Page 28 of Come Around
The bite of toast I just took turns into cardboard in my mouth.
Meeting his family already? The reality of how serious this is becoming crashes over me like a tidal wave.
“Your family?” I manage to swallow. “All of them? Together?”
“They want to meet you.” He reaches for my hand, his thumb tracing circles on my palm. “Lainey’s been bugging me about it for days.”
Of course, they want to meet me. I moved in with Axel after knowing him for barely a week. They probably think I’m a gold digger who saw a rich musician and pounced.
“What have you told them about me?” I can’t meet his eyes, focusing instead on our joined hands.
“That you’re talented, beautiful, and completely mine.” The certainty in his voice makes my stomach flip. “That you’re the woman I’ve been waiting for.”
Anxiety floods through me, making my heart race.
They’ll hate me.
They’ll take one look at me and know I worked at The Summit, serving drinks to men who leered at my cleavage. They’ll judge me for moving in with Axel so quickly. They’ll see right through me to the terrified girl who’s falling way too hard, way too fast.
“I don’t know, Axel.” I pull my hand away, needing space to think. “Isn’t it too soon?”
“For what?” His brow furrows. “For you to meet the people who matter to me?”
Put like that, it sounds reasonable. But nothing about our relationship has been reasonable so far.
“What if they don’t like me?” The fear slips out before I can stop it. “What if they think I’m just using you? Or that I’m not good enough for you?”
“That’s not possible.” He looks genuinely confused by my concern.
“They know about my job, right?” I stare into my coffee cup. “About The Summit?”
“They know you’re working there temporarily until something better comes along.” His voice softens. “No one’s judging you, Sami.”
I want to believe him. Want to believe I could be accepted into his family circle this easily. But my whole life has taught methat nothing comes without strings, without judgment, without expectations.
“Lainey is making her famous pot roast.” Axel’s finger tilts my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze. “And Ruby is dying to talk music with you. They already care about you because you matter to me.”
The sincerity in his eyes melts something inside me. This is Axel offering me not just himself, but his whole world. His family. His life. Everything.
“Okay.” I nod slowly, ignoring the voice in my head screaming that this is all too much, too fast. “I’d love to meet your family.”
His smile is like the sunrise breaking over the mountains. He leans forward, pressing his lips to mine in a kiss that tastes like coffee and promises.
“Thank you,” he murmurs against my mouth.
And despite all my fears, despite every warning bell ringing in my head, I’m grateful. Grateful that he wants to include me in every aspect of his life. Grateful that he’s proud enough of what we’re building to share it with the people he loves.
Chapter Nine
AXEL
I pullup to my dad’s cabin and kill the engine, taking a moment to watch Sami’s reaction. Her green eyes widen as she takes in the rustic structure nestled among towering pines.
It’s not what most people expect when they hear “cabin.” Dad made sure of that when he built this place. Two stories of gleaming logs and floor-to-ceiling windows that reflect the surrounding forest.
“This is your dad’s place?” Sami’s voice carries a note of awe. “It’s beautiful.”
I reach across the console and take her hand, running my thumb over her knuckles. “Yep. Built it when he got out of the Marines and moved here.”
