Page 43 of Chasing Forever

As Tristan guided the Suburban up the gravel path, he and Levi chattered along like it was any other day, oblivious to the fact that I was sitting in the passenger seat, freaking the hell out.

Blythe’s house came into view a second later, but I was so in my head I barely had it in me to appreciate how beautiful her home was and how tranquil the wooded area surrounding it felt. It was like being in a world all your own while still being close enough to civilization for anything else you could possibly need.

Tristan’s hand covered mine and his thumb gently worked my fingers apart. “You have nothing to be nervous about.”

Apparently he wasn’t as oblivious as I thought. Not that I should have been surprised.

“That’s easy for you to say,” I grumped as he pulled between Blythe’s car and a big truck I didn’t recognize and shifted into park. “You know everyone here already.”

He twisted in his seat to face me. “You know Blythe. Hell, you two are practically besties.”

That was true. But it wasn’t Blythe I was concerned about. Tonight was the night I met Tristan’s parents, and after discussing at length—more than once, since I kept changing my mind—I’d let him convince me to do it as his girlfriend. Making it official and everything. If kids these days had anything to say about it, I was sure they’d tell me we’d jumped past a million levels.

“What if they don’t like me?” I asked quietly, giving voice to my biggest fears.

He reached out and pinched my chin between his fingers, gently tipped my face to his. Tristan’s expression softened, his eyes tracing tenderly over my features. “They’re going to love you,” he assured me.

My face pulled into a pout. “You’re just saying that.”

He smiled, the sight of it melting my insides. “I’m not. It’s the truth, Dandelion. Think about it. They raised me and Blythe, they had a hand in molding us into the people we are. So it wouldn’t really be a stretch to think they might like a person their son and daughter both liked, don’t you think?”

“I think you’re the coolest, Aunt Merri,” Levi announced from the back.

I twisted around and smiled at him. “Thanks for that, little dude. It makes me feel a lot better.”

“No problem. Hey, Tristan. Do you know if there are gonna be vegetables tonight? ’Cause I’mreallytired of vegetables.”

Tristan laughed, and I shot him a threatening look. Needless to say, the battle over vegetables was still raging strong in our house, neither of us willing to back down. I was determined to make sure Levi had a healthy, well-rounded diet, and Levi was determined to turn my hair gray by bitching relentlessly.

Before we could get into it for the millionth time, the front door of Blythe’s house was thrown open, and a striking older woman with the most beautiful red hair stepped across the threshold onto the front porch. She waved excitedly and bounced in place.

Tristan let out a huff of annoyance. “I told my mom to play it cool. Should’ve known she wouldn’t be able to help herself.”

“That’s your mom?”

“Yep. And if you can’t tell by looking at her, she’s a little excited to meet you and Levi.”

“Of course she is,” Levi said like it was just common sense. “We’re the awesome-est. I have, like, a bazillion friends who’ll say so.”

My nephew’s confidence was certainly something to strive for, that was for sure.

“We should get in there. If we leave her standin’ there much longer, her head might explode.”

I let out a breath and steeled my spine. Pushing the door open, I climbed out of the car and cast the woman on the porch a wobbly smile as I returned her wave. Tristan rounded the hood and took my hand, and I did my best not to look like I was walking to the gallows as we closed the distance and climbed the steps.

“Hi. I’m—” That was all I got out before she lunged, wrapping me in a bone-crushing hug and swaying side to side.

“I know who you are. I’m Nona, and it’s so wonderful to finally meet you.” She released me and cupped my cheeks in her hands, smiling at me with huge, happy, teal blue eyes that matched Blythe’s. “My son’s told me so much. You’re even more beautiful than he described.”

Tristan groaned from behind me. “Mom, we talked about this. You promised you’d be cool, remember?”

She shot her son a glare. “I’m being very cool. You’ve never appreciated how cool I am.”

A small giggle escaped my lips as mother and son scowled at each other.

It was Levi who broke the standoff, saying, “My aunt’s cool too. That’s what I was just tellin’ her in the car, ’cause she was super nervous to see you.”

My cheeks caught fire, and I would have given anything to have a piece of tape to slap over his adorable, unfiltered little mouth.

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