Page 67 of The Likelihood Of You

“You remember how I said my parents own Pins?” She nodded. “Well, to go along with their flagship store in Boston, they’re opening up another one in Somerville. And the grand opening is today.” I made my way to where she was standing.

“With everything that happened last night, it completely slipped my mind. My Moms asked if I wanted to come and join them for the opening day party, and I agreed. That’s why Nate took Bagel, because I’d be gone for a few days.”

Her smile grew wider, her cheeks looking fuller. “That sounds like fun!”

“Yeah, it should be. But I…I was wondering if you’d want to come with me?”

I thought I’d feel weird about asking her to come, because I wasn’t sure if she’d be up for something like that so quickly. But hearing those words slip from my lips, they sounded right. Asking her to come with me to meet my parents and spend time in my hometown with me felt so right. Those feelings were only solidified when I saw her eyes beam and her face blush with excitement.

“You want me to come?” She asked, her hands flying to grab mine.

“I’d love you to, but only if you’re up for it, Flo.”

The way she rose on her tiptoes to reach my lips and bring her hands around the back of my neck was all the confirmation I needed from her. So, without thinking, I scooped her legs up from underneath her and wrapped them around my waist, like I had last night, and kissed her back.

Although I could have stayed in that exact spot with her for days, I reluctantly broke our kiss to check the clock on the wall behind us. “Okay, baby, if we’re gonna make it to your apartment, and grab your clothes and make it to the airport by nine, then we need to go.”

I placed her back onto the floor, before she turned on her heels, skipping back towards the bedroom and flashing me a tease of her lilac panties. “Let’s get a move on then, Emerson.”

Chapter twenty-four

Florence

The last time I was on a plane, I was running away from something, a situation I knew would slowly kill me over time if I didn't leave. I whispered silent prayers to the clouds that the risk would be worth it, that it would be worth leaving my family, my home, all for the dreams that were hiding in the corners of my mind, waiting to be remembered.

If there was a way to let past me know how perfectly frantic that risk would turn out to be, I'd love to know. Although, I wouldn't want to spoil it for her.

“Are you pinching yourself?”

My head abandons the view of the cobalt sky, reluctantly, before scanning the cream and brown leather interior of the jet, and remembering there was a breakfast platter on the table in front of us.

And where we were heading.

“No.” I rush out, popping a grape into my mouth. I already felt my cheeks burning up with embarrassment. “Just, you know, admiring the view, and the food.”

We let the soft rumble from the engines fill the silence for the next few seconds while I try to distract myself with the heavenly view again.

“Are you nervous?” He asks, the genuine tone of his voice being my safety blanket, like it always is.

“I don’t think so,” I say, swinging my head back towards him. “Your Moms, do they know about me?” My breath faltered as I asked that, giving away how nervous I really was.

His smile lines creased, and then there was the timeless drop of his head, smaller than the others, but big enough to make me swoon. “One of my Moms does, Julie. I told her I had a big fat crush on you when she visited a few weeks back.”

My mouth falls open. “No, you didn’t.”

“I did. There was no point in lying to her. We were talking about that wrap party at Nate’s, and when it came time to mention your name, I lost my words. So she knew. If the heavily detailed description of you didn’t tell her that, then the fact that I couldn’t talk was enough of a sign you meant something to me.”

“How did she react?” I asked, my voice raising to beat the roar of the engine.

“She was happy for me. She was there when I was at my lowest, after Darcie, both of them were. I don’t think they or I thought I’d speak about a girl like how I spoke about you that soon after. But she was really happy. I called her when you were grabbing your things, to tell you were coming, and I genuinely think she’s more excited to meet you than she was for me when I called her to tell her I bookedDefenders. And my other Mom, Fiona, she’s pretty chill, she’ll be happy to meet you too.”

My lips naturally curve into a smile, the roar of the engine invading the space between us again, before I feel what I'd just lied about begin to brew and bubble deep down.

“I’m nervous,” I admit, my eyes pinging up to his.

His smile was infectious. “You just said you weren’t.”

“I lied. I think I’m terrified, actually. I haven’t met somebody’s parents in years.”

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