonight.”

He begins laying my setting in front of me and the familiarity of it makes my chest tight. I swallow hard, willing myself not to cry at my girlfriend’s parents’ dinner table.

If she’s still my girlfriend.

“Thank you,” I try but it definitely comes out choked.

“Oh, honey. It’s going to be okay.” Elaine covers my hand with hers. “She’s a stubborn one, our Bex. She needs to figure things out but she’ll be back. I can see how much she cares about you.”

“I need to talk to her. I won’t allow my family—a family that means nothing to me—to stand in the way of us being together.”

Hugo clears his throat. “She knows you love her.” He taps his head twice. “She just needs to trust that you love her.” His hand moves down to tap over his heart. “Trust takes time. It takes showing up for each other over and over again. It takes immense courage to hand our heart over to someone—immense trust in someone to keep it safe. You’re showing up, Anders. Keep doing that and she’ll come around. She’ll see that she can give you her heart and trust that you’ll keep it safe.”

A tear—okay, maybe a few tears—slips free. I can be patient for Bex. I decided a long time ago that I would do anything for her, and I’m not changing that now.

“Thank you, Mr. Bardot—I mean, Hugo,” I amend when his pointed gaze meets mine. “I do love her, very much so. I don’t know if Gabe has told you any of my story, but my family… my father in particular… Well, let’s just say I learned at a very young age that I wanted to be nothing like him. That I would take the first opportunity presented to remove myself from the hell he created in my life. I didn’t always do that perfectly, and often I was loud in my hatred of him. He has this idea that he can buy my loyalty, maybe? My silence, definitely. But Bex… she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. She’s taught me more about what it means to love someone. Your whole family has, really. I’m honored to be a small part of what you both have built.”

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