Page 44 of Not Your Basic Love Story

“… yeah. You seem a little distant, is all.”

“Sorry, I’m just tired.” I picked at the fabric pills on my comforter, the guilty feeling washing over me anew.

“Okay. Well. Love you. Get some sleep.”

“You, too. Goodnight.” I hung up the phone and held my head in my hands. I didn’t say I loved him back. ‘You, too?’ What was that! Graham had texted me, like, two sentences, and already he was ruining my relationship. I had to cancel on him. Whatever he had to say wasn’t worth it.

I put my phone on silent and rolled over, wishing I could do the same for my brain.

CHAPTER TWELVE

The week went by quickly, and before I knew it, it was Friday. I was so nervous about meeting Dev’s family that I’d had a hard time focusing on work. Though, on the best of days, I struggle to focus on work. I think I slip into a sense of disassociation from pure boredom.

I FaceTimed Miranda to help me decide on which outfit to wear, going with a grey dress I’d bought ages ago for a work Christmas function. It was flattering around the waist and flared out below. I matched it with some grey suede wedges, apparently the only type of heels I owned. Probably for the best. I wasn’t great at walking in heels, and the last thing I needed was to fall flat on my face in front of his family.

After curling my hair and obsessing over my make-up in an attempt to look casually beautiful and not like I was trying too hard, I was finally ready. Five minutes later, Dev arrived, letting me know with a text. As I descended in the elevator, I found myself thinking of last-minute excuses to get out of it, my nervous anticipation presenting itself as nausea.

My previous ‘meet the parents’ event had gone so well. Graham’s parents had taken to me, and our families had even met and got along great. I’d been able to envision Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas mornings, even summer vacations altogether.

But with Dev’s family, I didn’t know what to expect.

Stepping out onto the street, my thoughts refocused. I had to keep my head in the game. Dev leaned against his car, his beautiful skin and dark features a stark contrast to the white BMW and grey Vancouver afternoon sky. He grinned at me, eyes lighting up. Like cotton candy on my tongue, all of my worries melted away. I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around his neck, planting a kiss on his lips as my fingers traced the edge of his beard along his jaw.

We pulled away from one another, and he gazed into my eyes, my heart tap dancing. Even though we’d been together for months, he still had the same effect on me that he had when I first saw him on the plane. Perhaps more so. Now I knew there was more behind his dazzling smile, gorgeous eyes, and calm demeanour. He was the real deal.

A warm sensation glowed in my lower regions as he flexed against my hip.

“I missed you,” he said.

I giggled. “I can tell.” It had been a long week, both of us busy with work and our separate lives in different cities.

We kissed again, but only briefly, and then he opened the door for me. As we drove through the busy rush-hour traffic, he placed his hand on the bare skin of my thigh whenever shifting gears allowed, apparently enjoying the dress I was wearing. His hand on my bare skin, so close but not close enough, was making things damp. I normally wouldn’t mind, but given that we were on our way to meet his parents, I took his hand in mine and squeezed it.

“Sorry,” he said. “Like I said, I missed you.”

“Maybe you should have come up to my apartment for a few minutes so we wouldn’t be so distracted during dinner.”

He grinned at me before adjusting himself in the seat. “That probably would have been a good idea.”

We were silent for a few moments while he navigated. “Are you nervous?” he asked.

I exhaled, nodding.

“It will be fine. My parents are very nice. Priya can be… a bit much. She has a weird sense of humour.”

“Oh shit, should I have brought a bottle of wine or something? I don’t have a gift. Can we stop off somewhere so I don’t arrive empty-handed?” I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of it sooner.

He shook his head. “It’s fine. They don’t drink. I didn’t bring anything to your parents, did I?”

I shrugged. “No. I guess you’re right. I just want to make a good impression.”

“You will. Don’t worry.” He offered me a reassuring smile.

By the time we were out of the city the sun was beginning to set, lighting up the mountain ranges still covered in snow. We drove east on the Trans-Canada Highway, Mount Baker in the distance across the border in the USA. Without having a car, I rarely ventured this far out of the GVA and was awestruck by the natural beauty. Eventually, we turned off the main road and drove into the country. Several minutes later, we pulled up to a long driveway circling around a fountain in front of a stone mansion with a triple garage and a wide burgundy door. Several sedans were parked outside, all of them higher-end models. I gulped. The house was beautiful, set on an acreage next to other giant houses with their own fleets of expensive cars. Out behind, I caught a glimpse of the rows of blueberries that stretched on indefinitely, foothills growing into mountains, a gorgeous backdrop to it all.

If it hadn’t been apparent before, now it was obvious. Dev and I were from completely different worlds. What did he think of me and my tiny, plain apartment? Of my working-class, blue-collar parents and their old log house in desperate need of a renovation? I looked down at my shoes, suddenly hyper-aware of the scuff on the toe. My dress was probably out of style since I’d bought it a few years ago. I should have splurged on something new. I should have gotten a haircut. I should have spent more time on my makeup.

My car door opened and Dev was standing there with his hand out. I took it, dizzy.Breathe, Rebecca. Breathe.Everything would be fine. He said his parents were nice. His sister sounded like fun. This was a casual meeting—dinner and dessert. All I had to do was not fuck it up.

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