Page 58 of So This Is Love

“I think that’s a wrap,” I say.

It doesn’t take long to pack up the few things we brought here and we walk out together.

“Do you have plans this weekend?” Bryce asks after I lock the door and we walk the short distance to his car.

“Not really. Why do you ask?”

“My mom is hosting a party for her birthday this year and she asked me to invite you.”

He says it casually but that doesn’t stop the immediate thumping of my chest.

“Me?” I ask. “Why?”

“She knows you came to the hospital with me, and that that wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t important to me,” he says. “And she’s my mom so she’s just a little bit nosey.”

I snort at that comment but then his previous words hit me. “I’m important to you?”

Bryce leans his face impossibly close to mine until we’re sharing breaths. His calm and steady and mine erratic, matching the sporadic thump of my heartbeat from his closeness. He pauses, giving me space to back away, to deny him, but I don’t.

The warm pressure of his lips is intoxicatingly blissful. It is gentle yet firm, conveying his passion and care all while reminding me that I am safe with him. All of me.

I’m not sure how long we’re kissing for, a few seconds, a few minutes, or more, I have no idea. I’m completely lost in the orbit of us, at this moment.

I feel the absence of him when he pulls away the coolness of the air whipping through the buildings.

“Important is only the tip of the iceberg, pretty girl. When you’re ready there’ll be so many more words to add to that list, but for now we can go at your pace.”

19

Laila

The sound of thedoorbell echoes through the house after Bryce presses the button. I shift from foot to foot, trying to calm my nerves.

“Don’t be nervous,” Bryce says with a soft squeeze to the hand that he holds in his. “Just be you and know that I got you.”

Before I can respond the door to the house is flung open by his sister.

“Thank the lord it’s you,” Bryce’s sister says. “Your mother is driving me crazy.”

Bryce chuckles as we step inside. “You know how she is. She wants everything to be perfect.”

“Which is why she should’ve hired a company to take care of all of this instead of putting us all to work.”

“I offer to pay for it every time she throws her birthday party and every year she says that she doesn’t want it.”

“I know,” Lauryn says, rolling her eyes. “She’s stubborn as hell.”

Lauryn pulls Bryce into a hug and then turns and pulls me into a hug too. I’m stunned at first by the action, because I don’t comefrom a family of huggers, but then I wrap my arms around her and hug her back.

“I’m so happy to finally be able to actually meet you,” Lauryn says.

“Me too,” I reply with a smile.

“C’mon, she’s in the kitchen,” Lauryn says, leading the way.

“Ma, this is Laila,” Bryce says, introducing us when we reach the kitchen. “Laila, this is my mom, Janet.”

“Hi Laila, it’s nice to meet you,” she says.

---